tc 40d wont start

[ropeandtie]

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Tc 40D with 462 hours. Last month or so the glow plug light might come on or might not, but always started. sometimes the light would come on and stay on after running for a good while. Like 5 minutes or so. This morning after a 5 degree night, it wouldn't start. The glow plug light comes on and shuts off after 4 seconds and even "clicks" when going out. Are my glow plugs junk or what? How do I check? Is there any other way to get it to start? I cracked the bleeder and it is getting fuel.

 

[DocHeb]

"Won't start" as in cranks and won't start, or no starter turning?

Cranks and won't start is a fuel delivery problem (your fuel filter and line have gelled due to low temps.)

No starter turning is no electricty (battery, connections, safety switches, fuse #2.)

Also, sounds like your glow plug timer needs replacing.

 

[ropeandtie]

Sorry for the vagueness. Tractor cranks fine and fast enough to start, just doesnt fire. I cracked the bleeder line and had what I thought was plenty fuel coming out as it cranked over. Maybe it is gelled. Would the glow plug not working keep it from starting?

 

[gerard]

Glowplugs are really only needed when the tractor/fuel/block is cold. If temps are above say 50deg f, it shoud start without needing glowplugs but it will crank a little longer than if you used the glow plugs. If you can start it when warmer but not when cold, I would say you have a glowplug problem. If you have a small space heater, a garage, and a canvas tarp, you can throw the heater under the tractor, cover the whole thing with a tarp, and heat everything up, then try and start it. (I'm talking about a small ceramic type heater, not a salamander which would probably throw out too much heat). If it starts ok you have a glowplug issue.

 

[dynasim]

When my tractor has "gelled" up, it will sputter and try to start, but won't sustain itself. If you open the fuel filter bowl(mine is clear), it becomes obvious what the problem is. It is very easy to take the filter case off and on, and inspecting that are provides certainty as to whether that is the problem.

Doing so will show you 1) if the filter is plugged with gell or ice, 2) if the inner part of the filter is full of gell or ice, 3) if fuel can flow from the tank.

On my TC45, if the glow plug light doesn't come on, it won't start if the temp is below 10 F. Because my timer is messed up, and I am a ways away from a dealer, I turn the switch off and on a couple of times until it does come on. That does the trick.

I have had an awful time with fuel this winter, and my jackets stink from diesel. urrggg.

I also found that if the line from the tank is gelled up, I can tell because the fuel filter bowl will empty out. At about half full, the tractor dies. I think that the class III TC's have auto bleed, because I have never had to do anything special, but I am not sure.

Good Luck
Chris

 

[ropeandtie]

thanks gerard, when you say a salamander would throw out too much heat is that in reference to thawing out any potential frozen or gelled lines?

 

[gerard]

Just that even small throws upwards of 50000btu. You COULD use one but I wouldn't leave it unattended. The problem is it's going to take a while to heat the whole engine block. A salamander will heat the whole exterior really quickly but it's still going to take time to transfer that heat throughout the engine. BTW - if it's a gelling problem this will take care of that too. Course if you DO have a small salamander you could just adjust things so MOST of the heats blowing under the tarp but not all of it. Also - do you have a block heater?? If not it's well worth the $50. Starts up like it's summer. I don't think it cranks more than 1/2 a second when starting.

Also - you don't say where you're from. What kind of temps are we talking about. Is tractor inside or out? What kind of fuel are you using (winterized or not?) Are you using power service or other additive? If you warm up the whole tractor and it starts/runs fine it could be gelling which is preventable with proper fuel treatment

 

[djradz]

You could have a couple of problems you're dealing with; Glowplugs and fuel.

You should start with a voltmeter on the glowplug connection on the top of the engine at the front. This will tell you if you even have voltage and for how long. On my 40D, I turn the switch to the glow position and then back off, and then on a second or even a third time when it's bitterly cold.

Also, I know the theory is that glowplugs are only used when it is cold, but my experience has been on my 40D that if I don't use them, even when relatively warm outside (engine still cold - not just ran) it take more cranking and more black smoke results than when I give it a few seconds on the glowplugs.

Secondly, you need to see if you get fuel at the pump. There plenty of posts existing dealing with bleading the fuel system. Typically you are going to loosen the bleader on the top of the pump.

Lastly, regardless of the outcome, you may want to add a block-heater if your tractor often is exposed to such extremes. Not that you'd leave it on all the time, but if you know you are going to use the tractor, plug it in several hours or even the day before.

 

[AndyG]

I'm almost positive that your glow plug timer has gone bad. A new one can be had for $40-$50 dollars. I had almost exactly the same experience when mine went bad and I have the same tractor with about the same hours. It is fairly easy to install. If the timer fails again I am going to abandon it. The timer unecessarily complicates what should be a simple system, I can install a push button and count to 20 myself. Do a search, on this forum, for glow plug and glow plug timer and you should find more info.