Help Getting JD 6400 Started In Cold Weather After Sitting for 5 years

[landrand]

My John Deere 6400 has been sitting in the garage for 5 years with no use. I am now taking the necessary steps to get it back in running condition and put back to work moving snow this winter here in Northern Michigan. Unfortunately, since the weather has turned cold, I have not been able to get the tractor started. Wonder if all the guru's out there can provide recommendations on what I should do to get tractor started.

Here's the steps I've taken so far with no luck.

1. I drained the fuel tank and put in 5 gallons of fresh diesel fuel.
2. I changed the fuel filter.
3. I verified the air intake heater glowplug/element is working when I press in the ignition key.
4. I bought a 300 Watt magnetic oil pan heater and mounted it on the side of the pan. I can't mount it under the pan since the front driveshaft is in the way.

I need to install an engine block coolant heater in the 6400. This tractor was always difficult to start in colder temps so installing the block heater is necessary. Unfortunately, the tractor needs to be in running condition before I can install the engine block heater. I need to get the tractor started both before and after I install the block heater. Since I have to drain the coolant to install the block heater, I may as well flush the system and refill with new coolant. After the engine block heater is installed, I again need to start the tractor and ensure the system coolant has completely filled the engine block before I can put power to the block heater. The JD dealers said that if the block heater isn't surrounded by coolant when I plug it in, it could burn out.

Any advice or recommendations on what to try next would be greatly appreciated.

 

[beenthere]

Have you tried a shot of ether starter fluid)?

Will the battery turn over the engine at a good fast clip?

Can you employ a space heater to get the temp up in the building it is stored in?

What kind of compression are you getting on the cylinders?

How many hours on the engine?

 

[jdinfo]

If you are getting smoke while cranking, you may need to use a little ether to create enough heat in the cylinder to get it started.
If you are not getting smoke, you'll need to bleed air out of the fuel system by cracking the injection lines at the injectors, then crank until you get fuel at the connections.

 

[landrand]

My owners manual says to never use ether to start engine. I did some research and it is also advisable to not use ether with glow plugs. My tractor doesn't have glow plugs, just a glow plug/heater element at the intake.

The tractor has about 3,500 hours.

I have a brand new battery and a spare hooked up in parallel. Both are fully charged when I try to start.

Yesterday, I put tarps over the hood/tires, and put a 1500 Watt space heater underneath for several hours. It got to about 45 deg F. I have a kerosene space heater I'm going to try today. That should put out more heat than an electric heater.

I left the magnetic oil pan heater on overnight, so the oil should be nice and warm when I try starting it later today.

I'll research bleeding the injectors. Never done it before.

Thanks for the help!

 

[ruffdog]

Changing the fuel filter most times mandates the need to bleed the fuel system. Too bad that wasn't done before trying to start. Now, definitely research the correct procedure for that model.

 

[landrand]

If you are getting smoke while cranking, you may need to use a little ether to create enough heat in the cylinder to get it started.
If you are not getting smoke, you'll need to bleed air out of the fuel system by cracking the injection lines at the injectors, then crank until you get fuel at the connections.

Today, I'll look for smoke when cranking. I'm a one man operation, so hopefully I can see smoke while sitting in the cab.

 

[cwbyeng1300]

Old mechanic showed me a cool trick - soak a rag in gas & hold over the air intake - works better (& easier on engine) than ether.

 

[jdinfo]

You can disconnect the wire to the intake manifold heater and then use ether. You will need to be careful to slowly meter the ether in the air filter cannister.
If you get too much it could ether lock on you. If that happens let it set for 10 minutes and try again.

 

[landrand]

Changing the fuel filter most times mandates the need to bleed the fuel system. Too bad that wasn't done before trying to start. Now, definitely research the correct procedure for that model.

The manual says that I just need to let it crank for about 20 seconds after changing the fuel filter and that should bleed the system. I've cranked quite a few times by now. Maybe I need to bleed near the injectors.

 

[ruffdog]

Here is a good thread:

Viewing a thread - JD 6400 tractor - trouble bleeding fuel system

 

[landrand]

You can disconnect the wire to the intake manifold heater and then use ether. You will need to be careful to slowly meter the ether in the air filter cannister.
If you get too much it could ether lock on you. If that happens let it set for 10 minutes and try again.

