L555 Starting Issues

tucquan53 · Aug 31, 2017

I have a L555 with a Perkins diesel and 3100 hrs. It had 2900 hrs on it when I bought two years ago. The motor starts and runs without any problems until last week. It was idling and then shut off like it ran out of fuel. It would not restart. The fuel gauge showed ¾ of a tank. I had not changed the fuel filter yet. It was one of those “I’ll get around to it soon” things. The next day I tried to start it. After cranking about 15 seconds, it started and ran for several seconds before shutting off. Again, it sounded to me like it ran out of fuel. I bought a fuel filter from the local New Holland dealer and installed it. I bled the system by cracking open the bleed screw on top of the filter and pumping the lift pump lever until fuel came out of the bleeder like the Perkins manual stated. I tried to start it, but it would not start. I loosened the pressure line at the rear injector and cranked the motor. Several spurts of fuel came out. After tightening the nut, I made another attempt at starting it. It still would not start. I gave up on it for the day. The next morning I made one last try to start it. After cranking for about 10 seconds, it started and ran. I shut it off and restarted several times with no problems. It’s been fine ever since. I don’t understand why it started after it sat for a day. Can someone tell me what I missed? I’m not a diesel guy, but I’d like to learn more. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks, Bill

Tazza · Sep 7, 2017

My only thought was the fuel cut solenoid for the injector pump.
Hopefully just some weird glitch, if it happens again, you will need to look deeper.

tucquan53 · Sep 7, 2017

Tazza said:
My only thought was the fuel cut solenoid for the injector pump.
Hopefully just some weird glitch, if it happens again, you will need to look deeper.

I don't think my loader has a fuel cut solenoid, the throttle control shuts off the air.

tucquan53 · Oct 13, 2017

tucquan53 said:
I don't think my loader has a fuel cut solenoid, the throttle control shuts off the air.

Update on my no start problem. First, thanks Tazza for not laughing at me when I responded to your post by incorrectly saying the throttle control regulates the air. It controls the fuel like everyone else knows. The same thing happened a few days ago. It seems as though the hose clamp on the fuel line from the fuel tank to the first filter was loose. After I tightened the clamp and bled the system, it started and runs fine. I guess when it happened the last time I got lucky and it didn’t leak the next day. I’m sure the diesel guys are rolling their eyes at such a basic mistake as not looking for an air leak. I'm slowly learning. Bill

Tazza · Oct 15, 2017

tucquan53 said:
Update on my no start problem. First, thanks Tazza for not laughing at me when I responded to your post by incorrectly saying the throttle control regulates the air. It controls the fuel like everyone else knows. The same thing happened a few days ago. It seems as though the hose clamp on the fuel line from the fuel tank to the first filter was loose. After I tightened the clamp and bled the system, it started and runs fine. I guess when it happened the last time I got lucky and it didn’t leak the next day. I’m sure the diesel guys are rolling their eyes at such a basic mistake as not looking for an air leak. I'm slowly learning. Bill

Glad you worked it out, air leaks can be a real issue on a diesel.