Results 1 to 8 of 8
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01-24-2012, 12:22 AM #1
- Join Date
- Nov 2005
- Posts
- 2,017
- Location
- Hudson/Weare, NH
- Tractor
- L4200GST w/ LA680 & BX2200D w/ LA211
Cold weather start
My glow plugs stopped working at the start of last winter and I've been too busy/lazy to diagnose and fix them. My tractor (L4200, 2600+ hours) started up fine all last year, though I don't think I ran it in temps less than about 25F. I keep a float charger on the battery, so it always has a good jolt to spin the starter. Saturday, after sitting a week (the tractor, not me), I started up when it was about 15F, after a <10F degree night. Started right up after 5-6 seconds of cranking. No block heater, no glow plugs. It seems my tractor is a pretty good cold starter, based on the problems I've read about on TBN. Is this actually unusual?
I also noticed some grey vapor coming out of the exhaust that started maybe 10 seconds after the tractor started - I thought that a cylinder wasn't firing, but the engine sounded perfect. It stopped after a minute or so - I convinced myself it was just condensation/frost that was in the exhaust system for some reason. Does that sound reasonable?
JayC
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01-24-2012, 12:57 AM #2
Re: Cold weather start
L5740 LA854 loader
L3130 LA723 loader sold
B3200 LA504 loader
B1550 sold
B2620 sold
B4200 sold
F2680E
ZD1211
GF1800 sold
Kubota RTV900
JD 850D Gator sold
JD F935 x 2 sold
Case 590SM-2
JD 310D TLB sold
Ford 555D sold
Gehl 602 excavator sold
JD317 sold
JD323D
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01-24-2012, 02:13 AM #3
- Join Date
- Jul 2011
- Posts
- 14,436
- Location
- Yanceyville, North Carolina
- Tractor
- Kubota L4400
Re: Cold weather start
I have a kubota L4400 and the Operators Manual -trouble shooting section- states this in regards to colored exhaust fumes. Black-fuel quality is poor,too much oil,the air cleaner is clogged. Blue White - the inside of exhaust muffler is dumped with fuel,injection nozzle trouble,fuel quality is poor. It does not say anything about grey vapor fumes..
The PUPIL who does not surpass his Master, fails his Master.
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01-24-2012, 01:04 PM #4
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01-24-2012, 03:27 PM #5
- Join Date
- Sep 2004
- Posts
- 2,565
- Location
- Kansas, Butler county, Just east of DooDah
- Tractor
- Kubota L4200 GSTCA
Re: Cold weather start
Looks like your engine is in excellent condition... But you should give it a little help with the glow plugs... It will help stretch the life of your starter & battery...
You can either repair, likely the controller, or just put a push button to manually activate the relay... KennyV
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01-24-2012, 03:37 PM #6
- Join Date
- Sep 2008
- Posts
- 3,714
- Location
- Lakes Region NH
- Tractor
- Kubota L4610 Hitachi UH083LC
I honestly don't know if my glow plugs are working properly? How do you tell? When I turn my key on the glow plug light illuminates but only for less than a second. Even in cold cold weather it never stays lit for more than 1 second. Is this how yours was before they quit working or did the light stay on for a few more seconds?
IF mine aren't working properly then my engine sounds a lot like yours. Ive never had a problem starting it in the cold, it cranks over probably about as long as yours, but maybe an extra second or two once in a while, but always starts up. I'm glad you asked this because I've been meaning to post about mine for a long time so I'll be following your thread.
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01-25-2012, 05:33 AM #7
- Join Date
- Sep 2004
- Posts
- 2,565
- Location
- Kansas, Butler county, Just east of DooDah
- Tractor
- Kubota L4200 GSTCA
Re: Cold weather start
When it is in the 40's F my GPs are on about 4 seconds, in the 30's 6 seconds, 20's 7 seconds... in the low teens around 8 to10 seconds & I usually give it two shots of GP time anytime the temp is below 32 F... Engine lights up with one revolution ... KennyV
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01-25-2012, 06:23 AM #8
Re: Cold weather start
Just keep in mind that most of the wear on the internals of a internal combustion engine is done at start up. I beleive anything you can do to help with start up such as glow plugs, proper weight oil for climate, block heater, pre-luber ect.. is money in the bank.
MyJoBota
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