How long does your glow plug stay on?

[kongmen]

Just bought the tractor a couple weeks ago and the glow plug light would go on and off consistently while the tractor was running. I just replaced the controller on it and it now stays off while running but when turning the ignition to initiate glow plugs the light only stays on for 2 or 3 seconds. I'm hoping it's because it's 85 degrees outside but I've never had a tractor in the winter so I have nothing to compare to. If they do stay on longer in the winter how would the controller know it's cold outside? I thought the glow plugs would stay on for a prescribed amount of time (timer) regardless of outside temp. I'm hoping I'm not looking at a timer next. Thanks.

 

[rScotty]

How long it stays on has got to be either a timer or a temperature sensor, right? I confess I've never looked at any of mine, and we have 5 diesels. I just figured they were temperature sensing in some manner because they all stay on longer the colder it gets. Max seems to be about 6 or 7 seconds. BTW, 2 or 3 seconds for 85 degrees summer sounds about right.
rScotty

 

[kongmen]

Super, thats the answer I was looking for. I don't know how it senses ambient temp but it must if they are staying on longer in the winter. I understand how an engine temp sensor works but don't know how this works. Thanks.

 

[TripleR]

On mine the glow plugs stay on as long as you hold the key in the glow plug position, just before you engage the starter.

 

[irvingj]

Might be like my old Peugeot 504D? It used a "thermo-time" switching relay. On with ignition key, off on either time or temp (higher temps = earlier off). It had a timer circuit as well as input from a coolant temp sensor.

My M-F 2310 is like TripleR's- manual operation of the glow plugs by turning key to left and holding against spring pressure, stays on as long as you hold it.

 

[rpraymond]

2 - 3 seconds when it's warm is fine. When it's colder it will be more like 5 -6. Sounds like it's fine. The main thing is it starts up without alot of cranking.

 

[Dead Horse]

Just bought the tractor a couple weeks ago and the glow plug light would go on and off consistently while the tractor was running. I just replaced the controller on it and it now stays off while running but when turning the ignition to initiate glow plugs the light only stays on for 2 or 3 seconds. I'm hoping it's because it's 85 degrees outside but I've never had a tractor in the winter so I have nothing to compare to. If they do stay on longer in the winter how would the controller know it's cold outside? I thought the glow plugs would stay on for a prescribed amount of time (timer) regardless of outside temp. I'm hoping I'm not looking at a timer next. Thanks.

my 3710 is about the same vintage as your tractor and it is starting to get flaky with the glow plug cycle. How much was the controller and where is it located? I am going to guess is is behind the dash.

 

[rswyan]

On mine the glow plugs stay on as long as you hold the key in the glow plug position, just before you engage the starter.

Beat me to it ...

 

[kongmen]

Horse, the controller was $63 at the dealer. It is located on a bracket to the right behind the dash. There are 3 units on the bracket front side has the relay back side has the timer and the controller. If you do a search for "glow plug controller" there is a good pic from another member of the controller for our tractors.

OK, I think the coolant temp input was throwing me off. I didn't stop to consider that the coolant temp sensor can still give a Sig. even when the engine is not running. I was thinking the engine had to be warmed up to get a Sig. but of course thats not true. when the key is turned on the controller receives a Sig. from the temp sensor right away. :ashamed:

 

[rmburrow]

Kongmen: Do you know the American part number for the glow plug timer relay for a TYM273 tractor? The one I have in hand has Chinese or Korean markings and a number 1662-669-210-0. This part has six contacts that fit a matching plug/harness. I assume someone has a cross over directory for the foreign part numbers. Thanks in advance..

 

[dsgsr]

With my John Deere, the glow plug stays on as long as you push in the key. Unfortunately My Kubota only stays on for 5 or 6 seconds when you turn the key to the on position, so in cold weather I turn the key on and when the glow plug light goes out I turn the key off and then on again and the glow plug will illuminate again and that will usually be enough for a good start in cold. This could be done as many times as needed the colder it is.

David

 

[crazyal]

FYI This is an over 2 year old thread.

 

[creekbend]

On mine the glow plugs stay on as long as you hold the key in the glow plug position, just before you engage the starter.

The same with my Kubota L4400.

 

[rScotty]

With my John Deere, the glow plug stays on as long as you push in the key. Unfortunately My Kubota only stays on for 5 or 6 seconds when you turn the key to the on position, so in cold weather I turn the key on and when the glow plug light goes out I turn the key off and then on again and the glow plug will illuminate again and that will usually be enough for a good start in cold. This could be done as many times as needed the colder it is.
David

I still haven't traced the glow plug logic on the Kubota M59. So I don't know if the glow plug indicator on the dash actually means that the glow plugs are activated. In cool weather (40 to about 70 F) the indicator light on the M59 dash stays on about 5 or 6 seconds when the key is turned to the on position. Any warmer than that and it doesn't come on at all. The way I do it, is not to crank it up until the light goes out....but whether the delay counts for anything or not is an unknown to me. When the temperature falls below about 30 I always plug in the block heater before starting it anyway so that's all different.

Just went through our Ford F-series diesel pickups - replacing glow plug relays as needed - and what I learned about Ford's automatic glow plug circuit surprised me. On the Fords, when you turn the key to "on", a glowing warning light on the dash says not to start the engine until the light goes out - which turns out to be about 10 or 15 seconds depending on temperature. I had always assumed that when the light went out that meant that the glow plugs did too. But not so. The plugs stay powered up for more than another minute....and without any way to tell if they are on or off. At least on the Ford, recycling the key position while the plugs are on doesn't have any effect on the glow plug circuit or cycle. It might be telling the computer something, though.
rScotty

 

[PineRidge]

Don't know about yours but on the New Holland the timing for the glow plugs is initiated each time the ignition key is turned on. I have never timed it but it seems like maybe 10 seconds or so. In warmer weather I just go to the start position without using the glow plugs.

Some years back I had an import and the glow plugs were used manually with a certain position of the key. You could keep them on as long as you wanted before starting.

It might be a good idea to call your local dealer and ask them if yours sounds like yours is working correctly.

 

[art]

I've seen diesels that take 30 seconds and some up to a minute when cold depending on design as well as vintage. Some have temperature setting the time on more advanced systems and some don't. Yours is more automatic then some but yet on the newer tractors they also check the temp to see if they are needed at all. Naturally for most things the less you use them the longer they should live.