Hard Starting

brewerbob · Feb 9, 2002

When I got my 4300 last March, it started very easily, but when winter got here, it got to be a real bear to start after sitting overnight in my outbuilding. I would run the battery completely down and then have to jump it off my pickup before I'd get it going on 20 degree mornings. My wife gave me an engine block heater for Christmas, and before I put it on, I had a brain storm. It acted like it wasn't getting any fuel when I knew the tank was full or almost full. I decided to try taking the cap off, and reinstalling it before trying to crank the tractor in the morning. Voila!! Problem solved. I think the vent in the cap doesn't vent. I can shake the cap and it sounds like there is a ball check valve or something in there that rattles. Anyway, I think I'll take the cap back to the dealer and see what he knows about it. Any of you guys having a similar problem?
Bob

beenthere · Feb 9, 2002

No problem whatsoever with starting, at a lot colder temperatures than that, even this year. Hope you discovered the problem.

My 4300 fires right up even when I don't pre-heat the glow plugs. However I find it doesn't smoke on start-up if I pre-heat for 10-12 seconds before starting.

Hillbilly · Feb 9, 2002

My 4400 has intermitent starting problems that I have been dealing with,and it does not have to be cold. It won't even fire at all. Today was one of those days,you disconnect the hoses and everything it is getting fuel and it is pumping fuel when you roll the starter.The dealer has looked at it twice and it still does it.Today I spent 1 1/2 hours trying to get it to go,I used ether and like you say,I had to get my jumper cable etc. It would run as long as it had ether being sprayed into the vent. Finally I turned the key and it fired off perfectly. Then I used it a while and parked it,went inside and came back out and it would not even try to crank when you turned the key(but the dash lights would come on)I checked everything,finally I was back down in the fuse box looking and I pressed on a fuse with my thumb and wiggled it and it started,then I start driving the tractor and I think boy this thing is pulling hard,so I get it on a little grade and put it in neutral and it will not hardly coast,I drive it back up on the concrete and crawl under it and the left steering brake is froze a little,I have to take my hand and release it from underneath (every time I use the brake)I am going to soak everything with WD-40 that I can see,but I think it is dragging where it hooks into the rearend.

Bob_Trevithick · Feb 11, 2002

Hi Hillbilly,

Sounds like you have multiple things going wrong.

You probably already know this, but the manual for my 4300 says to never, ever use ether to start the thing.. an explosion could result. I presume this is do to the manifold heater. Like I said, you probably know this already and are making sure you don't use the heater while using the ether, but I just want to make sure!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bob

Hillbilly · Feb 11, 2002

Thank you Bob /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Egon · Feb 11, 2002

Bob:
When using ether an explosion is minor. The more serious consequences can lead to severe burns and even death. Many years ago a friend of mine was burned to death this way.
Egon