sc2400 won't start. . .

[beardley]

Hi Guys,

I'm new here, and I just got my first new tractor(cub sc2400). I owned an old 9n before that, so this has been a major change. I got the unit in December and it worked great until about mid January. I went out to start it one morning and it started like normal. It ran for 10 minutes warming up, I tried to move it, it stalled, and I haven't heard from it since.

I thought maybe the fuel was gelled, but I had been using the additive to prevent it, and the fuel in the sediment bowl looks clear. I removed the bowl and emptied it out, and it will fill right back up, so I don't think the fuel filter is clogged. I can't figure it out. The battery is fully charged, but it just cranks and cranks, with no sign of starting.

The only other strange thing I noticed is that I would expect some unburned fuel to come out of the exhaust, but i don't see anything.

I'm new to diesels, what am I missing? I think I'm going to have to call the dealer, but I like to fix things myself if I can.

Thanks guys for any help.

 

[lorus1966]

Just because the sediment bowl is filling doesn't necessarily mean that the fuel is reaching the engine. If it's parked outside in the cold, maybe you've got gelling in the lines further up? Possibly something is wrong with the injector system?

My experience with my SC2400 is that the dealer has been wonderful about taking care of problems, no matter what they were.

I fully understand wanting to fix things myself, but this is exactly the type of thing that we've got the warranty for. At the least, I'd suggest giving the dealer's service dept. a call to see if they can talk you through the steps to diagnose the problem.

In the meantime, if it is parked out in the cold I'd suggest pulling it in somewhere to warm it up and see if that helps. Just remember to release the hydro before pulling/pushing it anywhere. The release is under the seat if I remember correctly.

Good luck. Please post with the diagnosis and solution that you find, so that I can be on the lookout for the problem with mine.

 

[dqdave1]

Glow plugs working? Bleed injector pump as per your manual. Keep a battery charger on battery while doing injectors. Fuel solenoid working? Yopu should hear a "click" as you turn key to on, it's by the injector pump.

 

[lorus1966]

Two thoughts...

1. The SC2400 does not need to have the injectors bled, and I can't find anything in my manual about this. From what the dealer told me, you can run it dry and it will self-bleed the injectors.

2. I know that this sounds very basic, but have you made sure that the fuel valve didn't inadvertently get turned off? It is located on the side of the sediment bowl. If this got closed, you'd get a few minutes of run time before things cut out, and then you'd be done until it was opened.

I've thought about whether the problem could be one of your safety switches, but I think that if one was bad you wouldn't be able to even turn the thing over. Definitely sounds like a fuel problem.

 

[beardley]

No the fuel valve is definitely open, and it does turn over. I did check all of the fuses and the 2 60A fusable links and everything looks to be ok. I'm going to call the dealer tomorrow and see what they have to say.

 

[EmerichSales]

Most likely just gelled up, Put a little more anti-gel,add alittle kerosene and get it in a warm garage overnite.

 

[beardley]

Unfortunately I don't have a warm garage for it. The temps have been much higher the past week or so(upstate ny) Would I still have gelled fuel in the 40-50 degree range. I also tried running my propane heater on it for a good hour. All the fuel lines were warm to the touch. . .

 

[beardley]

The technician is going to be coming out on Monday to check it out. I have a hunch that it is the fuel pump. I'll let you guys know what the outcome is so you can watch for it with yours. . .

 

[EmerichSales]

What did they find?

 

[beardley]

I'm not sure yet. They took it back with them. . . I wasn't there so I didn't get to talk to him personally. I guess he had said he thought it was a problem with the glow plugs. I guess we will see, but I'm still putting my bet on the fuel pump. Even if the glow plug wasn't working I would expect to see some fuel come out of the exhaust. . . We shall see. . .I'll post what the diagnosis was once I get the unit back.

 

[EmerichSales]

SC2400's have been so flawless so far. I am courius to what they find.

 

[EmerichSales]

wow! How long are they keeping it? Did they let you know what they found yet?

 

[beardley]

We actually just got it back today. I didn't get to speak with the tech, my grandfather did. Unfortunately his memory is a little slow at the ripe old age of 86. He said the tech said it was a solenoid up front. I'm assuming it was the starter solenoid. Is there any other one on it? Would it even turn over if the starter solenoid was dead? I'm going to give them a call on Monday. The teck has gone home for the day . . .

 

[3500DIESEL]

if it was the starter it wouldnt turn over. Right? and if it was a fuel pump why would the sediment bowl fill back up?

 

[gordyy]

do they have a solonoid on the fuel line that shuts off flow to the injectors?
that could be a possibility

 

[beardley]

That sounds more like my problem. I bet that was the one that went. I'll confirm on Monday. Thanks guys for all of your thoughts!!

 

[beardley]

I do have a question you may be able to answer for me though. When its cold out (below 20 F), it take about 30 minutes for the transmission to warm up enough for me to even move it. If I try, the engine just cuts out like I turned the key. 1 is this normal? and 2 would putting a block heater on the transmission fix this?

 

[gordyy]

havent got mine yet but most hydro trannys require a warm up
loosen the oil and get it flowing good
I was always told let em warm up for at least 5 minutes any time the temp is below 40

 

[beardley]

When you say loosen the oil, are you talking about the valve to control the flow? I hadn't thought about that, but that could be my problem because I know i have it turned down. I thought it just controlled the 3pt, but of course now that I think of it, it's the same fluid right? The things you don't know when your last tractor was 60 years old

 

[gordyy]

no I just meant thin it
the viscosity gets thick when cold
even hyd or tranny oils when cold will hardly pur out of a can
supprising how thick it becomes

tip a can up ( there is that age thing whens the last time oil came in a can anyway)
a bottle up when its below 10 your hard pressed to get half of it out in a minute