John Deere x485 starts hard in cold weather

[1astronautfarmer]

Greetings all,
When cold my injected x485 doesn't like to start well.
I turn the key to the on position and let the fuel pump prime up and stop and then turn the engine over a few times and repeat this 6 or 7 times before I try to start it for real. This is all that I have found that helps.
Has anyone found something that works better or do I have a failure in the fuel injection somewhere? It has always been this way.
thank you all for your input.

Dan

 

[beenthere]

How old is the fuel supply? Chance of contaminated, sludgy, or old fuel?

Last filter change? Bring us up to date on the history of your fuel.

 

[RjCorazza]

I have a 15hp Kawasaki twin cylinder of the same era that has always been hard starting once it hits 40-50 degrees F. It's not injected though.
I gave up troubleshooting it and just place a small fan type heater in front of the intake for a minute or two, and it starts much easier.

 

[oldnslo]

Fuel injected should start much better than that. I believe the main control sensor is located on left side of engine in the plate under air filter.

The Deere service manual does a good job of explaining how to check the various sensors and where they are located. Also tells how to check fuel pump pressure which is fairly easy to check.

Note: In tank fuel pump has short section of hose between pump and mounting plate that if starting to fail limits fuel pressure and makes them hard starting and if bad enough very difficult to get engine to rev up. Fuel just sprays back into the tank so no external sign of failure.

 

[1astronautfarmer]

Fuel injected should start much better than that. I believe the main control sensor is located on left side of engine in the plate under air filter.

The Deere service manual does a good job of explaining how to check the various sensors and where they are located. Also tells how to check fuel pump pressure which is fairly easy to check.

Note: In tank fuel pump has short section of hose between pump and mounting plate that if starting to fail limits fuel pressure and makes them hard starting and if bad enough very difficult to get engine to rev up. Fuel just sprays back into the tank so no external sign of failure.

Greetings oldnslo,
Fuel pressure is good, short section of hose is good. Starting is fine in warmer weather but below about 30 degrees and I have to cycle the key many times, each time allowing fuel pump to stop. Let me be clear...each time the pump stops I let the engine turn turn over 3 or 4 times and the pump starts again and it then stops and I turn the engine over again 3-4 times.
Because the air is so cold and dry could it be the air temp sensor? Maybe not enriching the mixture enough? I wonder if a hair dryer into the air inlet tube would help the start up? What do you think?
Thanks

 

[oldnslo]

If I remember correctly there is an air temp sensor and engine temp sensor that both communicate with the injection control

There is a sensor on right side of air filter base that slips into a rubber grommet. I would have to look at service manual but that might be the air temp sensor.

Deeres parts diagram might tell you where it is.

 

[1astronautfarmer]

If I remember correctly there is an air temp sensor and engine temp sensor that both communicate with the injection control

There is a sensor on right side of air filter base that slips into a rubber grommet. I would have to look at service manual but that might be the air temp sensor.

Deeres parts diagram might tell you where it is.

Greetings
Warm air didn't change a thing. I put some gas in a spray bottle, removed the air cleaner element, and gave it one spray into the throttle body as I turned the key to start. Problem solved. Fired up and idled immediately. Did this over several cold mornings the prove it out. Guess it is just too lean on startup in cold dry air. I will be drilling to install a tiny brass hose fitting into the air inlet and install a good primer.

Dan

 

[Gator6x4]

Greetings
Warm air didn't change a thing. I put some gas in a spray bottle, removed the air cleaner element, and gave it one spray into the throttle body as I turned the key to start. Problem solved. Fired up and idled immediately. Did this over several cold mornings the prove it out. Guess it is just too lean on startup in cold dry air. I will be drilling to install a tiny brass hose fitting into the air inlet and install a good primer.

Dan

If the fuel light is illuminating when cranking and you have 12-15 PSI fuel pressure and squirting raw gas into the engine and it starts makes it sound like the throttle body is bad. That is not a cheap repair.