Starting my Iseki TX2140

Marcle · Jan 3, 2013

I'm wondering what other owners experiences are with starting their Iseki.

Mine has the three cylinder Mitsi engine. I have to pre-heat for around 20 seconds before turning the engine over (ambient temperature is usually around 10 degrees centigrade). Anything shorter, it doesn't really want to know about starting. Sometimes it doesn't start on all three cylinders, but seems to start on one or two before the third starts. This usually indicates an issue with the glow/heater plugs.

I've metered the glow/heater plugs and they're all the same resistance, so should all be working. The tractor has only done around 240 hours, so wouldn't have thought the injectors needed a service. Though having said that, it may benefit new plugs and injector service.

It starts fine after the initial morning start-up.

What's the experience of other owners please?

Ilikeurtractor · Jan 3, 2013

I have the following Mitsubishi engines - K3A (what you have), K3B, KE70, and KE75. All of them need glow plug activation to start quickly from a "cold" condition, even on summer days. The K3B seems to start easier than the K3A, but I need to confirm all the glow plugs are working on the K3A. The two cylinder engines (KE70/5) seem to not start nearly as well, especially once the temps drop down below 30 deg F. Usually the 3-cylinder engines fire and try to run but you may need to repeat the cycle while the 2-cylinder engines kind of start to fire while you have to hold the starter engaged until they "come up to operating speed" and run on their own. My elevation is around 6200 ft. above sea level and that appears to make it a bit more difficult to start than at sea-level. I'm at the point where if I want reliable starts in colder weather (less than 30 deg. F) I will plug in the block heater if it is equipped with one. I plan on having a block heater on all of them as there are a lot of benefits to having one - primarily so the engine doesn't have to go through the very cold to operating temps so quickly. Of course the drawback is that if you need the tractor quickly and haven't plugged it in it can be frustrating.

suntreemcanic · Jan 4, 2013

I have a KE75 2-cylinder tractor. My tractor is under cover but in an open shed. It had not ran in a week, it was 10 degrees F. this morning, I have a 750 watt block heater on it and I plugged it in for 45 minutes. It started right up without use of the glow plugs. If you have the time a block heater is the way to start an older diesel engine.

Marcle · Jan 4, 2013

10F is mighty cold for us, which is -12C. Luckily we don't see those sort of temps often in the UK. I prefer my 10C (50F).

Another thing I was going to try, is some better quality diesel, as it does sort of run when turning over, but takes a while before it runs with out assistance from the starter motor.

Rod in Forfar · Jan 18, 2013

My 1981 TX1500/Bolens G174 became very hard to start and eventually let me down. No amount of glow plug work did any good, but the local tractor dealership mechanic listened to the starter, then reached down and wiggled it. He showed me that the starter was coming apart and jamming, requiring a lot of battery power and producing poor starting torque. A rebuild and the cold starting was fine from then on. He further commented that I'd likely get many years yet out of the little tractor.

Marcle · Jan 19, 2013

Petrol (gas) engines will start with minimal turning providing there's a good spark, where as diesel engines require speed to start as its the rate of compression that makes the mixture explode.

Ilikeurtractor · Jan 19, 2013

Diesels love a high-speed starter as mentioned, but I have a Bolens G244 (Iseki TS2220F) that turns over at a disappointingly slow rate. Somehow the engine always manages to start relatively quickly. I'd say it seems to roll over at about half the speed of any of the other tractors that have the mitsubishi engines. Not sure if this is typical of that engine/starter or I've got a problem. I should shoot a video and see what others think.

flyer61 · Jan 28, 2013

i live up in Maine. just tried starting the tractor the other day. it's been below 0 degrees F every night for the past week. i find if i just put my propane heater blowing on the tractor for about 20 minutes, it cranks over an fires every time. those mitsu diesels hate the real cold temps! mine is a K3A like yours. put the heat to er, she'll fire!!

