4100 Cold Starting Issues

[jps4100]

I have had my 4100 since 1999. Bought it new. The tractor has always been hard to start in cold below 30 degrees. I have replaced the glow plugs twice. Both relay's also. I now pull up the pto button and turn and hold the ignition switch for 45 seconds. Push button down and turn to start. Sometimes it takes a few cycles. I also have used a heat gun to warm up the intake before I attempt the above procedure..good luck..Jack

 

[5030]

Sounds like age corroded connections coupled with an old worn out battery to me.

 

[5030]

No matter what the ambient temp is, below freezing down to minus 0, all my Kubota's require is about 15 seconds max on the glo plugs and 1/2 turn later they are running and they are both getting up in age 2002 and 2001, but I keep all the electrical connections clean and bright and replace the starting batteries at least ever 4-5 years. All my enclosed electrical connections (Molex or push type) are packed with di-electric grease as well.

Other ting I do is, they sit in an unheated barn for extended periods of time and when sitting, I take the starting batteries out of circuit with a cut off switch on the negative terminals. That way there is no chance of an parasitic draw dropping the battery down. A good flooded cell battery fully charged will hold a charge for months without having any issue. Never plug them in and no electricity in the barn anyway.

 

[jps4100]

funny I have a kubota diesel engine that runs my 10KW generator and it starts up in cold weather much easier. Yanmars are just notorious for being cold natured. The battery is new and every electric connection is clean and looked over periodically.

 

[beenthere]

Absolutely no problem starting my Yanmar engine in the 4300. Seldom use the intake manifold heater unless below zero F deg. Always pops on first rotation of engine since new in '98.
Have heard that turning the steering wheel while cranking reduces hydraulic oil pressure which aids in easier cranking. I've not had any experience needing a starting aid. New battery about every 4-5 years. About 2000 hours now. Very faithful JD tractor for me.

 

[Cdash]

The other things to think about - if your 3pt isn't all the way down, your tractor will try to lift it while cranking. That could show down the cranking speed and this take longer to start, especially if it's trying to lift an implement (which hopefully it's not).

 

[fleecer]

I have had my 4100 since 1999. Bought it new. The tractor has always been hard to start in cold below 30 degrees. I have replaced the glow plugs twice. Both relay's also. I now pull up the pto button and turn and hold the ignition switch for 45 seconds. Push button down and turn to start. Sometimes it takes a few cycles. I also have used a heat gun to warm up the intake before I attempt the above procedure..good luck..Jack

I have had my 4100 since 1998. About 5 years after I bought it, I had started to have starting issues. When I turned the key on, the glow plug would not go on. I traced it to the glow plug relay. I replaced the relay and the problem came back a couple of years later. I rewired the glow plugs to a push button switch and never looked back.
About 10 years ago the tractor started to start hard again. I pulled the glow plug heaters out and tested each of them. They should start to heat up in about 3 seconds. All 3 were taking 5 to 10 seconds to start to heat up. They are NGK heaters and they be found online. The dealer was going to take 2 weeks to get them so I ordered them online and had them in 3 days. When I received them, I tested them before installing them. All 3 started to heat up at 3 seconds. After they were in, I checked each one with a volt meter to make sure each one had 12 volts.
I have found since that depending on weather I can control how much time the glow plugs are lit by how long I hold the button down. Summer about 3 seconds, winter 5 to 10 seconds. Works for me very well.
The important thing is to make sure each glow plug is getting 12 volts when the the glow plugs are turned on. The 4100 is a great tractor so don't give up on it.

 

[jyoutz]

I had a 4100 for over 20 years. It typically started in sub zero temperatures. Once I had a fuel jelling issue, and the only other times that it had trouble starting were all battery or cable related.

 

[ernieatv]

I have had my 4100 since 1998. About 5 years after I bought it, I had started to have starting issues. When I turned the key on, the glow plug would not go on. I traced it to the glow plug relay. I replaced the relay and the problem came back a couple of years later. I rewired the glow plugs to a push button switch and never looked back.
About 10 years ago the tractor started to start hard again. I pulled the glow plug heaters out and tested each of them. They should start to heat up in about 3 seconds. All 3 were taking 5 to 10 seconds to start to heat up. They are NGK heaters and they be found online. The dealer was going to take 2 weeks to get them so I ordered them online and had them in 3 days. When I received them, I tested them before installing them. All 3 started to heat up at 3 seconds. After they were in, I checked each one with a volt meter to make sure each one had 12 volts.
I have found since that depending on weather I can control how much time the glow plugs are lit by how long I hold the button down. Summer about 3 seconds, winter 5 to 10 seconds. Works for me very well.
The important thing is to make sure each glow plug is getting 12 volts when the the glow plugs are turned on. The 4100 is a great tractor so don't give up on it.

I don't get it re: having to turn on the glow plugs in the summer?? It doesn't make sense. I never heard of it

 

[etpm]

Yanmars are just notorious for being cold natured.

Really? I have never heard that. My 45 year old YM2310 starts quickly at 40 degrees without using the thermostart. Below 40 I use the thermostart and it might make a little difference. But then I have been through 3 thermostarts that I bought new. The first 2 didn't work after the first use. The third might be working, at least it worked before I screwed it in. In any case the lowest temp I have started my old Yanmar was about 30 degrees F, and it started pretty fast. Smoked quite a bit though.
Eric