Oil & Fuel DK45SE starts hard when hot?

tractorsam · Nov 9, 2017

I've noticed that my DK45SE seems to start hard when hot. I don't mean after it's been warmed up but when it's been working hard for an extended period. It will crank over just fine but it acts like it doesn't get fuel right away (no smoke while cranking) and then it will slowly start to fire and then pick up RPM and it runs fine after that. Normally when it's warmed up you just flick the key and it's going, when this happens it might crank for 5 seconds or so before starting. Has anyone run into this before? No difference before or after a new fuel filter. Thanks, Sam

xcgreene · Nov 9, 2017

Hasn't happen to my DK45se specifically, but here are a few thoughts that may help.

Could it be a poor battery or starter that is now more easily heat soaked?
poorly contacting relay when hot?
any harness connection that becomes a bit more loose when warm?
bad fuel pump that has a hard time priming when things are warm and thin?

How many hours on your tractor?

tractorsam · Nov 9, 2017

Cranks the same speed hot or cold so I doubt it's a starter issue, also I see no smoke from the exhaust. Currently 550hrs. Thank you. Sam

DieselBound · Nov 10, 2017

Hot start problems associated with fueling tend to be IP-related.

Top of this forum is the sticky about failed/failing IPs. If yours is a 2005-2008(?) model then this could be something to check out.

Msamt · Nov 10, 2017

Mine has never done this.

ritcheyvs · Nov 10, 2017

I haven't heard of this symptom before but two possibilities come to mind. First (and less likely) air somehow gets into the fuel system and all that cranking is needed to purge air from fuel lines, etc. The second possibility is binding of the IP rack or maybe the governor, but only when very hot. if you can remove the oil-fill plate when it's having the problem it should be easy (in theory) to check for IP rack or governor binding. In practice this may not be easy because everything is hot (ouch) and may cool before you can get the plate off.