Ray66v - HAHA! I've been trying for years, no luck. What's your secret?
There is a force in the universe that makes things happen, and all you have to do................ said that already.
Honestly, I'm not sure why some can do it and others can't.
I can't rule out that some GC's just won't do it, for whatever reason, because we don't have the ability to have others try starting it.
I have seen with airplanes, which can be extremely temperamental, especially in the winter, some people have no trouble starting it, and others can't. That seems to come down to experience, (practice), more than anything else.
GC cold starting:
Long glow plug cycles are your friend when it's cold. This can mean 20-30 seconds or even more.
The throttle becomes an important factor when it's cold. There is no computer to adjust the air fuel ratio, it all up to you.
The glow plug times, and throttle setting will vary, depending on exactly how cold it is. At 7F, my glow plug time was about 30 seconds, throttle was open about 1/4 of the way.
If it chugs, or smokes, it's because of incomplete combustion. That probably means one or more cylinder is cold, so it is not burning the fuel. Try more glow plug time, and or looking for a bad glow plug(s). A non-contact infrared thermometer can help find a glow plug problem. Check each cylinder when it first fires, and see if one is colder.
If it cranks, but doesn't seem to want to start, it could need more glow plug time, or it could be the throttle setting. If simply trying some different throttle settings doesn't work, you can try opening the throttle slowly while you are cranking, and see if it fires. Note the setting at the point it fires for future reference.
If your GC engine doesn't start within 3-5 seconds of cranking, it's probably not going to. Continued cranking will at best result in the famous, chugging, choking engine. At worst, it will result in a dead battery. If it doesn't fire in a few seconds, stop cranking, and go back to the beginning. Try more glow plug time, and or a different throttle setting. Changing one thing at a time is more helpful, if you are trying to nail down the procedure.
Keep your battery up to full power, especially in the cold weather. Use of a battery tender is highly recommended. You can get a nice one cheap, on Amazon. Slow cranking diesels, have a much lower chance of starting.
This may seem to be a lot of trouble to some. But, it really isn't once you find the sweet spot. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it, or ever have to try more than once to start mine.
Yes, it is easier for most people to pay the ransom, buy the heater, (if not equipped), and use it.
Some may very well have to use a block heater where they live. That's fine. But, I do dispute the thought that because it's a diesel, you
have to have a block heater. Or, that you are somehow are harming your engine if you don't use one.
Even if you have a block heater, the time will come where you have to start you tractor without it, due to forgetting to plug it in, a power failure, or heater failure. It would be better at that point if you know how to do it well.
