Help - Cold starting

[BigDogues]

If the tractor is in a small shed you could always use a radiant propane heater to warm things up a bit in there. I'm thinking about this type that attach right to the top of a 20 lb. tank. They are fairly inexpensive, about $40, and don't require any electricity to operate. I'd just run it for a couple of hours before you try to fire up your tractor. At least it might get you running so that modifications to your fuel supply would start working.

 

[RalphVa]

I'd siphon off the fuel you have, add a gallon of kerosene to it and put it back. Then change out the filter, letting a bit of fuel go through the line with the filter removed.

Check your glow plugs with a light source connected to one of them and then to ground to see if they're getting juice. Not likely all are burned out.

Have had 2 diesels up through 195k miles now on each. Neither one ever gave trouble starting. The 1973 sat for 6 months while we were in Singapore. Put battery back in, glowed it, and it fired instantly then. This 1983 was a little hard to start after 4 1/2 years storage while we were in Singapore. It still starts instantly after glowing about 3-5 seconds in the winter.

The 1973 started instantly at -21 F one morning after glowing but died 2 or 3 miles down the road. Let sit about a minute. Restarted instantly. Died again 2 or 3 miles donw the road. Then restarted after another minute and ran fine. It was waxing in the fuel filter. Fortunately, Benz mounts them right onto the engine block.

Ralph

 

[JoeL4330]

There is a Power Service product called "911" ...follow its directions. Find #1 Diesel at a truck stop, or dilute w. Kerosene...if there is water in the fuel, small amounts yield to an additive ...serious water requires running fuel through a water block filter ...as with aircraft tanks, if you have a drain at the lowest point in your tank, you can drain some into a transparent water bottle, let it sit, and see the water bubble on the bottom ...if so, keep draining until pure fuel.

 

[James1720]

Hey, gerry100:

After you try everthng suggested, or even before, try and jump start the tractor from another vehicle. It will give the glow plugs more juice and turn the engine over faster. It might just take off. Its work for me in the past. Let us know how it turns out. Jim ND

 

[billbill1]

An in-line lower radiator hose heater solved my hard starting for around $30. I bought it from NAPA and they had several sizes so I'm sure you could find one that will work on your tractor. Plug it in for 30 to 60 minutes and it makes all the difference in the world, the tractor runs much better when it first takes off too, no coughing or knocking.

 

[BigDogues]

That definitely would have been my first suggestion. However he states he has no electricity in the shed where he keeps the tractor.
Gerry, is it so far away you couldn't put together a few extra long extension cords on those really cold days?

 

[Jay4200]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( First winter with a diesel , won't start at 20 deg.

I'm not seeing any puffs from the exhaust during cranking so I'm suspecting fuel supply or gelling. Fuel is mostly from summer.

Suggestions on a fuel additive? Any other ideas.)</font>

You are likely correct that you have a fuel problem. My tractor belches visible fuel mix (looks like steam) while it cranks until it fires the first time. If you see nothing, there is no fuel.

#2 fuel gels at something like 16F (?). You say it's 20F, but how cold did it get the night before? Also, once the fuel gels, it doesn't ungel until much warmer temps (like 50+). If this is your problem, it should be relatively simple to straighten out - several good suggestions on un-gelling your tractor already posted.

I suggest PowerService additive in the white bottle once you get your tractor cleaned out - seems accepted as the best for winter protection - available at WalMart for ~$5/qt. I treat ~50 gals with 1 qt. I mark the side of the PS bottle with a Sharpy into 1/10th and pour a marks worth into 5 gal fuel cans when filling. Leave the foil on the bottle mouth and punch small holes at 6 and 12 o'clock for easy metered pouring.

Jay

 

[gerry100]

Pretty sure the problem is solved.

Put some diesel 911 into the fuel tank and let it sit for few days during another 40 deg plus warm spell.

When I got back to it yesterday I changed the fuel filter( it looked fairly black) and filled the bowl with a 50/50 mix of diesel and 911 before I screwed it back on.

About 30 secs glow plug then turned the key and it started like a new car. Ran for about 20 minutes no problem.

Temps dropping again and snow coming so tommorrow will be the true test but I pretty sure it will start.

Thanks to everybody for their help and suggestions.