Starting a JD 2520

[revitupfaster]

I recently purchased a new 2010 JD2520. I have read the owners manual regarding the startup procedure, but it really doesn't address my question.

In the warmer weather, I just turned the key right over to the cranking position and away she went with just a few turns of the starter. Now in the colder weather, she seems to take quite a few more turns of the starter. No real problem, she starts all the time, but I notice if you just turn the ignition to the "on" stage, you can hear a clicking noise, which I assume is the injectors.

For cold weather starts, or starts at any time for that matter, should you "pause" at the on stage for a few seconds before cranking or not? When you hear this clicking noise, is anything actually happening? I used to sell outboards, and on the newer direct injection models, the injectors primed the fuel system electrically, so the clicking sound was actually "priming" the system and made for a quicker start.

Just wondering what is the proper procedure.

REV

 

[revitupfaster]

Thanks deputy11 for the reply, but I don't believe the 2520 has Glow Plugs, due to the fact that it's direct injection.

(deputy's answer was posted on the "Buying & Pricing" section, where I mistakenly originally posted my question)

REV

 

[diesel466]

The newer 2520 does have glow plugs, Your owners manual should tell you which key position turns them on.

 

[revitupfaster]

I just checked the manual on-line, and it doesn't mention anything about having glow plugs. It just says to turn ignition on, and make sure all the indicator lights come on, (probably just a lamp check) and fire it up.

Nothing about glow plugs at all. I did read previously somewhere that some 2520 models had that squiggeley light thingy that came on, but it seemed to me this wasn't on all models.

Sure would like to have a JD Tech chime in here, because if I remember correctly, there wasn't any CLEAR answers the last time I saw a thread like this. Some thought they had glow plugs and some said no there are no glow plugs with the direct injection. How can we find out for certain?

JD also talks about "Cold Weather Starting Aids" like a coolant and transmission oil heater. Does anyone have these options? I had an old Yanmar 3 cyl 27hp, and she had a block heater but in all the years I had it, I never used the heater, and she started fine, in any weather.

REV

 

[Willl]

JD parts don't show any either, nor a grid heater.

Correction,,,I did find a grid heater. And glow plugs. Depends on your engine I guess.

On-line manual doesn't mention them.

 

[diesel466]

Hi rev It does not surprise me that the manual is not clear on starting, I had a 3005 and found lots of mistakes in manual. The 3005 and 2520 share the same engine and mine definitely had glow plugs. The john deere parts site shows glow plugs on you tractor. Just because a engine is direct injection, doesnt mean it cant have glowplugs.

 

[revitupfaster]

Hi diesel466, when you say they share the same engine, does the 3005 have a direct, or indirect fuel delivery system.

Somehow, I thought the fuel delivery system had a bearing on whether the engine had glow plugs or not. Anyway, if mine has them, I sure don't know how to use them. On my old Yanmar, I had to turn the ignition key to the left for a few seconds, which activated the glows and then turn it quickley over to start.

REV

 

[diesel466]

Rev They are both direct injection, The ford powerstroke was a direct injection engine and has glowplugs. If you go to john deere parts and look your tractor up you will see glow plugs listed with the cylinder head.

 

[JD755]

The 2320 and 2720 have glow plugs and their manuals say to turn the key to ON and wait a few seconds for the glow plug light to shut off, then start the tractor. The manual for the 2520 specifically leaves out anything about preheat, but it does have either glow plugs or intake air heater. Engines marked 3TNV82A-BMJK have glow plugs, while engines marked 3TNV82A-MJK, MJKE have air intake heaters. I would follow the the procedure for the other tractors and just pretend to wait a few seconds for a light to shut off before starting it in cold weather.

 

[Dutch445]

I think this has been discussed before, but unless something
has changed, the glow plugs energize on the crank position
of the ignition switch. If you want to pre-heat before the
starter cranks, either pull the pto switch or put the range
lever in gear, and turn the key to "crank". The starter shouldn't
crank, but you should notice your dash lights dim slightly, which
I would imagine is the voltage draw of the glow plugs as they
heat up. After a few seconds, move your pto or range lever
back to starting position, and you should find that engine
fires up quicker in the cold weather.

