No Go with Glow Plugs

[TheSheriff]

An ammeter would have been nice in my case... I had read posts here about checking the ammeter to verify current to the GP's. If I had one, I would have known months ago that I misunderstood my dealers instructions regarding the heat position of my ignition and I was not using the GP's.

The indicator light is a good idea, but now that I've seen the light , I think I have a good feel for the ignition's sweet spot.

 

[greg_g]

An ammeter would have been nice in my case...

I'd still recommend installing one, it's neither expensive nor difficult. Besides giving you a charging system health indicator, it can also serve to extend the life of the entire starting system. When GPs don't have to glow as long - and starters don't have to crank as long - they simply don't wear out as fast.

Given that resistance varies with temperature, the ammeter can actually "tell" you when the GPs are hot enough to start the engine. Obviously you know that - the colder it gets - the longer you have to heat the GPs. This is reflected in that - the colder the day - the more amps will be pulled by the GP system. But as they heat, the resistance changes - a change which is reflected by the ammeter. The hotter the GPs get, the fewer amps they'll pull.

Here's how I did it when the tractors were new. I'd put the keyswitch over to the HEAT position and eyeball the ammeter. The 20 second rule still applies, so I'd start counting. If the ammeter dropped to 14-15 amps before I got to 20, I'd turn the key to START. If they weren't down to 14-15 amps yet, I'd still hit START at the count of 20 - not expecting the engine to actually start the first time. But I'd do it with the compression releasee open. That helps in getting the oil pressure up quickly. Wait 15 seconds, turn to HEAT again. The second time usually did it, very seldom did I have to go through the cycle a 3rd time.

That said, it wasn't long before I installed a full cold start kit. But unless/until you actually HAVE an ammeter (or a cold start kit), you gotta go by the old by-guess-and-by-gosh method.

//greg//

 

[TheSheriff]

Thanks Greg, good information. You mentioned a benefit I hadn't considered. I'll add ammeter to my list!

 

[thebudman]

UPDATE: I tried to start the tractor to move it outside to work on the glowplugs (it was a nice day) and wallah!!!--- turn the key and nada. The battery was fine. Dash and head lights turned on-- even the horn worked. Turning the key in both directins did nothing. No click, whir, or buzz. Silence.

The battery is on a trickle charge every month, so it's not a battery issue. Although I'm not an expert, I assume after all that has been discussed that the ignition switch it shot. I am looking into ordering a Ford cold start switch and will swap it out. Wish me luck.

What is wrong with those Chinese? I would expect that, in spite of working for like .80 cents/day, and having an occasional pistol barrel screwed into your ear, they would still try to do a better job with quality.

 

[greg_g]

Did they get another pay raise? It was only last year wasn't it, that their minimum wage was raised to 62 cents/hour (?). But yeah, it's sounding like keyswitch time at the budman's house. Understand though - if you go the Ford route - you're swapping a 4 post switch for a 5 post. So if you run into a snag, we're here to help. But don't forget that there's a clutch interlock switch under the left floorboard. The usual problem down there results in a blown system fuse. But sometimes a wire can come loose without actually shorting out the fuse.

//greg//

 

[Bob Rooks]

UPDATE: What is wrong with those Chinese? I would expect that, in spite of working for like .80 cents/day, and having an occasional pistol barrel screwed into your ear, they would still try to do a better job with quality.

The problem is not with the workers, it's with the engineers and designers and the people that dictate to them - management. They really could do a better job and turn out a superior product, but that's going to take more capital investment and take more time. It's like Japanese products all over again...
When the UAW organizes the assembly plants you will see some top notch equipment :licking:

 

[erj]

The battery is on a trickle charge every month, so it's not a battery issue. Although I'm not an expert, I assume after all that has been discussed that the ignition switch it shot. I am looking into ordering a Ford cold start switch and will swap it out. Wish me luck.

QUOTE]

Have you checked the Interrupt Switch under the floorboards that is engaged by the clutch pedal?
RonJ

 

[greg_g]

The problem is not with the workers, it's with the engineers and designers and the people that dictate to them - management. They really could do a better job and turn out a superior product, but that's going to take more capital investment and take more time. It's like Japanese products all over again...When the UAW organizes the assembly plants you will see some top notch equipment

I'm afraid you're going to find that the majority opinion is that unions are what nearly killed America's auto industry. I for one will never buy another GM or Chrysler product, no matter what kind of "top notch" equipment the UAW lavishes upon themselves. Here's a question that I'll bet never comes up in union meetings. Given that "workers of the world, unite" comes straight out of the communist manifest, how come there are no unions in communist/socialist countries?

But that has nothing to do with Chinese tractors. Short of the cultural aspect, the shortcomings we see in Chinese tractors is not a management problem either. At least that's what non-union observers will conclude. The fault is with the buyers. The Chinese factories will make anything you ask for - to the specs you lay down. If you want a failsafe heart-lung machine, they'll make a failsafe heart-lung machine. If you want a cheap tractor, they'll build a cheap tractor.

The bottom line is no different than with any other manufacturing concern - anywhere in the world. You can't blame management, you can't fix it with unions. It's no more complicated than "you get what you pay for".

//greg//

 

[Bob Rooks]

You're right Greg, I won't buy another GM or Chrysler product again either.
It is incumbent upon management to insure the survivability of their companies.

Greg wrote:
how come there are no unions in communist/socialist countries?

They don't like the competition. :laughing:

 

[thebudman]

Have you checked the Interrupt Switch under the floorboards that is engaged by the clutch pedal?
RonJ

There is no loose wire that I can see. Is there any way to check the switch itself? I ordered a new ignition switch, and it should be here by Friday, at which time I'll swap it out with the old switch.

However, if I replace the starter switch and the tractor is still a no-go, what could I do to check the clutch safety switch? Do those things wear out as well? Maybe a good spritzing of WD-40? The tractor is garaged, and hasn't had any water/snow on it the last times I've had it out, so I doubt it's water-intrusion shorting out the switch.

Again, what's up with the Chinese and their lack of quality? I can see why their coal mines are always exploding or caving in. It's little wonder why they use/used Soviet-made equipment.