Oil & Fuel Diesel Engine operation

[Billc]

PaulInMi, I'm with Bird, don't worry about the 10 hours on your tractor.

I bought mine used with 60 or so hours on it. The guy had bought the tractor to dig a basement. You just know the guy didn't give two shakes as to the engine break-in. Anyway, the dealer agreed with me but said the engine was such a good engine he didn't have any concerns. Have had the tractor for coming up on a year with out one problem, and I've used the trator very hard.

So no worries.

 

[TomG]

Bird, I agree. I just crack the throttle for starts during the summer. However, It gets real cold here in the winter, and starting with the throttle 1/2 - 3/4 open helps cold weather starts. It's sort of like a diesel choke, which gives an initial big shot of fuel. I try to knock back the throttle to 800 rpm until the oil pressure comes up as quick as I can.

Of course, you probably don't have to deal with cold weather starts--block heaters, battery blankets, magnetic heaters fuel gelling etc. Lucky you.

 

[TomG]

Many tractors have the kill switch on the throttle. There is no idle adjustment as such, because full off with the throttle kills the engine. The idle speed is just what low throttle setting is used. Somebody mentioned a specific idle adjustment screw. Tractors fitted with a separate kill switch probably have an adjustable throttle stop.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Scruffy
Try www.prelube.com

 

[Bird]

TomG, you're right. My B7100 "kill switch" was just pulling the throttle lever all the way back. There was a "detent" so you knew when you were all the way to idle without killing the engine. Now the B2710 kill switch is the "ignition?/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif" key.

And what do you mean <font color=blue>you probably don't have to deal with cold weather starts</font color=blue>? I used my tractor two days last winter when it 35 degrees outside./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[PaulInMi]

Thanks Bird and BillC, the dealer sold the one with 7 hours on it, so now I'm back to square 1. I really like the L3000, thats probably what I'll end up with. Thanks again. Paul

 

[scruffy]

TomG, take a look at the url listed. The item looks like a good cold weather advantage! Add a little heat tape around the bottle, and you have a good oil heater to supply preheated oil to your engine prior to startup. Course the item is a little pricey, but home built would reduce that factor considerably.

 

[TomG]

I've been off-line with a down computer for about a week, so I couldn't extend my sympathy to people who live in frigid Texas. Of course, my sympathy is a little weak. In a few weeks 35F will be about the warmest day we have here through March. Here, a cold weather start means -20F or so. On the other hand, I do know that Texas isn't tropical, and I do remember freezing my 'what-ever' off in Amarillo once.

I couldn't see a link in Scruffy's comment, but I have seen some pretty fancy pre-warming stuff. Actually, I get by OK with a block heater, battery blanket and 2 magnetic heaters for the transmission. It starts maybe even easier than during the summer. Of course, I don't have to start it often when it's really cold because it doesn't snow much then.

To help with starts, I just cleaned the battery terminals and ground cable connections. It cut my pre-heat time about in half and sped up the starter speed as well. Cleaning the battery is good to help with cold starts, and it's probably is a good idea even for people in sub-arctic Texas.

For my computer down time, it would have been a help to read the W98 section on trouble-shooting. I wasn't aware of all the stuff in Windows that I needed to cure my problem. I could have fixed it in a 1/2-hour rather than a week. Guess I've been spending too much time studying on tractor stuff. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your winters and aren't too envious of my snow removing chores. Actually, I really don't like cold much. Cold is just the price of being here, which I am by choice.

 

[scruffy]

TomG,
sorry, here's the url. www.prelube.com

 

[MChalkley]

I scrolled through this thread looking for who wanted info on pre/post-lubers and why, but it wasn't readily apparent. At any rate, I've had one on my '93 Dodge Cummins W250 since '94 and have been very pleased with it. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

MarkC