starting observation

[andyspain]

Hi all, Most diesel engine glow plugs are set on a timer. When you turn the ignition key to the second notch a white light glows and starting should not be attempted until the light goes out automatically. Our Jinma's come equipped with the countdown methods, meaning you have to guess by counting down from one to twenty seconds (20 seconds I read somewhere, although I think that's a lot) before starting. Its cold in northern Spain at the moment, but I don't have any problem with my 284. Although being new I obviously have very good compression. A fact that everybody seems to have missed, compression is very important for ignition. If you have an old tractor starting will be more difficult. I knew a gent in Greece who had to pour oil into the air inlet of his unimog to start it! This increases the compression. Always nice to chat gents. Bye for now Andy

 

[JohnS]

The starter issue was only with Y380/Y385 engines. Different starter in the 2cyl.

I see a lonnnggggg.... discussion between you and Greg comming /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif But, would consider it is ALL moot, because of where you live. When it is 20F, does anyone go outside in FL? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[billbill1]

Soundguy, I started my 284 on Saturday and it was 7 degrees without the wind chill factor. It started right up. I installed a NAPA lower radiator hose heater and I use it, I don't have to but it seems to start faster with it and it gives me piece of mind to start a warm engine. I would doubt that you would have any problem at all in Florida. It took a new warranty starter for me to get to this point and learning how my tractor starts. No more than it would cost you, why wouldn't you get power steering and 4WD?

Bill

 

[greg_g]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't see how the lack or addition of power steering, or how many drive wheels there are will affect starting. I don't see how that paints me into a corner on the starting issue. )</font>
You missed the point (more than one actually). The fact that you've decided upon getting a 20hp/2wd Chinese tractor without power steering, pretty much narrows the field down to the JM200 or branded equivalent. And the vast majority of starting issues seem to be raised by Jinma owners.

THAT's the corner to which I referred. But if it's going to be a Florida tractor, none of this really matters anyway.

//greg//

 

[thegreatrandini]

When u have high compression and low temp (say 20 degrees or less) it takes alot of horsepower to turn the engine over. I don't have a chineese tractor but my Yanmar's starter strains to turn the motor over in cold weather. If I don't use the correct oil u can forget it. It turns fine with the compression release engaged but when you hit that baby it only turns a couple revs with any speed. I have to heat the engine. No big deal for me. I also use the ts. As u lose compression, combustion is more difficult but you make up for it with an easier turning engine....... my opinion.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Egon]

one of my antiques is down for repair right now.

Need some white lithum grease??

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[billbill1]

Randini, where are you in NE Kansas? I'm outside of Lawrence (Lecompton).

 

[bluechip]

I'll share my observation for what its worth. 1st, as with many of the issues posted, a few people can make it appear everyon has the same problem, people without problems seldom post. We have had several post here that they start fine. I do think the Yangdong Y380 and Y385 engines tend to be a little more difficult to start than others I have tried. The KAMA seems to start the best out of the Chinese brands I'm involved with, surprised me because as Greg says, no factory installed starting aids. I think the glow plugs are a big part of it, they are not the very most reliable, and they seem to cool quickly. This is aggrevated by the momentary contact for glow plugs on the stock ignition switch.

Most of these tractors are also new, so may not have the very best ring seating, etc yet. Remember when engines had to be broken in? We are still living in those "good ole days" with our tractors.

The Chinese oil gets thick as beeswax in the cold, Many importers do not change this oil, choosing to use it for break in before discarding it. Fine in warm weather but...

Same with hydraulic oil, cold oil puts a load on the starter because the pump is running all the time so lighter hyd. oil will help speed up the starting process.

I have not seen the cold weather starter motor problem myself yet, perhaps because we are in the south. But the 2cyl and 3cyl use the same starter, perhaps it a relationship with the ring gear which may be different.

But like someone said, I don't think you will have much trouble in Florida, even with the Chinese oil...

 

[SPIKER]

I'm With JohnS and BChip: I have not had ANY issues starting my jinma284 even at -20 degrees last year when I got stuck in the drive! I SWORE I was going to need the charger and some sort of way to heat the tractor up prior to getting her running as I hadn't started her in over a month!... anyhow fI first ran into barn and plugged in the 500 watt shop halogen lamp/light and set it on the fornt wheel pinting at the injector pum at about 16" away. then went into farm house and got on the carharts and boots, (as I was stuck way at the end of drive having not been at the farm house in a long time snow blowing blizzard had a 20" drift at the edge on top of 8~10' wide snow plow piles.) it took me about 15 min to get some coffee going and the carharts on and boots on. then off to barn to try and get the car un-stuck. I hit the glow plugs, held them 15 sec, and cranked her. she smoked a bit and sputtered a bit and I let of the starter as she seemed to try & start (about 10 seconds on starter) I waited about 30 sec and hit the glow plugs for 10 count & starter again more smoke & sputtering but no running. I tried it righ away onto the glow plugs and she fired right off after 5sec of starter (I think if i had cranked her a few sec longer any of the first two times she would have started) anyhow 3 others close by also have jinmas and theirs started that cold spell too as every one of us needed to plow drives. one guy does keep his in garage which is semi heated and the other guy uses block heater but also has it in a lean too only. both of these guys are ones who got tractors from ME when I bought 4 in a container... the other one is in TX and he just sent a x-mas note stating his is running great and used every day too (he posts on here some times too!) so far ALL of us are useing the orriginal 3 yr old china battery too! Also we had inimate discussion on HOW to accuratly charge a NEW battery up the right way /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif and proper grounding and cleaning of the contact points of the battery cables. now it also could be there were a few bad starters back a year or so too.?

anyhow I agree I think some are making it sound like the jinmas are poor starting but I think it leads back to a few items, (lowest cost often ='s lower knowlage on the new users part, poor battery hookups, possbable bad starter issues with some of them...

anyhow I think you would be very pleased with her as you seem to know HOW and WHAT to do with OLD iron so the NEW one should be running well for you... (though I think I woudl want Powersteering but that is just ME. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[theoldpioneer]

Wow, this is a timely topic for me! I just came in from the back lot after finally getting my 254 started. It wouldn't start this past Saturday morning or any day since. I picked up a water heater yesterday morning from NAPA and after struggling to find hoses with the right bends, I got it in, heated up the water, and the little guy started up with a touch. I don't know about the typical chinese tractor, but mine seems to need to be toasty.

For those of you who installed water heaters, maybe you could help me with a small problem. I installed mine on the lower radiator hose (I've never seen one installed anyplace else), but I had trouble finding hoses to go from radiator to heater and heater to water port on the block. What kind or part number of hoses did you use to install the heater? I jury rigged mine with part of the original hose and some high pressure black hose from Tractor Supply. I got it in but it leaks. My other question is, where's the glow plug? I'm suspicious that if mine has one, it may not be working -- but I can't find it against my Chinese diagram. Tomorrow, I get to plow our road the first time --15 inches of snow by Friday!javascript:void(0)