Max 24 newbee with starting exhaust question

[NE Snowblower]

New to this site and first time tractor owner. Question about the black smoke when first starting the tractor, it's followed by gray smoke and then clears up when revving up the RPMs. Just want to make sure that's normal for the first start of the day. I have about 18 hours on the Max 24 and have used it for a lot of snow blowing for the first 3 months. Also have the FEL and 60" drive over mower deck. A couple of my neighbors have the Orange tractor and I was set to pick up a BX2670 until I heavily researched the difference. They now refer to my tractor as the BEAST. Didn't give it much of a break in period before I started the extensive snow blowing we've had in the NE, so wanted to make sure the smoke I see at start up is normal. I've never let the fuel tank get below half before refilling. Thanks

 

[oldpilgrim]

plain and simple answer..............yes..........perfectly normal.

Enjoy your new toy...it's a great machine.

 

[Shift4200]

Yep, agree with OldP, my Max25 does the same thing. Completely normal.

-J

 

[mike69440]

I was only a little concerned that maybe the first 2 hours on my Max28 did not have a proper break it to seat the rings, but it is mostly grey smoke on start up. With the small Mistu diesel., this is "normal" I guess.

Just for comparison, aside from a bit of oil blow by, even my 1997 53 hp 6000 hour Mitsubishi 4D95L diesel in my excavator, does not smoke as much on start up. My 3 Kubotas, with an average of 1,500 hours on the clock each smoke very little at start up. Heck, I start them in the equipment building with the doors closed. It gets windy and cold in the winter greasing them, but you need to be able to work the hydraulics to reach all the fittings.

I not saying there is anything wrong, but the Max28 reminds you it is a diesel at start up and it sure is trashy near rated RPM by comparison. I will say I'm impressed by the power & torque of the Max 28 and it is reasonably quiet at 1500-1600 RPM. I'll just wear hearing prtection when I brush hog. The quietest diesel I have is the Mitsubishi 4D95L as I can barely hear any clatter from it. It must have a very solid engine block. Based on the reliability of the bigger Mitsubishi, I was not concerned about the durability of the engine in the Max.
I have parts and service manuals for my other machines, sure would be nice to be able to lay my hands on the Manuals for the Max. I feel like such a newbie.

 

[BlackOps]

welcome. have the 25 max and love my machine glad i did not go the orange route!

 

[Navasot]

Make sure you are letting the glow plugs run its course every time even if its not cold outside... but yes its perfectly fine. Enjoy!!

 

[oldpilgrim]

sure would be nice to be able to lay my hands on the Manuals for the Max.

your dealer can get them for you.

 

[Shift4200]

your dealer can get them for you.

I've found PDF copies of all of my manuals via google search.

-J

 

[kootch88]

I have a 3 year old Max 22 with 180 hours on it and I get the same thing when it is cold. I keep it in my garage which is under the house, but does get down to 32 in there when it is super cold outside. When things warm up you will see less of the black smoke and more of the gray on the initial start up, at least you will once the fuel with the anti-gel stuff is gone.

 

[Scrambler82]

My Max28 with 50 hours on it does it.
I too was wondering but all seems ok.

 

[John Dougherty]

NE,
You are in a cold climate right now and I am not. I will say that when I heat up the glow plugs before starting I don't have the issue with black smoke. Mine will start w/o them, but it will smoke a fair amount upon starting and quickly go away. Even at fifty degrees mine likes the plugs activated...starts easier. A word of caution: the manual says to check the oil level every ten hours. My machine is new and at ten hours it was a full quart low. I know that it came full. Pretty natural for a diesel engine to use oil for awhile in the beginning as the break in period is longer than a gas engine. Check the oil!

 

[oldpilgrim]

Just one of the benefits of having a real diesel tractor, not one of these fancy tier 4 things. It's a badge of honor within the diesel family.

 

[John Dougherty]

Just one of the benefits of having a real diesel tractor, not one of these fancy tier 4 things. It's a badge of honor within the diesel family.

OP
If you are talking to me, and I am not too sure, then I would agree. Tier 3 here buddy.

 

[mike69440]

The new owner is picking up my little Kubota tomorrow, so I gave her one last workout grading my road. My new Max 28 sure smokes a lot on startup compared to the 30 year old Kubota. Even though the smoke on startup is "normal". I still find it odd that an old tractor blows barely a puff on startup and the new one belches.

Sorry I'm getting sentimental, but old tractors are like old dogs, you get attached.

 

[oldpilgrim]

The Mahindras are so quiet that they purposely make them smoke on start-up so you'll know they're running.

 

[NE Snowblower]

NE,
You are in a cold climate right now and I am not. I will say that when I heat up the glow plugs before starting I don't have the issue with black smoke. Mine will start w/o them, but it will smoke a fair amount upon starting and quickly go away. Even at fifty degrees mine likes the plugs activated...starts easier. A word of caution: the manual says to check the oil level every ten hours. My machine is new and at ten hours it was a full quart low. I know that it came full. Pretty natural for a diesel engine to use oil for awhile in the beginning as the break in period is longer than a gas engine. Check the oil!

Thanks JD. You were right by suggesting I check the oil. After 18 hours, the dip stick shows to add a quart.