Bolens H1502 wont start

[dstankus]

I recently purchased a Bolens h1502 which has the K3A engine. Unfortunately it wont start.

I have bled the fuel system using all three of the bleed screws one at a time starting nearest the fuel tank ending at the injector pump. I replaced the existing fuel in the tank with new fuel. When I crank the engine over I see white smoke pumping out of the exhaust.

I am leary of the glow plugs as they measure 32 ohms to the negative battery post. Somehow I believe that the resistance should be much less in order to pull enough current to heat up enough. I have heated for 20 seconds or so anyway before attempting to start.

After cranking for some amount of time I loosened the steel lines at the fuel pump to try to check for fuel, and when I did this, I didnt see much comming out. Should you see a reasonable shot of fuel squirting out? Does the white smoke signal that fuel is not the problem.

Any help would be appreciated.

Also any source for K3A documents would be appreciated. I would like to find someone who has purchased documentations and had good results before I pay $50 for something sight unseen.

 

[284 International]

Try preheating a little longer. It's possible that only one or two plugs is operating. The white smoke tends to indicate fuel is combusting, but not completely. You need more heat in the cylinders, either in the form of compression or a preheating device. If you can, leave the thing out in the sun with the hood up, and let the engine heat soak. If the fuel is old, drain it and replace with fresh fuel, and add some Powerservice cetane booster. Pre-heat a lot, and it should fire.

 

[dstankus]

Ok - thanks - does the 32 ohms of resistance for the series of three glow plugs seem right?

So with a 12 volt system, 32 ohms of resistance will draw 12/32 or 0.375 amps to the glow plugs - that doesnt seem like its enough current to make them glow red hot.

I researched the glow plugs for this tractor and found information that leads me to believe that the NGK Y114T ( or 6528 MGF part number) is the replacement part for these. These glow plugs are specified to have 1 to 1.2 ohms of resistance. Plus they are wired in parallel which further reduces the resistance.

I am suspecting that the glow plug indicator light I have is somehow affecting the resistance of the common circuit.

Any advice or suggestions? I will probably need to disconnect the lead from the glow plug indicator light and then re-check the resistance of the glow plug circuit.

I appreciate the reply

 

[284 International]

I don't know about specifics for your machine, but 32 ohms does seem far too high. It's possible the plugs are corroded, and that's increasing the resistance.

I don't know what a Bolens H1502 even looks like, but some of the older tractors have a resistor that glows when the plugs have been activated, and serves to limit the voltage to the plugs. If your machine has this type of indicator, it's possible something is amiss there.

 

[mit]

heat the plugs longer since they are in series with the glow indicator. you will get it to start. the white smoke is indicating that you are almost there.
Hard Start Cold Ford Diesel - YouTube

 

[dstankus]

Ok - I will give that a try - i do want to make sure that the glow plugs are working like they should. I am guessing that are not - and hence the no start issue. I plan on checking thier resistance - is this the best way to test? Does the manual glow plug circuit normally limit the current that the plugs see? My system is a momentary switch that you are suppose to hold for 10 to 20 secs, it does have a light indicator as well that is wired in series with the glow plugs.

 

[oliver28472]

I don't know about the resistance but that engine is the same as the 373 Beaver. I have a manual and will repost about the resistance.

 

[dstankus]

Thanks that would be sweet - Where did you get that manual from?

 

[oliver28472]

Valley Power

 

[oliver28472]

OK, according to the manual the resistance should be 1-1.2. It also shows that you can test each one when you take them out by connecting a ground lead from the negative post on the battery to the body of the plug and another lead from the positive post on the battery to where the hot wire is connected. The plug should glow red. It also said if the indicator does not glow red within 25 seconds it is an indication that any one of the three glow plugs is shorted.