Starting in cold weather GC17XX

[atsah]

Anyone who hasn't owned a GC would not know how to start one in cold weather, they are different than others, they take more glow plug time and the use of a block heater is needed at 20F or below.. My Deere starts in the winter 10 times easier than my GC did, it's the nature of the beast.. It's a learning experience. The manual is basically worthless, a little throttle and a lot of glow plug time is what it needs to start without it smoking and rattling itself to death..

 

[ray66v]

Anyone who hasn't owned a GC would not know how to start one in cold weather, they are different than others, they take more glow plug time and the use of a block heater is needed at 20F or below.. My Deere starts in the winter 10 times easier than my GC did, it's the nature of the beast.. It's a learning experience. The manual is basically worthless, a little throttle and a lot of glow plug time is what it needs to start without it smoking and rattling itself to death..

I have started my GC for 14 years without a block heater. And, it's not been a problem.

 

[JWR]

My equipment stays in an unheated building which protects it from the worst enemy, sunlight and it keeps it mostly dry which is more convenient but how does it help starting? A good building might be a little warmer but a sloppy shed isn稚 maybe even colder.

My equipment is also in an unheated building. As a result there is no snow or water on the equipment and no wind. Solar heating, except on cloudy days, makes it several degrees warmer inside the building than outside.

 

[not2old]

A new large AGM battery cured my hard starting problems. Used to need at least 15 minutes of block heater and more than 45 seconds of glow plugs to get it going in freezing weather. Now it turns over much quicker and just needs 15 seconds of glow plugs.

 

[atsah]

I have started my GC for 14 years without a block heater. And, it's not been a problem.

Of course it will start without a block heater.. It starts better with the heater plugged in and is easier on the starting system at or below 20F if you use one is my point.. There is a freeze plug hole and a heater made to fit in it that costs $120, why not use it if you live in a region that's cold..

 

[Imold]

I went out and started mine this morning at 32*, held the glow for 50 seconds and it started but not willingly, cold and un heated garage and next time I will plug it in and try it.

A bigger battery is always nice when it’s cold whether gas or diesel.

 

[irvingj]

...And as a reminder for those of you (like me) that have 2300 series tractors: check the ground strap! (Font right, under oil filter)

On 2300s they were a bit short and time & vibration caused the internal strands break, one by one. That will severely limit the juice your battery can get to the starter.

 

[Diggin It]

This may be in the MF section, but isn't really MF specific since so many of us now have smaller engines of different manufacturers.


I can get days below 10 degrees but they're rare. Most nights from December to March are in the 30s or so, but we have had streaks of a week or more that were colder. I rarely get enough snow to worry about. Moving firewood would be my main winter task and that would be enough for a week or more at a time unless we get a real cold snap.

All that leads to this.... my machine could sit for a week or more, maybe two between starts. I hope to have my shed ready by winter to be able to park under cover, but it may not be fully enclosed yet. It will never be heated or insulated, but will have a metal roof for any solar heating effect.

So far, I've never had to leave the GPs lit for more than 10-15 seconds and I only do that if below 50 degrees or so. It starts easily, but coughs and shudders for a few seconds before smoothing out. I see people mentioning 45-60 seconds or longer. I do not have a block heater and no plans to get one. So, my questions are:

Is there a 'too long' that can damage the GPs?
Should I be starting and idling my machine more often in cold weather?

 

[ray66v]

Of course it will start without a block heater.. It starts better with the heater plugged in and is easier on the starting system at or below 20F if you use one is my point.. There is a freeze plug hole and a heater made to fit in it that costs $120, why not use it if you live in a region that's cold..

You said, "the use of a block heater is needed below 20F". Though many are convinced of this, it's not a fact.

Why not use it anyway? Do you use it when you don't need it?

Mine doesn't start hard. It's not cranking long, smoking, or laboring when it fires.

If it was, I would agree with you. But it's not.

I have a video of it starting at 6F, from last year. It started like any other day. And, I have on multiple occasions started it in below zero conditions, It's always started, and it's not been a big deal.

Perhaps you need a block heater. That's fine. I don't.

 

[Nacademus]

You said, "the use of a block heater is needed below 20F". Though many are convinced of this, it's not a fact.

Why not use it anyway? Do you use it when you don't need it?

Mine doesn't start hard. It's not cranking long, smoking, or laboring when it fires.

If it was, I would agree with you. But it's not.

I have a video of it starting at 6F, from last year. It started like any other day. And, I have on multiple occasions started it in below zero conditions, It's always started, and it's not been a big deal.

Perhaps you need a block heater. That's fine. I don't.

I have the same experience. My GC started like normal when it was in the single digits F. I just glow for double the time before trying to start. It chugs for a few seconds until all the cylinders start burning and then its fine.

However, yesterday, I noticed that my friend's GC, which is a 2016 model with 200h on it, started hard and it was only 40 degrees out. I let it glow for two cycles like I would mine and it still sputtered, loped, and stalled on first fire-up. It caught the second time but ran poorly for a few seconds.

I wonder if those having any real issue starting in the cold have a glow plug or two that needs replaced. The 6.2 Diesel in my M1008 was tough to start until I replaced all the glow plugs and now it NEVER gives me a problem no matter how cold. It has an afterglow circuit program, too, which I'm sure helps. I am leaning toward a need to replace the glow plugs.