limited RPM at cold start, is this normal?

[bacononeactual]

Just had mine serviced under warranty due to the rough start. It's interesting because I have a '91 John Deere 770 that starts right up in sub-zero weather and I rarely even use the glow plugs. This 2014 G3038 starts hard in 50 degree weather, even after the glow plugs cycle (I always wait for the cycle to complete). Perhaps some of the difference is due to engine design (JD is direct injection and this is indirect injection), but any modern diesel should start without 60 seconds of low, rough, galloping, smoking idle. Anyway, it's on the way home now from the dealer. The Dealer's service guy was great and he agreed that it did not start right, but he wasn't sure what was wrong with it and the LS rep that he talked to had no good ideas. He said that he tried and some of the other G3038s on the lot didn't start well either (wish I had known about this problem when I bought). Based on this thread, I asked the service guy to replace the fuel filter (28 hours on the tractor) and he did so under warranty. He thought that MIGHT have helped, but he wasn't sure. Other things that he checked were to make sure that the glow plugs were energizing and the timing of the fuel injector. LS rep advised him to tell me to run it to 50-100 hours to see if that fixes the problem and to remind me that there was a 5 year warranty if that doesn't fix it. Basically, they said it probably just needs to break in. Fair enough, I'll try it and we'll see. Presumably, LS will stand behind the warranty if the problem does not resolve.

Mine still starts like crap with now about 65 hours. I won't buy a tractor in the summer again. Dealer has no ideas.

 

[Underdog57]

My 2013 4041 tier 3 Mitsubishi starts easily and smooths out right away in all types of weather, never had a problem even down to 10*F below zero. 165 hrs now.

 

[Cfy7]

Mine was sounding pretty awful starting, to get any smoothness to it at all I had to run the glow plugs for about a minute. This was while it was below freezing outside all the way up to about 40ish Fahrenheit.

I ended up putting a block heater on it and as long as I plug it in about an hour before doing the driveway she starts up fine with just one use of the glow plugs.

 

[windcatcher]

May I suggest something? I have a XR3032H myself. Purchased new July 3, 2014. Mine ran fine for the first 30 or so hours, then I had difficulty in starting too.

This was in weather that was well above freezing. I'm talking August weather in North Carolina.

I had been reading the owner's manuals when I ran across something that said to keep the air filter's clean. I think is it a Donaldson type filter.

I have an air compressor, so I set the flow rate down some. I took my air filter off, and white stuff went flying without even trying to clean it. After coughing and gasping for breath myself, I proceeded to blow from the inside of the filter out.

I checked everything closely, then noticed the "nipple" for the filter that was a slit type of opening was clogged with this same white stuff. I cleaned it out good too.

I've not had a single problem with starting after that. Remember, you must have air for your tractor to run too, even though it is a diesel.

Just food for thought.

I am after all, a glorified auto mechanic, just like a banjo is a glorified tambourine. :laughing:

 

[George2615]

Could be one of the fuel lines got an air pocket in it. I doubt at 16 hours it would be a clogged line but even that's possible with poor quality fuel.
As mentioned, wait for the glow plugs to finish their cycle before turning the key to start. If you started it before they completed the cycle that could indicate the condition you had.
In my area, 48 degrees is not a cold start.

 

[Cfy7]

Could be one of the fuel lines got an air pocket in it. I doubt at 16 hours it would be a clogged line but even that's possible with poor quality fuel.
As mentioned, wait for the glow plugs to finish their cycle before turning the key to start. If you started it before they completed the cycle that could indicate the condition you had.
In my area, 48 degrees is not a cold start.

48 is shorts weather. I'm so over this winter!

It was a good thing I bought a snow blower for the tractor this year though!

 

[George2615]

48 is shorts weather. I'm so over this winter!

It was a good thing I bought a snow blower for the tractor this year though!

That's why I said that. When its 48* here its tee shirt weather.

 

[bacononeactual]

Mine still starts like crap with now about 65 hours. I won't buy a tractor in the summer again. Dealer has no ideas.

In fairness I should add that it always does start, it just smokes and sputters for a while. I will probably look into a block heater for next winter.