Starting your tractor

[RalphVa]

I tried something on my new JD 4010 that others of you may want to try, to learn more about how and when the glow plugs work. I've read some potentially misleading information herein.

Here's what I did this afternoon:

I connected a jumper wire to one of my glow plugs and then connected it to a test light and then grounded the test light.

I turned the key switch to "on". No light.

I then turned the key towards start but not turning on the starter. Test light came on. Around 7 seconds or so later, I heard a low "click" of the solenoid, and the light went out.

I then turned the key switch to full start. The engine started immediately, as opposed to yesterday when I had to crank it a bit, accompanied by lots of white smoke on ignition because I didn't know about holding the key inbetween the "on" and "full start" positions to get the glow plugs to work.

I may do this every time in cold weather, just to make sure I'm turning the key to the right location and listen for the solenoid click to get used to it. Why oh why did JD not put a glow plug light on the dash board like Mercedes Benzes have had for years? (The Benz light comes on when you turn the key "on". When it goes out, THEN you turn it to "start'.)

For my jumper wire, it's one with alligator clips on both ends. I'm just leaving it clipped to the one glow plug and wrap/tie the other end around the air cleaner horn. Each alligator clip is covered with rubber coating; so there's little danger in it shorting out if I don't connect the test light to it.

Ralph

 

[B2400]

My 1998 Kubota B2400 has a detent just past the "On" position that lights up a glow plug symbol on the dash. When cold I hold it with the light on for an 8 to 10 count and it fires right up!!

 

[kennyd]

Ralph,
Just put the range selector in gear or pull the PTO switch up, Then turn the key to start. The engine will not crank(due to the safety switches) but the plugs will ignite, 5 to 7 seconds is perfect. Then back to neutral or push the PTO switch back in.

It will start right up this way in cold weather.

Kenny

 

[Soundguy]

My ex-NH 1920 had the timed GP light. Can't rememebr if my 7610s does or not.. the dash is so sparse....

Soundguy

 

[KennyV]

Ralph…
My Kubota L4200 has a light, like ‘Benzes’, on the interment panel, it is temp sensitive, during the summer it is on only a second or two… but during the winter it stays on five to ten seconds. KennyV.

 

[RalphVa]

This didn't light my test light:

Just put the range selector in gear or pull the PTO switch up, Then turn the key to start. The engine will not crank(due to the safety switches) but the plugs will ignite, 5 to 7 seconds is perfect. Then back to neutral or push the PTO switch back in.

The above must be a peculiarity. Doubt it will work on many tractors. Suspect there's a problem with the switches somewhere.

Glad to here that Kubota has the glow plug light right. Now, if they'd only redo their foot pedals.

Ralph

 

[Youare]

My Kubota L3000DT has a glow plug light that lights when you turn the start key in the opposite direction as you would to start the engine. A glow plug lamp lights on the instrument panel as long as you hold it in that position.

Depending on the cold and the length of time the block heater has been plugged in determines the length on time I allow the glow plugs to heat. Usually 5 to 8 seconds and the tractor fires right up.

I remember a Ford 1910 that I used a few times, it had a glow plug indicator that actually was a resistive heating element that glowed brighter the longer you held the switch in the heating position. The little bezel over the element was broken so it was hard to see the element get hot. I was told to put my thumb over the hole and hold the switch in the heating position until I had to move my thumb, worked every time. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Randy

 

[kensfarm]

"My Kubota L3000DT has a glow plug light that lights when you turn the start key in the opposite direction "

The Class III NH Boomers w/ the D option have the light too.. but the key switch "glow position" is the first click in the direction of the full start position.

 

[shvl73]

My Mahindra is similar, turn the key in the opposite direction & the glow plugs, as well as a indicator light come on. 5-10 seconds later, it starts instantly, no matter what the temperature is.

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> The Class III NH Boomers w/ the D option have the light too.. but the key switch "glow position" is the first click in the direction of the full start position.

</font>

You're absolutely right and unless it's cold winter weather I go straight to start without the use of the glow plugs at all. My Boomer has always started this way.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I don't know if this applies to your 4010 or not, but my 4200 has a special set of instructions for cold weather starting regardinig the operation of the ignition switch right in the manual. You might want to check and see if your 4010 has the same or similar in yours.

 

[RoyJackson]

"I don't know if this applies to your 4010 or not, but my 4200 has a special set of instructions for cold weather starting regardinig the operation of the ignition switch right in the manual. You might want to check and see if your 4010 has the same or similar in yours. "

So does my 790...

In this case, it's a preheater in the intake system. One does not want to use ether in a system like that!
Could be a rather bad thing to do, but you probably wouldn't blow the head off the tractor.

If you haven't gone through your manual, or gave it a cursory glance...time to read about cold weather starting.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> "a preheater in the intake system." </font>

That's exactly what mine is. It seems to work quite well, too. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[frank_f15]

THAT is the same thing i do with my 1998 b2400 and i get the same results, in really cold weather i might give a few seconds longer.

 

[RalphVa]

Dutch cleared this up on 4000 series JDs. There was a publication on it by JD. I went out and did some more work with the test light on a glow plug. Here's the starting sequence recommended for 4000 series JDs in cold weather:

Pull range lever up to High. Turn key switch all the way to start and hold for 5 seconds. Push range lever down to Neutral. Starter will engage, and engine will start instantly.

In my checks with the test light, and in previous notes by Dutch, putting the range lever in Low also works. Also, pulling up the PTO button works as well. You have to first turn the ignition to "on", then pull up the PTO button, turn to "start", wait 5 seconds and then push the PTO button in. All 3 of these lever/button movements lit my glow plug test light with the key turned all the way to start.

You can actuate the glow plugs by pausing between "on" and "starter engagement" with the ignition key, but it's very difficult to tell when you're in that "start" position that just turns on the glow plugs without a test light affixed to a glow plug.

JD should have spent another $10 or so and installed a glow plug indicator light on the panel.

Ralph

 

[JimR]

My Cub 7275 has some kind of starter delay switch when it is cold. You can turn the key to the left to heat up the glow plugs or you turn the key to the right to start. When turning to the start position when cold it will click off for a few seconds then the starter will kick in. I like this system better.

 

[LarryD]

Seems like quite the sequence for start-up. I walk up to my 03 33D, turn the key to run position and on comes the the little glow plug light. 5 to 8 seconds later there is the click of a relay and the light goes out. Starts right up.

 

[gcrabb]

On my JD 4600, when starting cold I turn the key on without cranking and I push the key in, the glow plug light lights on the dash. I hold this down for 10 to 20 seconds. This has worked in -20 degree temps with a block heater plugged in an hour before starting.

JD4600 with 460FEL with pallet fork and 7'6" Western Snow Plow, JD LX279, 84" KK finishing mower, 84" KK Landscape Box, 84" KK Landscape Rake, 84" KK Blade, and 72" KK Bush Hog, 7' Northern Tool Backhoe, Bri Mar 6X10 Dump Trailer, 20' Rugged Road Equipment Trailer.

Greg