Iseki 1500X getting harder to start

[Rod in Forfar]

I've put between 30 and 50 hours of mowing on the Bolens G174/Iseki 1500X since I bought it this summer. It started well until I bought the 48" rotary mower, but then it faced 11 acres of mowing around little trees, and I had to keep engine rev's down to avoid exceeding the 540 rev requirement for the rotary mower while running in PTO 2.

The ??-75 engine seems to have lots of torque, even at lower speeds. Very rarely does it belch black smoke when it hits an obstruction. It doesn't get hot or run on; in fact it seems to run really well with all of the work. No oil consumption, either. But it's so hard to start I bought a new battery. That helped only marginally. Contacts look good.

If I boost the battery with my 15 amp/75 amp booster, it starts right up.

When do you replace the glow plugs?

Thanks,

Rod

 

[BillS2009]

Since a battery helped, and jumping it from another battery works, my next step would be to have the starter checked. Also, where is the battery grounded?

 

[Rod in Forfar]

Since a battery helped, and jumping it from another battery works, my next step would be to have the starter checked. Also, where is the battery grounded?

Bill:

All it takes is one good comment to get started in the right direction when you have a problem. The battery terminals on the G174 are the kind that bolt onto an existing cable. Both are in excellent condition, but the little bolts were loose. I tightened them and noticed some improvement in starter revolutions, though it still wouldn't go.

Down I dove behind the steering box to a completely inaccessible bolt holding the steering box. The ground was on it. Two hours later the ground is cleaned up, on the front stud of the same unit, and flipping the motor over for quick starts.

It may be too early to say the problem is solved, but things have definitely improved. Thanks for your help.

Rod in Forfar

 

[BillS2009]

Hope that fixed it.

 

[Rod in Forfar]

So far the Bolens has started well after the improved ground on the battery cable. I think that was the solution, so I'll hold off on the engine job <grin>.

 

[Sideways]

:thumbsup: Gotta love it when a plan comes together!

 

[Ivan49]

If the cables were loose the battery may not have a full charge in it.

 

[Rod in Forfar]

O.K. My Bolens G-174 starts reliably now, but I don't understand why it needs preheating, even when the engine's warm. Could it be the engine's cold-bloodedness? I don't think the TE-75 engine has a thermostat. Today after 6 hours of bush-hogging, I could put my hand on the radiator and the valve covers.

My other diesels don't need a pre-heater until the snow flies.