DK-40 2 questions.....

[Coyote machine]

My DK -40he/hst seems to start a lot harder, regardless of temperature then my DK-35 ever did. The 40 is kept inside a heated garage at 50 degrees. I started it today by turning the key to crank with no time to glow and it started OK.
When it was outside at 10-20 degrees it would not start after running it a while and then letting it sit. The glow plug lite was NOT coming on, so I turned the key and it would just crank and crank but no attempt to start.
I then let it stay in glow position on the key and it still did not start after giving it enough time for the glow plugs to do their thing, ( had the light come on). Still no start. I re-glowed the plugs and again the light never came on and it finally started.
It only has 75 hours on it and it has been hard to start in mild to moderate weather too.
I'm thinking the glow plug circuit is buggin'?!
Thoughts, comments, similar findings?

2nd question: Is float position only a function of going in reverse or should it be able to be used in forward too? I know- I'm a dummy when it comes to this stuff so someone throw me a bone
thanks!

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

Hi Coyote machine,

I would say you are having trouble with your glow plugs. At 50deg inside it should start with out glow plugs, but I would think they would still cycle. My DK45 stays inside unheated and I use it every couple of weeks to feed round bales. It has been down in the teens and twenties with out problems starting. I only cycle my glow plugs once also. The colder it is the longer I let it idle before working it. I am around 122hrs now.
The float positon shouldn't matter forward or reverse.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[VictorW]

On my CK30hst, the glow plug light will come on for the eight second cycle even if I start it on a 70' day. I don't know what temp the block has to be for the plugs not to activate. If my engine is pretty warm from running, the glow plug light doesn't come on. At 50' it should start even if the plugs aren't working. After running it and letting it sit for a while, the block must have cooled down enough while outside in 10-20' temps to make it not want to start. Also, the engine is sucking in nice cold air. The glow plug relay on the firewall of the CK's has been a trouble spot for some. Also, the CK's have a wire harness under the floor boards where the wire connectors become corroded. A few have had their key switch do strange things cutting power to certain circuits. I know two different models but they still primarily work the same. I'd have to agree with HHM that it's your glow plugs not working. Try putting a volt meter on one of the glow plug leads and see if it's getting current and then check the other areas. It's a PITA when this happens in the Winter when you need the plugs.

I've used float in forward and reverse but go slow in forward. If the bucket cutting edge catches something, the tractor will stop going forward and the tractor front will raise up. If I use the bucket for snow pushing, I go slow or curl the front edge up a little.

 

[CowwFace]

I live at about 8300 feet and both my DK-40SE HST and my Ford F250 Diesel pickup require glow plugs to start even in the summer.

I had an injector fail in the pickup from trying to start it when it was about 25F w/o plugging it in first (happen a few years ago when it was still under warranty thank goodness).. so I'm a big believer in pre-warming my DK40 before I even try to crank it if it's below freezing.

 

[Coyote machine]

Thanks to those who've shared their woes about similar situations.
So far my dealer gave me, (for replacement under warranty) what is referred to as the 'display unit', the big black box that is bolted to the firewall and has one huge harness connector attached to it from the bottom.
I will be away due to a death in the family, so I will not be able to likely report in for a while, but we think this is the culprit. It is essentially the brains for the glow plug circuit and it is a relay/timer combo.

I thought float worked in both directions but I needed confirmation.... Thanks!

 

[Coyote machine]

UPDATE!!
Swapped out to a new 'display unit' as mentioned earlier. It seems to have cured the hart to restart issues BUT it has caused another problem- the hours meter has stopped functioning.
I put the original display unit back in after reinstalling the replacement unit to make sure it was properly seated on the harness connector ;and the only way to get hours meter to run is with the original unit.
So now I need to have the dealer get me a known working good unit.

Note: original part number was: T2185-69873
New replacement unit changes the last digit to a 2 down from the 3.
New unit's part number on the bag was still the old part number BUT the part has been superseded to the new (lower number) part.

Also the 'test plugs' that the dealers can access are located below the steering column on the right side- but without the special tool to take the reading- it is of little use to us- the DIY crowd. And according to my source, it only shows values for volts at different places on the harness, which are givens that can be deduced by measuring with a VOM.

 

[kattywumpus]

the hours meter has stopped functioning.

Question concerning the hour meter. What do you mean hours meter not working? Was it not displaying the hours or not incrementing the hours?

 

[Coyote machine]

Question concerning the hour meter. What do you mean hours meter not working? Was it not displaying the hours or not incrementing the hours?

Sorry to have been unclear- the meter does not add hours over time. It displays 79 and won't gain over numerous hours having passed by- want to buy a display unit cheap to keep your hours low?!:laughing:
Only $987 - today only....

 

[kattywumpus]

Sorry to have been unclear- the meter does not add hours over time. It displays 79 and won't gain over numerous hours having passed by- want to buy a display unit cheap to keep your hours low?!:laughing:
Only $987 - today only....

Ok, I'm not losing my mind. I believe my tractor was doing the same and then started running again. It occurred to me last week the hour meter seems to be stuck at 157 hours. I guess I will let Batchelder and my friend Tom Martell at Kioti know. I sure Tom will love to hear from me! I need an update anyway concerning my other issue. I'm sure he was hoping I rode my tractor into the sunset!

How difficult is it to exchange the display unit?

 

[Coyote machine]

EASY. Two 10mm nutz on the firewall. Push down on the tab in the middle of the connector and wiggle the display unit loose- they tend to be stuck tight to the connector. I put some Vaseline on the outside of the female,(white) connector, so they would be easier to separate if needed in future.

How do you reach Tom Martell?
Thx,
CM