GC1705 Will not Start!
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Stache
Member
-same happened with my GC1705 two winters ago, but it was the switch on the gear selector that froze up. And I'm pretty certain "froze" was the case, since I was able to start it after an hour of heating the underside up with a tarp and a kerosene heater salamander thingy.
MinnesotaMasseyMan
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- Feb 12, 2019
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- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson GC1705
I have a three year old GC1705 that struggles to start. It always has, but I wanted to see if others have the same experience. It will start, but it "chugs" for about 8-12 seconds before it finally takes off. This is true whether it is 40 degrees or 80 outside. I took it to the dealership and they said the smaller tractors like that can sometimes just start hard. I do run the glow plugs for 10-20 seconds before trying. We have checked the battery and the glow plugs and everything seems fine. Does anybody else have this issue, or is it just mine? Has anybody resolved it?
MF RED in MT
Veteran Member
Have you tried to run the glow plugs for 2 complete cycles - 10-20 seconds each.
How much throttle do you use for starting (I normally use almost half throttle unless engine is already warm front running).
What type of diesel are you using (I use dyed #2 in the summer/ dyed #1 winter blend in the winter, both with power service white bottle additive).
Do you have a clean air filter?
Maybe others that have your model MF will give you some good advice.
Good luck,
KC
"Sometimes just start hard" is a cop out.
It shouldn't start hard. My GC doesn't, even when it's very cold.
It is troubling, that it starts hard when it's warm. I can start mine pretty easily with no glow plugs in the summer. That problem could suggest a fuel issue. Either pressure or quality.
Try turning the key on for 15-20 seconds before doing anything to make sure the fuel pump has full pressure. If that helps check fuel system, and possibly you may need a pump. They are not known for going bad though.
Chugging usually means that one or more cylinders have incomplete combustion. And, that's probably a glow plug issue. But, it could also be a fuel injector problem. You could try some ULSD fuel compliant, injector cleaner in your fuel.
I would verify that the glow plugs are functioning properly, and if one or more has failed. This procedure is widely available, see Google.
I would also do a visual inspection and verify that they do not have a lot of soot built up on them. This is unlikely, unless you have a boat load of hours, but, it's easy enough to pull them, and look at them.
Try several long glow plug cycles, back to back, before trying to start, and see it that helps with your starting issue. If it does, then clearly they are not getting hot enough. Not hot enough? Look for corrosion, on ground straps, and electrical connections. No corrosion? Maybe the glow plugs are bad.
Try jumping the glow plugs directly from the battery, one morning, and see if it starts better. That could suggest a corroded connector, or ignition switch.
If you have a non contact laser thermometer, you can check the cylinders after it starts to see which one, or ones, are cold. You can move the glow plugs to different cylinders and try another cold start the next day, to see if the cold cylinder moves with them. That can verify a bad glow plug.
If you are not sure of the condition of your fuel and air filters, take a look and make sure they are not restricted.
As KC said, you may also want to try opening your throttle, especially if the air is cold. I don't need to open mine, unless it's very cold. At 20F, I open it about 1/4 or so. You could try different throttle settings each time you do a cold start, and see if there is any benefit. With practice, you can decide what setting you need for a given temperature.
For any newbies with starting issues looking for help: A diesel is not like a gas engine. If it is working properly, it should start within 5 seconds of cranking. Cranking for long periods of time is NOT going start it. That's only going to kill your battery. If it doesn't start, don't keep cranking, go back to the glow plugs.
coldsteelva
Veteran Member
Here is a tip that has worked wonderfully for my GC1720. Before shutting the tractor down, set the throttle to ~1500 RPM (not minimum). When you need to fire her up again - hold the glow plug for 20-30 seconds (2 cycles if out in the cold) and then turn her over. Once the engine fires, it will throttle up to the ~1500 RPM you left it at (which is a good warm up RPM) and it will eliminate the chugging/lugging at minimum idle. This also has the side benefit of reducing the amount of diesel soot/smoke produced at cold start.
MinnesotaMasseyMan
New member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2019
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- 14
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson GC1705
Thank you all for the feedback. I tried doing 20 seconds on the glow plugs twice, then starting it at 50% throttle. I tried starting it for five seconds, then stopped. I did that five times, and finally on the fifth time it roared to life. It is 40 degrees in my shed tonight. I also purchased some Diesel Kleen plus Cetane Boost. I put that in tonight and I am running the engine now for an hour or so to get some through the system. I use the Diesel from the pumps in town, so whatever is going into semi trucks at any given point is what I am using. Thanks for the advice. I will keep you all posted.
Over the road fuel isn't always good quality.
Ideally, you have a place close by where the farmers buy their fuel.
My supplier, sells an off road fuel that they put their own additive package in. I never have to worry about jelling, lubricity, octane, or storage issues with their product.
As a bonus, I save the road tax by using off road fuel.
Ideally, you have a place close by where the farmers buy their fuel.
My supplier, sells an off road fuel that they put their own additive package in. I never have to worry about jelling, lubricity, octane, or storage issues with their product.
As a bonus, I save the road tax by using off road fuel.
MinnesotaMasseyMan
New member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2019
- Messages
- 14
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson GC1705
Tonight I tried to jump start the tractor with my truck. The engine definitely turns over faster but still took roughly nine to 12 seconds to start and I had to do it twice before it took off. I am now running that fuel additive to try to clean out the injectors as well. I think that rules out the battery. The technicians have tried my plugs and they said they were good. I'm not sure what the next step should be.
Assuming the air filter, and intake is fine and not restricted, leaves fuel, and ignition.
You should check the fuel pressure, that should be covered in the service manual. Make sure when you start cranking it's up to the correct numbers.
Assuming it's not a fuel issue, either the glow plugs are not working properly, or you have a compression problem.
Compression problem would be engine wear, or a valve not seating, the first of which should mean thousands of hours, and the second is pretty unlikely, since we don't have any reports of engine issues.
You could do a compression test to verify the engine is okay. As long as all three cylinders are nearly the same, you probably could at least for now, assume that's not the issue.
That puts you back to the glow plugs. If jumping them, directly to the battery doesn't make any difference to rule out the wiring, you have to decide if you want to do a Hail Mary, and replace them.
You should check the fuel pressure, that should be covered in the service manual. Make sure when you start cranking it's up to the correct numbers.
Assuming it's not a fuel issue, either the glow plugs are not working properly, or you have a compression problem.
Compression problem would be engine wear, or a valve not seating, the first of which should mean thousands of hours, and the second is pretty unlikely, since we don't have any reports of engine issues.
You could do a compression test to verify the engine is okay. As long as all three cylinders are nearly the same, you probably could at least for now, assume that's not the issue.
That puts you back to the glow plugs. If jumping them, directly to the battery doesn't make any difference to rule out the wiring, you have to decide if you want to do a Hail Mary, and replace them.
