RalphVa
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2003
- Messages
- 7,885
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Tractor
- JD 2025R, previously Gravely 5650 & JD 4010 & JD 1025R
Ocer,
Put a test light on one of your glow plugs and run the other side to ground and leave the hood up so you can see the test light when actuating the switch.
You'll find that the glow plugs are actuated BETWEEN "on" and "start" position with the gearshift lever in "N" and the PTO switch off. Without a glow plug light though, it's virtually impossible to stop in that position between "on" and "start". So, easiest way is to use the gearshift lever or PTO switch with the switch in "start" position. This actuates the glow plugs.
You may have been inadvertantly going a little past "on" in one of your turns to "on" position and have actuated the glow plugs a couple seconds or so. In really cold weather, it'll take 4 seconds in order to start without some cranking.
The owner's manual leaves this stuff completely out.
Since glow plugs last 23 years or about 200k+ miles on Benzes, they're A LOT more economical to use in starting than cranking to warm the cylinders. Our 24 year old Benz literally starts IMMEDIATELY when warm or after using the glow plugs the required amount (designated by the glow plug light going out). Even our older 1972 did this after sitting for 9 MONTHS. I just put the battery back in, glowed for the required amount of time and turned to "start". One thing I like about diesels; the fuel doesn't evaporate upon sitting for long periods of time. Neither of my 2 fuel-injected gas engined cars will start with practically no cranking, like the old 24 year old Benz diesel.
Ralph
Put a test light on one of your glow plugs and run the other side to ground and leave the hood up so you can see the test light when actuating the switch.
You'll find that the glow plugs are actuated BETWEEN "on" and "start" position with the gearshift lever in "N" and the PTO switch off. Without a glow plug light though, it's virtually impossible to stop in that position between "on" and "start". So, easiest way is to use the gearshift lever or PTO switch with the switch in "start" position. This actuates the glow plugs.
You may have been inadvertantly going a little past "on" in one of your turns to "on" position and have actuated the glow plugs a couple seconds or so. In really cold weather, it'll take 4 seconds in order to start without some cranking.
The owner's manual leaves this stuff completely out.
Since glow plugs last 23 years or about 200k+ miles on Benzes, they're A LOT more economical to use in starting than cranking to warm the cylinders. Our 24 year old Benz literally starts IMMEDIATELY when warm or after using the glow plugs the required amount (designated by the glow plug light going out). Even our older 1972 did this after sitting for 9 MONTHS. I just put the battery back in, glowed for the required amount of time and turned to "start". One thing I like about diesels; the fuel doesn't evaporate upon sitting for long periods of time. Neither of my 2 fuel-injected gas engined cars will start with practically no cranking, like the old 24 year old Benz diesel.
Ralph
