CK20S Cold Weather Start Procedure

JoelD · Dec 4, 2010

You should not be having this problem. you should be able to start without problem in 10F with glow plug properly working.

I run glow plugs for 20-45 seconds depending on how cold it is, then I crank, when she fires I turn key back to fire up glow plugs again, as soon as she smooths out, maybe 2-5 seconds I shut glow plugs down and return key to run position. I've never had a cold start problem. On a couple of occasions she's not fired the first crank, I just run glow plugs a bit longer and then do as above.

Joel

jlsanborn · Dec 4, 2010

Guess I'm not clear on that. My ignition switch has three positions.
OFF/RUN/START
I did notice that the switch legend showed four positions???? I'll snap a photo. I might have something wierd. If I pre-heat, it will fire but it cannot sustain. It'll fart maybe five or six times then die. If I go right back to cranking it won't even fart, I have to pre-heat again. Probably four or five attempts later it'll run.

jlsanborn · Dec 5, 2010

Ok, help the guy out who still doesn't have his owner's manual!

My ignition switch actually does have four positions, but the first two are the same???
OFF/OFF/HEAT-RUN/CRANK
The friggen ledgend shows five positions and is not indexed correctly??? In the attached image the key is as far to the left as it'll go. From what you guys are saying, the ledgend makes sense and I only wish my switch actually functioned that way.

JoelD · Dec 5, 2010

A little tough to make out but looks like you turn to heat then next one is crank and the back to heat run and it somehow know not to contuously heat while running?

Inwould think you should be able to heat while running

Which place do you turn to shut down? All the way to the left or I'll call position one ?

If so you should experiment with turning key to different positions as she's first sputtering

Another way to ask same question is which position energizes the plugs and when?

There's go to be other owners of your machine who can better help

Joel

Dmace · Dec 5, 2010

jlsanborn said:
Ok, help the guy out who still doesn't have his owner's manual!

My ignition switch actually does have four positions, but the first two are the same???
OFF/OFF/HEAT-RUN/CRANK

I also have the older 2006 CK20 so it does look like my starting procedure might not work on the newer CK20S if you can't get the glow plugs to turn on while the engine's running. Maybe a dealer or other CK20S owner can chime in.

jlsanborn · Dec 5, 2010

I have to turn two positions to the right for pre-heat (position 3). All the way to the right is crank, back to position three is run. If I go back to position 2 it shuts down. I always go all the way back to position 1 where the key can be removed though.
I screwed up uploading the picture last time. The one attached now should be clear. In the photo, the key is as far to the left as it will go (position 1).

malk315 · Dec 5, 2010

Since today was about 34F here in Lancaster, MA I decided to do a "somewhat cold" start video of starting my machine using the "user selected glow/no glow" once you have turned over the engine.

The cold start video is 23 megs and the warm start is 10 megs. If you are on a reasonable broadband internet connection (3 megabits or more) it should be pretty quick to download and watch these. I'm posting links to them on my own server as I'm assuming TBN probably wouldn't like the larger file sizes for attachments.

Here they are:

http://www.bvwireless.net/ck20_start_videos/CK20_cold_start.wmv

http://www.bvwireless.net/ck20_start_videos/CK20_warm_start.wmv

Enjoy!

Dmace · Dec 5, 2010

malk315 said:
Since today was about 34F here in Lancaster, MA I decided to do a "somewhat cold" start video of starting my machine using the "user selected glow/no glow" once you have turned over the engine.

Nice videos, they took less than 10 seconds to download on my cable internet connection.

This is the same procedure I use and it works great! :thumbsup:
I have a feeling the CK20S ignition is different...

MichiganIron · Dec 5, 2010

With the CK20S, and the "display unit" timer, the glow plugs will refire after the engine is started if the display unit sensor reads it as cold. There isn't any need with the display unit controlled tractors to manually hold the glow position after start. The display unit turns the glow plugs off when the key is turned to the start position to make all of the cranking amps available for the starter, but will re-fire the plugs after start if the sensor reads cold.

The 20S is a little unique in cold starting. 30 seconds is too long to run the glow plugs. You can cause pre-mature failure. We tell our customers to try 2 automatic glows with just a bump of the throttle. After that, you can use the 3rd key position (no detent) to manually glow the engine.

We aren't big fans of block heaters. We prefer to warm the oil instead of the block. Warming the block allows the oil retained on the cylinder walls to run faster, and "drying" of the cylinder walls. The CK20 is the only KIOTI Tractor with a steel oil pan. We prefer magnetic oil pan heaters over block heaters. Warms the oil, and circulate warm oil during starting. You have the best of 2 worlds. Low viscosity oil and a warming effect on the block.

jlsanborn · Dec 6, 2010

Is the "display" unit some kine of ECU? If it senses the engine as cold and re-energizes the glow plugs after start, is the indicator on the dash illuminated? Perhaps mine is not automatically re-energizing the glow plugs even though its cold?

What approximate wattage on the magnetic block heater would you suppose?