Dealer Dealer Service?

   / Dealer Service? #1  

GEB

Gold Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2004
Messages
283
Location
Goodrich IL
Tractor
Branson 4720
After 25hr's of run time with several cold starts
I'm sure I have a bad glow plug or injector.
I got too much smoke on a cold start up.
1st I get a small black puff, then for about
30-60sec's I get a buleish white smoke
then a few puffs even after it clears out a bit.
Once it warms up abit it runs fine .
I had to buy from a dealer 2.5 hr's away oneway, to save
nearly $1500.
I have not even contacted my dealer about the problem yet.
It will be a total of 10 hr's drive time to get it there and back!
There are 2 other dealers 1hr away in different directions from me.
I wonder what their adittude would be as far as warrenty work
seeing how I didnt buy from them?
My dealer's shop was not up to par at all, but the price was right.
I'd really rather not take it there for work, if ya know what I mean?
Anyway are tractor dealers like car dealers, are they required
to do warrenty work reguardless of were I bought it?
Would I'd be better off letting the Case dealer 5min's away check it out?
I dont think it could cost all that much to tell me if I had
a bad glow plug or injector?
BTW it's a Branson 3820 with the Cummins 4cly.
Thanks for any helpful advice.
Gene
 
   / Dealer Service? #2  
GEB,

After the tractor has sat for a while, a couple of days perhaps (if you can actually leave your tractor alone that long), remove the right side engine panel and then turn the key on, but not to start. Look to see if you are getting air bubbles in your fuel bowl. A little air in the fuel will cause similar poor start issues.

Others with the 3820/4220/4720 might do the same if they do not start real well. I'd be interested to hear the results. Then we can talk about what causes it and what cures it.
 
   / Dealer Service? #3  
I've heard that before, those tractors get a lot of air in the lines after sitting a few days.
 
   / Dealer Service?
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Dave, thanks for fast reply & sorry for my late reply!
So I did check for air bubbles, tractor had not been started
for 2 days, no air bubbles.
I did speak to my dealer, BTW he seems to be a real nice guy!
Anyway he told me that he got a TSB I think thats what he called it?
(Tecnical Service Bulletin) form the manufactor concering all
20 series tractors with the Cummins engine.
He said they should be sending out new glow pulg timers.
They recomend to cycle the plugs twice as of now.
I'm on my 3rd diesel pick-up truck, and do cycle
twice in the winter, so I knew to try it twice on the tractor
just to see if it would help with not much luck.
So will see what happens with a new timer?
Dave, sounds like you've ran accross this problem also?
Anyone else here with a 20 series Cummins and extra smoke?
Gene
 
   / Dealer Service? #5  
Gene,

We have had a couple with air problems, and we are currently testing to see where it is getting in. When you do the test I mentioned, air bubbles will be very apparent in the fuel bowl if you have this issue. We have changed the fuel line to clear for testing to see where it might be bleeding away. Even with the air problems they run fine, but after a few days sitting they crank a bit before firing, then stumble for a moment as the air is purging. It can't be much of an issue, but it is a little annoying right now.

We will surely figure it out soon and I know that Branson is working on it as well.
 
   / Dealer Service?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Dave, I will be paying close attention for next 3-4 start up's,
looking for air bubbles.
I'm also gonna try cycling 3 times to see if it helps.
Cant belive I didnt even start this thing this weekend,
been trying to get a few other projects finished up around here
so that I can play tractor /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Besides with all the rain I've had here things have been soggy /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
By all means my friend please let me know if ya find anything out.
It least I know it's a known problem thats being looked into.
I usally check in here 1-2 times a day, but this weekend was tight!
I'll be back tomorrow after checking a few things out.
Thanks
Gene
 
   / Dealer Service?
  • Thread Starter
#7  
OK, today I cycled the glow plugs 3 times in a roll,
with much improved results.
I seem to have about only 1/3 of the smoke of a
1 cycle start up.
Still didnt see any air bubbles, but I will continue to watch for them.
And yes the tractor ran better at start up, much smoother.
I was also told from another member that the new timer's
heat longer before start up and may continue to heat
for about 1 min or so after start up?
Anyway for the time being it's 3 times for me.
Thanks again for the help here and the PM's /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Gene
 
   / Dealer Service? #8  
I've had good results with my C47L and cycling twice before startup. I will check with my dealer to see if a TSB for the Century has been released as well.
 
   / Dealer Service?
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Well my dealer left a ph message saying that they should be
receving parts from Branson soon?
I havent called him back yet, but he said something to do
with a check ball in the fuel line...? (AIR)
Should also be getting a longer GP timer.
He also mentioned the injecter pump maybe out of time?
He'swilling to ship the parts out to me if I want to change
them out myself, which I will do.
If this fails he said he would come pick the tractor up
and get it right.
Anyway just thought I'd give an update on what I've heard.
Can anyone else add to this ??
BTW I must really have the tractor bug now, just picked up
a 1948 8N thats in really nice shape, runs and looks dam near perfect!
Gene
 
 
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