JD 4100 Wouldn't Start at -11 F

[keeney]

I stupidly left my JD4100 parked outside this weekend, not realizing that last night's low was going to be so cold. When I went to start it, it cranked over, but didn't seem like the fuel was flowing or maybe just not vaporizing. I cycled the glow plug on for several seconds before each cranking cycle.

It took an hour to muscle the machine into the garage using a hilift jack and some 2x6's I had. At those temps and in several inches of snow, it doesn't roll so well, either.

Fired right up after an hour warming up indoors at 50 degrees. Total effort was still less than shoveling the big drifts by hand!

Lesson: 1. Park tractor indoors. 2. I should get a block heater kit.

- Rick

 

[john_bud]

Lesson 3 - learn that you need to cycle the glow plugs for 40-60 seconds at -11F.

jb

 

[keeney]

I probably did about half of that. The tractor seems to have a relay that only lets the glow plug run for 3 seconds or so in the pre-start "on" key position. You can hear it click off and the current draw drops. On several of the starting attempts, I cycled the key to "on" and until it clicked then back to off and immediately back to "on" again maybe 6 or 8 times for a total of maybe 20 or 30 seconds before attempting to crank in "start".

I still think I will try and stick with lessons 1 and 2, but if I forget those two and this happens again, I will try and remember that a prolonged glow plug cycle may be necessary.

One of the problems is that I didn't know how cold it really was until after I gave up and came back in and checked the thermometer. It was a sunny, but windy day here today, so I thought the biting cold was just windchill. I was dressed for snowblowing, so I wasn't personally feeling the cold too much.

- Rick

 

[Egon]

Would that model tractor have a Yanmar direct injection engine that uses electric air preheaters?

 

[jimgerken]

The 4100 engine uses indirect injection.

Two more ideas/input: Run only #1 diesel fuel. And if you have at least a hundred engine hours on it, you may wish to switch to synthetic oil, which will allow it to crank over faster and easier when cold, and provides better high temp protection too.

When I owned a 4100, I routinely cycled the preheater several times BEFORE EVER TRYING TO START IT when temps were as low as 0. Can't remember ever trying to start it below zero.

You first rule is best though.

 

[Egon]

The 4100 engine uses indirect injection.

Thank you.

 

[JoeL4330]

block heater? trickle charger on battery? anti-gel in fuel? winter-weight fuel (#1)? 5W-30 synthetic oil? ...along with more glow-plug time.

I don't understand the time-cutoff on the glow plugs ...usually that time is temp-sensitive, so maybe the sensor is confused.

 

[Egon]

You can hear it click off and the current draw drops. On several of the starting attempts, I cycled the key to "on" and until it clicked then back to off and immediately back to "on" again maybe 6 or 8 times for a total of maybe 20 or 30 seconds before attempting to crank in "start".

This part has me confused. My JD4200 has inlet air heaters that click just like described. My Kubota had glow plugs and there was no click.

I am not familiar with the JD 4100.

 

[keeney]

I don't actually know how it works. I just know that it clicks, and when the click happens, the current draw goes down because you can hear the load on the battery charger change
(after the first few cranks, the battery was done at those temps, so I had the battery charger connected in boost mode). The only thing I can imagine cutting out after a few seconds would be a glow plug or pre-heater.

I have lots of experience with gas powered engines, but this is the only diesel I have ever owned. I never had any problems with it before. Even parked outside one entire winter while we were still building the house, it started up after only 10 or 15 seconds of "on" time.

The fuel could still have some higher temp blend in the tank from the fall leaf season, I suppose based on how little I use and the fact that when it goes empty, I tend to to fill it and then go refill my fuel can right away so I always have fuel on hand.

Its nice and warm parked in the garage now, though, and I anticipate no problem getting it started and clearing the snow we are supposed to get tomorrow AM.

- Rick

 

[john_bud]

(after the first few cranks, the battery was done at those temps, so I had the battery charger connected in boost mode). The only thing I can imagine cutting out after a few seconds would be a glow plug or pre-heater.


- Rick

Ah, that may be a clue too. The battery may have been too low of voltage and the relay just cut out. Did it do the same when on a boost charge?

jb