How long to crank in cold weather?

[daugen]

Coldstart Nuffield Sweden - YouTube

I think we have all been told not to crank longer than ten or fifteen seconds,
or our starter motors will expire. This guy's starter must have been glowing red by the time
his engine started.

But in really cold weather, on an older tractor, and avoiding ether...,
isn't there a point where you are losing too much hard gained heat by letting it sit there, even with a preheat on?
Not like that starter is going to cool off real quickly either.
I guess it's how robust your starter is, for sure.

 

[don45640]

I limit cranking to 20 seconds or so. Even with the massive starter on a 2800 series AC engine(diesel),I am afraid of getting the commutator and brushes too hot.I always give it a 5 minute rest(cool down) before trying again. don-ohio

 

[Gary Fowler]

With proper use of glow plugs, the engine should start within a couple revolutions. My Kubota RTV will start with just a touch of the starter after 10 seconds of glow plugs. My B26 takes about 2 seconds after glow plug use. Both are reluctant to start without using glow plugs if below 45F. My LS starts immediately without glow plug use. I am not sure it even has glow plugs, at least there is no switch indent for it and no glow plug light when I turn the key. My operation manual does say it has glow plugs though.

 

[94BULLITT]

Just heat it till the glow plug light goes out which is like 3 or 5 seconds.