Tweaking my Kubota L39 for more power

[deep diver]

I have a 2005 Kubota L39 TLB and it has always felt a little underpowered. I use it for plowing snow in the winter and it weighs about 7k lbs. I decided to turn up the fuel pump about 1-1/4 turns. I did not touch the timing. I'm going to install an Exhaust Gas Temperature probe to make sure I don't go over 1,200 degrees.

After the change, my speed on a test grade went from 5.2 mph to 6.1 mph. I think I gained about five horsepower. It feels a lot better at lower speeds now. I can also use 12th gear on slight grades which I couldn't do before. I tried turning it up more but it started to smoke. I also put on larger loader cylinders which helped with lifting.

Has anyone else done this to their L39? What brand of EGT probe would you suggest?

 

[Mimos4]

What brand of EGT probe would you suggest?

For an EGT probe, you can't go wrong with a well known brand like Autometer or Isspro.
They are popular in the diesel truck world for a reason, also durable and accurate.
Make sure you get a gauge that's easy to read and a probe that's designed for a diesel exhaust. You'll get the most accurate temperature reading if you install the probe in the exhaust manifold, as close to the engine head as possible

 

[qub0t]

You found a good balance without overdoing it, EGT monitoring is smart to keep things safe. For probes, a lot of people use AEM or GlowShift; both are pretty reliable and give fast readings. It just has to be rated for diesel temps, and you'll be able to keep an eye on the engine while pushing it a bit harder.

 

[Lion3lli]

I've seen nice talk about AutoMeter units too. Make sure you mount it in a spot that actually reflects exhaust temps under load, not just idling @deep diver

 

[Axon]

Turning up the fuel pump can boost performance, but watch out, it might shorten your engine's life. For an EGT probe, Innovate or AEM are good choices, they give readings you can trust and work with Kubota engines.