Starting 855 in cold weather

bob arnold · Feb 5, 2011

I have a John Deere 855 that is housed in an unheated garage. I use it to move snow out of my driveway and that of my neighbors. Getting it to start on a cold day is a chore. I've looked at adding a block heater and may do that this summer.

There is apparently no glow plug type heater or any way to put starting fluid into the system, so the block heater seems to be the only alternative.

Does anyone have a better idea?

RoyJackson · Feb 5, 2011

bob arnold said:
I have a John Deere 855 that is housed in an unheated garage. I use it to move snow out of my driveway and that of my neighbors. Getting it to start on a cold day is a chore. I've looked at adding a block heater and may do that this summer.

There is apparently no glow plug type heater or any way to put starting fluid into the system, so the block heater seems to be the only alternative.

Does anyone have a better idea?

A block heater is an excellent idea and I strongly suggest you do add one.
As far as no glow plugs or other cold weather starting assist, I think you're wrong...if you have a manual, look it up. If not, I'm sure someone will post the procedure soon enough. In the interim, you might try turning the key counterclockwise and see if the glow plug light comes on (that's the procedure for my old 670 and 790) or turning it to the run (not start) position and pressing it in (procedure for the 4400, 4300, 4200 Deeres).

Do not use ether or other starting fluids!!! BAD BAD BAD!!!

kennyd · Feb 5, 2011

Your 855 has a "air intake heater", part #15 in the diagram below. Might want to check it with a ohm meter and make sure it has continuity, it should read near zero ohms.

RoyJackson · Feb 5, 2011

kennyd said:
Your 855 has a "air intake heater", part #15 in the diagram below. Might want to check it with a ohm meter and make sure it has continuity, it should read near zero ohms.

What's the book say about the procedure to use the heater, Kenny?

kennyd · Feb 5, 2011

RoyJackson said:
What's the book say about the procedure to use the heater, Kenny?

No book online for this model unfortunately...I checked. They only have the newer ones posted.

bob arnold · Feb 5, 2011

Thanks everyone. Although the manual doesn't tell me this, thanks to this forum I learned that if I turn the key counterclockwise and wait a few seconds, the air intake heater kicks in and that makes starting much easier.