Is this a two man operation or can I do this myself? I'm a one man operation right now. Can I spray ether into the air cleaner and then jump into the cab and try to start?

 

[ruffdog]

The manual says that I just need to let it crank for about 20 seconds after changing the fuel filter and that should bleed the system. I've cranked quite a few times by now. Maybe I need to bleed near the injectors.

It sounds like you have a electric fuel pump in the tank and you should turn the key on for 20 seconds...not crank. The above thread says you have to loosen the bleed screw on the filter housing before "bleeding" for 20 seconds.

 

[landrand]

It sounds like you have a electric fuel pump in the tank and you should turn the key on for 20 seconds...not crank. The above thread says you have to loosen the bleed screw on the filter housing before "bleeding" for 20 seconds.

Yep, just read that as well. Will give this a try today.

 

[ruffdog]

If you don't get fuel flow out of the bleed screw while running the electric fuel pump, then there must be a problem with that pump or inlet. Good luck!

 

[thepumpguysc]

Which the key ON & the supply pump running, loosen the bleeder on the filter..
Once u get fuel there, move over to the injection pump..
It should have a bleed screw on the injection pump by the name plate.(CAV/DELPHI) it’s a double screw.. 7/16 body with a 5/16 bleeder..
Loosen the 5/16 until fuel flows with no air and snug it back up..
NOW.. loosen the lines AT THE INJECTORS.. all of them or as many as u can get to..
Now MAKE SURE you have 12v to the shut off solenoid on the injection pump and crank the engine until fuel squirts out of the loosened lines AT THE INJECTORS..
After a couple rounds on the starter and no fuel is coming out of the loosened fuel lines, your injection pump is gummed up after sitting for 5 years and will need to be removed for service..
Good luck

 

[landrand]

If you don't get fuel flow out of the bleed screw while running the electric fuel pump, then there must be a problem with that pump or inlet. Good luck!

I loosened the fuel filter bleed screw and turned on the ignition. Didn't see any fuel run out of the bleed screw. I also,

Which the key ON & the supply pump running, loosen the bleeder on the filter..
Once u get fuel there, move over to the injection pump..
It should have a bleed screw on the injection pump by the name plate.(CAV/DELPHI) it’s a double screw.. 7/16 body with a 5/16 bleeder..
Loosen the 5/16 until fuel flows with no air and snug it back up..
NOW.. loosen the lines AT THE INJECTORS.. all of them or as many as u can get to..
Now MAKE SURE you have 12v to the shut off solenoid on the injection pump and crank the engine until fuel squirts out of the loosened lines AT THE INJECTORS..
After a couple rounds on the starter and no fuel is coming out of the loosened fuel lines, your injection pump is gummed up after sitting for 5 years and will need to be removed for service..
Good luck

Yesterday, I loosened the bleeder screw on the fuel filter and turned the ignition key on several times for a minute or more. I also tried cranking with the loosened bleeder screw. Didn't see any fuel come out of the bleeder screw. It appears I may have an issue with the fuel pump in the tank or perhaps the fuel line. I put 5 gallons of diesel in the tank and I'm wondering if that is enough fuel to cover the pump's inlet. I need to do some research about this pump that's physically in the tank. Thanks for your help!

 

[thepumpguysc]

Loosen the cap at the fuel tank..
Have a 5 gallon bucket ready.
Take the feed line off the filter head.. got fuel??
If no, check to see if there’s a shut off at the bottom of the tank..(turn it on)
If still no fuel, use some compressed air and back blow the line towards the tank.. u hear bubbles..
Now u should have fuel at that line u took off..
If not, add more fuel..

 

[thepumpguysc]

If u do have fuel at the feed line.. tighten it back up and go to the out side of the filter head.. got fuel there.??
If no, pull the filter down..
Don’t forget to keep cycling the key..
Good luck..
But experience tells me, once u get fuel to the injection pump.. it’s not going to go any further..
I don’t mean to rain on your parade.. Keep going and trace that blockage down..& we’ll cross that pump problem (if there is one) when we get there..

 

[ruffdog]

It looks like just the pump is about $66 while the whole pump/sender is about $150.

Tractor Parts and More | Up to 60% off Dealer Prices | TractorJoe.com

 

[ruffdog]

Read this thread...guy has similar problem:

Viewing a thread - JD 6400 tractor , In tank fuel pump ?