How long do you glow and crank for?

[mswlogo]

On my BX24 dealer said to count to 10 and then crank and if it doesn't start count to 10 again.

But the manual said 2-3 seconds.

Also how long should you crank before giving up and glowing again?

It's never not started on me, but I wonder if I'm running plugs longer than I should or if I run them longer it would be easier on the starter.

I know it depends on temps and if you run a heater or not.

But what is your procedure, are the glow plugs ready after 2-3 seconds?

 

[Skyco]

Hmmm...I just timed myself and it takes about 2-3 seconds to count from 1 to 10 outloud So I think either way will work
I haven't had mine in cold enough temps yet to have any difficulty starting.

 

[TalonDancer]

My GL3240 has a glow plug light that comes on when I turn on the switch and when it goes out the engine will start right up regardless of the engine temp. The length of time it takes to go out depends on how cold the engine is. If the engine is warm, it goes off almost immediately. But on cold mornings it can take several seconds. If the engine is cold, and I forget to wait for the glow plug light to go off, the engines still starts but it runs the starter longer and smokes more for a few revs.

IOW the length of time you should let the glow plugs do there thing depends on how cold the engine is. It can vary from 0 to several seconds.

Talon Dancer

 

[Toolguy]

It's going to depend on the outside temperature how long you glow before starting. I would think that holding it for 10 seconds would allow it to start at any temperature. You shouldn't need to hold it that long all the time though. I have a B3030 and am assuming that they start about the same. In the summer (70*-80*) I'll hold the switch in glow position for 2 or 3 seconds if the tractor hasn't been started for the day. As the temperature gets lower I hold it a little longer. The longest I hold it is about 7 seconds when it is below freezing. I store it in an unheated barn. If it was outside on a really cold day I could see holding it for 10 seconds. You'll just have to try a few different times and you will soon learn what works when. If it doesn't start immediately when you crank the starter then you need to hold it longer. Even then it will run rough and smoke for a second or two. That is perfectly normal.

 

[mswlogo]

Hmmm...I just timed myself and it takes about 2-3 seconds to count from 1 to 10 outloud So I think either way will work
I haven't had mine in cold enough temps yet to have any difficulty starting.

When someone tells you to "count to 10" they are usally saying about 10 seconds (give or take). You usually don't count fast ! I also watched him do it and he was running it a good 10 seconds.

You must have been one of those kids that cheated when playing hide-n-seek.

 

[Skyco]

When someone tells you to "count to 10" they are usally saying about 10 seconds (give or take). You usually don't count fast ! I also watched him do it and he was running it a good 10 seconds.

You must have been one of those kids that cheated when playing hide-n-seek.

Must be a New Hampshire thing Usually to approximate seconds you would count as "one thousand and one, one thousand and two and so on"

I don't think the BX24 has a timer like my diesel pickup does...it automatically activates the glow plugs every time one starts it. That is it did, until I added a manual deactivation switch, they aren't needed much of the year.

I agree, the colder it is the longer you may have to hold the glow plugs on....

 

[lawn_king]

I heat the plugs on my B3030 for 6 seconds, she always starts on the first try.

 

[Volfandt]

On cold days I go to the count of 10. A count of 4 is the norm for me.

 

[teg]

Along the same line.... What if I hold it for 20 secs, every time. What could be the damage?? (other than wasting time) If I hold it for 45 secs... more damage or wasting more time?? We have a tractor at work that only gets used once in blue moon (actually, less ) and we hold it for a long time.

After reading this, it might be better to ask if there is difference between "New tractors vs. Older tractors"??

(I don't have a clue...)

 

[mswlogo]

Along the same line.... What if I hold it for 20 secs, every time. What could be the damage?? (other than wasting time) If I hold it for 45 secs... more damage or wasting more time?? We have a tractor at work that only gets used once in blue moon (actually, less ) and we hold it for a long time.

After reading this, it might be better to ask if there is difference between "New tractors vs. Older tractors"

That's the jist of what I was getting at. How long is too long.

And if it ain't gonna start on the first try how long is too long cranking?

It alsmot seems if I didn't use the glowplug at all if I cranked it long it enough it would start.