 

[JD755]

If you want to know for sure, take a voltmeter to either the glow plugs or the air intake heater, whichever you have, and check for voltage when you turn the key to ON. Voltage would be there for just a few seconds. If no voltage then try Dutch procedure to measure in Crank position. If voltage is there during Crank then that would explain it being left out of the manual.

 

[revitupfaster]

Well, I just got off the phone to my dealer, and although the person I was talking to was not an actual "Tech", he referred to the "latest" sales manual for the 2520, and apparently they have an "Air Preheater", which JD classes as a cold starting aid.

Apparently this air pre-heater activates during the normal cranking of the engine during startup. I told him that now the cold weather has arrived that the engine was cranking over somewhat more than it did in warmer times, but apparently that's normal, so you just go ahead and crank it till it starts.

That's the latest answer I'm getting. Who knows, everybody seems to have a different story. Boy, I wouldn't think this question should be all that difficult, but apparently it is.

REV

 

[Runner]

I think the actual answer is that, yes, the 2520 does have glow plugs, but not in the cylinders. If you look at the shop manual, it does state that it has glow plugs, but, as stated by your dealer, they are in the intake manifold.

As far as special starting for cold weather, I seem to remember the manual stating that you should open the throttle 1/4 or something like that for starting all the time. However, I always just leave it at the minimum setting and have never had any starting problems, cold or hot.

 

[JD755]

So the later models are the ones with the air heater and the earlier models had glow plugs? Have you checked your engine to confirm which you have? Makes no difference on how you activate them, but might be good to know.

 

[JD755]

I think the actual answer is that, yes, the 2520 does have glow plugs, but not in the cylinders. If you look at the shop manual, it does state that it has glow plugs, but, as stated by your dealer, they are in the intake manifold.

As far as special starting for cold weather, I seem to remember the manual stating that you should open the throttle 1/4 or something like that for starting all the time. However, I always just leave it at the minimum setting and have never had any starting problems, cold or hot.

The air heater is not glow plugs and is not in the intake manifold. It is a heating element just after the air cleaner. Item 20. Deere has used these for many years. They were on the 855 and 955.

 

[diesel466]

The newer models are the ones with glow plugs, older model had grid heater. It should be very easy to open hood and see them in the head. I would talk to service dept. not salesman as to key postion to activate them. Good Luck

 

[Runner]

"The air heater is not glow plugs and is not in the intake manifold. It is a heating element just after the air cleaner. Item 20. Deere has used these for many years. They were on the 855 and 955."

JD needs to make up their mind about it because they alternately refer to "manifold heaters" and "glow plugs" in the tech manual.

Quoting from the "Electrical Diagnostics & Operation" section, on page 152:

(2) Does manifold heater heat when voltage is present?

Yes - Test complete.

No - If voltage is present at the glow plug connectors but glow plugs don't heat, remove suspect glow plug(s). Ground plug to head and put key in START position. Replace glow plugs that do not heat.

 

[JD755]

Deere does have many problems with their proofreading, although the tech manuals usually do better than their advertising. Looks like in this case they updated just part of the manual when changing from air heater to glow plugs. Also instead of separately explaining two different systems, they just tried to update everything to the latest model. Seen that before. Can make it hard to work on different years of the same tractor.

 

[Deadman]

My 2520 is like 2-3 years old now, and it starts sooooooooo EASY in the winter. You guys are worrying about something thats likely never going to be an issue. I started mine last winter at -5F, and I let the throttle at idle speed, and just cranked it. It cranked for maybe 3 seconds at the MOST, and it fired right up, and was purring like a kitten. It will automatically go to Hi-Idle until it warms up so far. i won't move it until it idles down, and I don't "work" it til it gets really warmed up good.

 

[Runner]

"My 2520 is like 2-3 years old now, and it starts sooooooooo EASY in the winter. You guys are worrying about something thats likely never going to be an issue. I started mine last winter at -5F, and I let the throttle at idle speed, and just cranked it. It cranked for maybe 3 seconds at the MOST, and it fired right up, and was purring like a kitten. It will automatically go to Hi-Idle until it warms up so far. i won't move it until it idles down, and I don't "work" it til it gets really warmed up good."

I agree completely. I've never had any problems whatsoever starting mine in the winter. I've never even used the block heater. It starts much easier than my gas lawn tractor....