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Home / Wheel Loaders / Kubota Wheel Loaders / Kubota RT280-2

Kubota RT280-2 Troubleshooting

The Kubota RT280-2 wheel loader is powered by 111.4 cu.in (1.8L) Kubota D1803-CR-T 3-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with a rated power of 50 hp (37 kW) at 2700 rpm. The Kubota RT280-2 is equipped with a two-speed hydrostatic transmission, power steering system, wet disc brakes, and 11.5/80-15.3 standard tires. The hydraulic system has a pump with fluid flow rate of 13.5 gpm (51 lpm). The hydraulic pressure is 3335 psi (230 bar). The wheel loader has a rated operating capacity of 1760 lbs (800 kg) and tipping load of 3520 lbs (1600 kg). The max lift height is 99 inches (2515 mm) to hinge pin, and boom breakout force is 6600 lbs (3000 kg).

Engine Troubleshooting

Engine starts hard or won't start
Air in fuel tank - Bleed fuel tank.
Dirty fuel filter - Change the filter element.
Fuel injection nozzles are dirty or defective - Check and replace nozzles if required.
Dirt or water in fuel system - Drain water or flush dirt from the system.
Valve out of adjustment - Adjust valve clearance.
Damaged fuel injection pump - Replace or rebuild injection pump.

Engine starts and stops suddenly
Dirty air cleaner - Install new air cleaner element.
Fuel filter element clogging - Clean or change the filter.
Poor fuel injection pump tightness - Look for any leaks of fuel pump, tighten it fast.
Damaged or clogged injectors - Replace fuel injectors.
Faulty fuel injection pump - Replace or rebuild injection pump.

Engine shuts off suddenly while running
Low coolant temperature - Warm up the engine.
Clogged fuel filter - Clean or change the filter.
There is air in the fuel system - Bleed the system.
Damaged or dirty injection nozzles - Replace injection nozzles.
Fuel injection pump timing is not adjusted - Adjust as recommended.

Engine stalls at idle
Low idle speed setting is not correct - Correct the settings.
Fuel injection pump damage - Repair or change injection pump.
Clogged or defective injectors - Replace or clean fuel injectors.
Valve clearance is wrong - Adjust valve clearance according to specifications.

Lack of engine power
Air cleaner is clogged - Clean or replace air cleaner element.
Fuel injection nozzles are damaged or dirty - Change fuel injection nozzles.
Incorrect fuel injection pressure - Test fuel injection pressure and adjust it correctly.
The valve clearance is incorrect - Correct valve clearance.
Too low idle RPM - Correct low idle settings.
Fuel hoses or lines are dirty - Clean fuel lines and hoses.
Damaged cylinder-head gasket - Replace cylinder head gasket.
Piston rings are worn or damaged - Install new piston rings.

Engine overheating
Engine has a lack of coolant - Refill to the correct level and inspect system for leaks.
Lack of engine oil - Checking oil level and add if necessary.
Clogged radiator core or damaged radiator cap - Change cap or clean radiator.
Fan belt slipping or worn - Replace the fan belt.
Diesel engine is overloaded - Load reducing is recommended.

Insufficient oil pressure
Low oil level - Check and refill the oil.
Dirty oil filter element - Service or replace engine oil filter.
Wrong oil viscosity - Use proper viscosity oil.
Main bearing oil clearance is excessive - Bearing replacement required.
Worn oil pump - Remove and inspect oil pump.

Engine knocks or noises
Not enough engine oil - Fill up the engine oil.
Engine is not preheated - Normalize the temperature by warming up the engine.
Wrong setting of fuel injection pump timing - Adjust according to specifications.
Low idle speed set incorrectly - Adjust as required.
Fuel injector fault - Replace or clean fuel injectors.
Misaligned or defective connecting rod - Align or replace connecting rod.
Pistons are broken or worn - Pistons replacement required.

Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting

HST transmission noises
Dirty transmission fluid or insufficient fluid level - Add fluid to the correct level or fill the transmission with fresh fluid.
Speed control pedal linkage is damaged or out of adjustment - Adjust or repair linkage.
Relief valve failure - Replace the valve.
Excessive loading - The load should be reduced.
Transmission components are damaged or worn - Check internal transmission parts for damage or wear and replace if required.

Loss of power
Transmission oil insufficient - Fill the transmission housing with oil.
Stuck relief valve - Install a new valve.
Speed control pedal linkage is damaged or out of adjustment - Change or adjust linkage.

Transmission fluid over heats
Lack of transmission oil supply - Check and refill the transmission oil.
Transmission oil filter is dirty - Clean or replace the transmission filter.
Cooling components are defective or plugged - Check all cooling components and change or repair if required.
Transmission overloaded - Reduce loading.

Transmission oil leaks
Seals or gaskets are broken - Install new seal or gaskets.
Transmission case internal pressure is too high - Change defective components.
Plugged oil return tube - Clean or replace return tube.

Hydraulics Troubleshooting

Hydraulic system overheats
Hydraulic pressure is incorrect - Adjust pressure correctly.
Faulty or improperly adjusted main relief valve - Adjust the valve or replace if necessary.
Contaminated hydraulic fluid - Change hydraulic fluid.
Hydraulic fluid level is insufficient - Add fluid to the hydraulic system.
Hydraulic pump is defective - Repair or change pump if required.

Lift arm fails to drop or lift
Lift controls are defective - Inspect and repair if necessary.
Damaged hydraulic oil pump - Repair or change pump if required.
Hydraulic control valve is defective - Repair or change hydraulic valve.
Hydraulic cylinder is faulty - Repair or install a new lift cylinder.
Insufficient hydraulic oil - Need to add oil.

Bucket won't move
Faulty bucket tilt controls - Change or repair.
Hydraulic pump is broken - Repair or replace pump if necessary.
Faulty hydraulic control valve - Repair or replace the valve.
Damaged bucket cylinder - Change or repair cylinder.
Insufficient hydraulic fluid - Fill up the hydraulic fluid.

Bucket or lift arm functions slowly
Hydraulic pump is defective - Check pump flow and install new pump if necessary.
Hydraulic cylinder oil leakage - Install new cylinder seals.
Hydraulic fluid level low - Fill up the hydraulic fluid.
Hydraulic control valve is not set properly or defective - Repair or adjust correctly.
Hydraulic pressure has dropped - Hydraulic pressure must be set correctly.

Bucket or boom jerks when working
There is air in the hydraulic system - Bleed hydraulic system.
Hydraulic oil filter element is dirty - Clean or install new filter.
Hydraulic oil is contaminated - Fill up with fresh hydraulic oil.
Cylinder tube or rod is scored - Change damaged component.

Hydraulic pump is excessively noisy
Hydraulic leakage or low oil level - Refill hydraulic oil or repair leaks in system.
Hydraulic filter is dirty - Replace or clean the filter.
Suction line clogging - Need to service the suction line.
Air enters the pump - Need to bleed air.
Worn pump parts - Rebuild or install new pump.

Electrical Troubleshooting

Battery cannot be charged
Electrical wire connections are loose or corroded - Clean or tighten connections.
Defective battery terminal clamps - Terminal clamps need to be replaced.
Bad cell in battery - Install a new battery.
Loose or defective belt - Install a new belt or adjust belt tension.

Starter motor cranks slow
Low battery voltage - Charge the battery.
Battery runs out quickly - Service or replace the battery.
Bad terminals or disconnected battery cables - Check cables and clean or change terminals.

Starter will not crank
Battery is low or faulty - Recharge or change battery.
Battery wiring is disconnected or improperly connected - Inspect wiring and connect as required.
Low battery power - Recharge the battery.
Starter motor is faulty - Starter should be replaced.

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WHEEL LOADERS SPECIFICATIONS

Caterpillar