Rod in Forfar · Jan 31, 2013

When I bought my TX1500/G174 there was a gooey patch with some fibreglass mess attached to the rear of the oil pan. I was pretty apprehensive about a leak until I eventually traced the patch to a power cord at the front. The previous owner had obviously glued a heater to the motor to improve cold starting. It works, though not as well as the other tractors' block heaters where the coolant is warmed. Below 0 degrees F, forget it, even with the heater on.

Basically the Bolens has become a garage queen for the winter, snuggling near the box stove in my shop.

TomSeller · Apr 7, 2013

My Bolens G154 (Iseki TX2140F) with Mitsubishi KA3 developed a starting issue. It turned out to be a loose adapter fitting on the injector line to injector #2. I have no idea how it became loose. This was not the compression fitting on the injector line, but an adapter type fitting with a spring underneath it. I am unsure what the spring does but tightening the fitting worked like a charm. Back in business.

jminer · Apr 28, 2013

I just got a tx 1500 which is the mitsu KE75 eng. the thing does not like to start. it took 20 min yesterday in 50 F weather and it was in the shop. Any ideas any 1?

NHmitch · Apr 28, 2013

Hi,
Welcome to the group! I have to use my glow plugs for the first start even in weather at that temp until the indicator glows red. I could be a number of things. Have you bled the fuel system lately? Below is the link to the manual for your tractor, and there are instructions in it on the order of bleeding it. How does it run after it starts? Also, is the fuel in the tractor what came with it? Is there possibly water in the fuel, or is it bad gas? You might need to drain the tank, and put fresh fuel in. We should be able to help you get it running, there are a lot of good people on here with a ton of knowledge about your tractor!

http://sonnys_bolens.tripod.com/iseki/TX1300-1500-OM.pdf

Ilikeurtractor · Apr 28, 2013

Virtually all older diesels need a starting aid even in warm weather with a "cold" block. Check to make sure those are working and that you're pre-heating for at least 20 seconds. Avoid using ether to start the engine. Next, check your compression pressure if you can. If it's down around 350 or less then you'll need to investigate rings and piston clearances.

TomSeller · Apr 29, 2013

I did a double take and looked at my K3A Mitsubishi and now know what is wrong with your KE75. It is missing a cylinder. Just joking. Those KE70/75 sure are cool looking engines. I like the looks of the valve cover.

jminer · Apr 29, 2013

my grandfather has a G154 but since his passing it sits alot it seems just as hard to start. We just rebuilt the engine in mine and its got maybe an hr on it lol. It does have the uph though. Personally I think it has more umph than my dad's bx24 kuboky lol:cool2:

TomSeller · Apr 29, 2013

They do have a lot of umph. Only my flail mower seems to big my G154 down. My K3A starts in an instant, like a car.

TomSeller · May 6, 2013

I posted a little while back about fixing a loose injector adapter problem that manifested by the engine not starting. I thought my G154 (TX2140F) started fine before the problem came up, I had no worries when I went to start it. Cranked for about 3 seconds and fired up. But now,,,, Wow!! If it cranks for 1 second I would be surprised. I am guessing the adapter was loose all along since I obtained the little tractor (@500 hrs) and the adapter loosened up over time, or the O-ring inside shrunk a little. It sure is a nice garden tractor.

turf cutter · May 6, 2013

hi, all diesels need heat to start from cold first thing in the morning
that is why they come with a cold start heater plug from new, as they get older this
applies more so, using the heater cold start also prolongs the starter an battery.after first
start up they should start up without heat ,

regards turf cutter

willi67 · May 6, 2013

TomSeller said:
They do have a lot of umph. Only my flail mower seems to big my G154 down. My K3A starts in an instant, like a car.

I have a TM217, E3100 engine .. needs glow plugs from cold but starts right up. This thing is rated at 17hp but I'm sure it has more umph than a BX2360, the power steering and HST on the BX is nice tho