glow coil question -

[v8dave]

On a project I did once, I added a glow plug indicator that was a coil of nichrome wire behind a shield. I assume this is one like you are asking about. These type of indicators are dependent on the engine glows plugs to draw enough current to get them hot enough to glow. A bad (burned out) glow plug or two will drop the current draw enough to not make the indicator brighten up to it's usual dull orange color.

The engine would start fine with one or two burned out glow plugs (out of four) on mild temperature days. In the winter was when I found out I had bad glow plugs. The engine was hard to start and sent out great clouds of white smoke (unburned diesel fuel) and the indicator wasn't glowing as brightly either. But, I didn't know what the dim indicator was telling me until winter.

Also, even when all the engine glow plugs were good, I couldn't see it glow on bright days or when the sun was shining directly on it. Holding my hand up near it I could feel the heat though.

If it isn't a nichrome wire, then the indicator may simply be a burned out indicator bulb.

 

[v8dave]

On a project I did once, I added a glow plug indicator that was a coil of nichrome wire behind a shield. I assume this is one like you are asking about. These type of indicators are dependent on the engine glows plugs to draw enough current to get them hot enough to glow. A bad (burned out) glow plug or two will drop the current draw enough to not make the indicator brighten up to it's usual dull orange color.

The engine would start fine with one or two burned out glow plugs (out of four) on mild temperature days. In the winter was when I found out I had bad glow plugs. The engine was hard to start and sent out great clouds of white smoke (unburned diesel fuel) and the indicator wasn't glowing as brightly either. But, I didn't know what the dim indicator was telling me until winter.

Also, even when all the engine glow plugs were good, I couldn't see it glow on bright days or when the sun was shining directly on it. Holding my hand up near it I could feel the heat though.

If it isn't a nichrome wire, then the indicator may simply be a burned out indicator bulb.

 

[fsteyer]

thanks ... that's exactly what I'm talking about. The actual coil isn't broken, so I guess it has to be a bad glow plug. I've been trying to find some but couldn't. Any idea where I can get one on line?
thanks again

 

[fsteyer]

thanks ... that's exactly what I'm talking about. The actual coil isn't broken, so I guess it has to be a bad glow plug. I've been trying to find some but couldn't. Any idea where I can get one on line?
thanks again

 

[v8dave]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( thanks ... that's exactly what I'm talking about. The actual coil isn't broken, so I guess it has to be a bad glow plug. I've been trying to find some but couldn't. Any idea where I can get one on line?
thanks again )</font>

Glad to be of help. I don't know where to find any glow plugs on line. Try looking on line for the industrial engine distributor equivalent of the tractor engine and of course the tractor distributor/dealer.

Disconnect the glow plugs wires one by one and use a meter to find the bad glow plugs. With the plugs still in the motor, measure the resistance from the plug connector to ground. Good glow plugs will have a very low resistance to ground. The bad one(s) will be very high resisiance or just like no connection (i.e., open).

 

[v8dave]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( thanks ... that's exactly what I'm talking about. The actual coil isn't broken, so I guess it has to be a bad glow plug. I've been trying to find some but couldn't. Any idea where I can get one on line?
thanks again )</font>

Glad to be of help. I don't know where to find any glow plugs on line. Try looking on line for the industrial engine distributor equivalent of the tractor engine and of course the tractor distributor/dealer.

Disconnect the glow plugs wires one by one and use a meter to find the bad glow plugs. With the plugs still in the motor, measure the resistance from the plug connector to ground. Good glow plugs will have a very low resistance to ground. The bad one(s) will be very high resisiance or just like no connection (i.e., open).

 

[fsteyer]

Thanks Dave -
actually my small tractor (2 cylinder) has only one glow plug.
Do you have any suggestion what reading I might look for on my digital multimeter?

 

[fsteyer]

Thanks Dave -
actually my small tractor (2 cylinder) has only one glow plug.
Do you have any suggestion what reading I might look for on my digital multimeter?

 

[v8dave]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Thanks Dave -
actually my small tractor (2 cylinder) has only one glow plug.
Do you have any suggestion what reading I might look for on my digital multimeter? )</font>

Almost certainly less than 10 Ohms. Probably in the range of near 1 ohm. If so, this will draw around 12 to 14 amps and supply around 150 watts of heat. [Volts times amps equals watts.]

I can't see how you'd have only one cylinder with a glow plug. So, your one glow plug is probably an intake air heater. You probably don't see much need to run the glo plug on warm days.

On the off chance you have a bad glo plug/heater and have difficulty finding a replacement. In a pinch next winter use a 1,000 watt hair dryer directed into the air cleaner/intake to help start the beast. Don't use ether.

 

[v8dave]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Thanks Dave -
actually my small tractor (2 cylinder) has only one glow plug.
Do you have any suggestion what reading I might look for on my digital multimeter? )</font>

Almost certainly less than 10 Ohms. Probably in the range of near 1 ohm. If so, this will draw around 12 to 14 amps and supply around 150 watts of heat. [Volts times amps equals watts.]

I can't see how you'd have only one cylinder with a glow plug. So, your one glow plug is probably an intake air heater. You probably don't see much need to run the glo plug on warm days.

On the off chance you have a bad glo plug/heater and have difficulty finding a replacement. In a pinch next winter use a 1,000 watt hair dryer directed into the air cleaner/intake to help start the beast. Don't use ether.