2840 cold weather starting

[billbill1]

I hope not to be too big a pain, I have a 2840 Agking (Jinma) arriving any day and I don't know the first thing about a diesel engine. I know lots of folks have trouble starting and gelling problems when the weather gets cold and I'm looking for information on what I need to do. My tractor will be kept inside a unheated building but could add a block heater to plug in if needed. I am located in Kansas and it does get cold here. I've read most of the Chinese tractor forums and really enjoy the information that I've got for free from everyone, thanks.

Bill Williams

 

[greg_g]

first question bill, is whether or not you're actually going to USE the tractor over winter - or if you're just worried about fuel gelling while it's in storage.

//greg//

 

[billbill1]

Greg, I plan (hopeful not too much) to use the tractor to blade my driveway and to move firewood to the house from the wood pile. I'll probably play with the tractor every chance I get, I enjoy the outdoors. I have wood to cut that is behind my property. Thanks for your input.

Bill

 

[RICHARDG]

Never had any trouble starting mine so far in two winters here in w.va,,,get some fuel additive like power service,that helps ,,make sure you got a good battery,,use glow plugs for 15 - 20 seconds with a little throttle before cranking over,,and let it warm up good before using,,,,if you get one of those magnetic block heaters,,better get two or three,,they don't work to good,,,maybe one of those strip type that you apoxy on bottom? If you don't need tractor when its real cold,,,just let it warm up to freezing or above,than start it up and let battery charge up good,,start it up and let it run for an hr or so every 3 or 4 weeks,here it may be below freezing this week,but next week you could have highs in the 40"s,or even higher,,so unless I need it,I just wait till it warms a little,,no need being harder on a piece of metal than you need to... ALSO,,make sure your antifreeze is rated cold enough,,might need to just drain out a qt. or so and add antifreeze to bring its freeze rating down... thingy

 

[greg_g]

Using the glow plugs to cold start these Jinmas is a must. But there is no relay, no timer, no (obvious) way to tell when you've held the key over long enough to get the precombustion chambers hot enough. A little trick I discovered, is to watch the ammeter. The warmer the glow plugs get, the less current they pull. Turn over the key, watch the ammeter deflection to the left. When it starts coming back to the right, try to start the engine. If it fails to start, try waiting till the ammeter comes just a little bit farther to the right. Eventually you'll get the right combination, and be able to tell when to "hit the starter" by waiting till it hits "your mark" on the ammeter.

Diesels don't pull well cold, and the owner's manual says wait till 80 degrees on the water temp gauge before working. In the winter, that ain't gonna happen. Unless you block the radiator or feed warm air into the intake, you'll be waiting a very very long time for 80 degrees on a cold winter day. Just thought I'd save you some of that wait time - up front.

//greg//

 

[SPIKER]

hi guys:

I said this last fall/winter too: instead of the BLOCK HEATER on a tractor which may see use one or two times in a month or so I use my 500 WATT SHOP/drop light. I plug it in and set it on the front tire pointing twards the Injector Pump and engine side, this warms the colr fuel lines and area in about 15 min much faster than the block heaters. Anyhow I run mine like this on/off as needed in winter with it inside the barn and no other heat. I use a mix of K1 and fuel in winter too. ~ 1/2gal of K1 to the 5 gall fuel can. helps it start on thos COLD days a bit better.

MarkM /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[billbill1]

Exactly the information I was looking for, thanks!! I already have a shop light on a stand that will put out 1000 w, I never even thought about using it. It puts out lots of heat too. I have a 40 X 60 quanset hut on concrete but no heat and other than blocking wind and keeping the elements out it is almost as cold as the outside.

Bill
Lecompton, Kansas
AgKing 2840/Koyker FEL/J-bar finish mower/6' box blade/6' scraper blade

 

[Egon]

Cold weather. Just go farther north and see what is hanging out the front of all the vehicles come winter time.

Put in a block heater or inline heater [ both work equally well ] and use a little conditioner for the fuel. Make sure your antifreeze is at the proper ratio for the temps you expect.

Course a tarp and an electric heater will also work.

Egon