very hard to start

candyman · Jan 17, 2012

i have a gc2610 tlb has 130 hrs. on it when temp. gets below freezing or so, it is very hard to start sometimes i run the battery dead trying.

any suggestions.
thanks,

cm

g0rd0 · Jan 17, 2012

first check to see if your glow plugs are working, could be something as easy as a broken wire or blown fuse.
My tractor refuses to start if left out on the cold mornings (-10c and below) A mechanic told me that the oil is too thick and the block too cold. So i put in a block heater and that solved the problem. A person just up the road glued a heater on the bottom of the oil sump, works just as well as a block heater.

cdaigle430 · Jan 17, 2012

Block heater is def. worth the investment. You have a new 20k tractor, why would you not have a block heater if you live where it gets to be tha cold?

WilliamBos · Jan 17, 2012

Our 1523 was like that, either use multiple glow cycles, or get a block heater.

That small engine seems to not like the cold.

The 1600 series start much better in the cold than the 1523 did, same engine as GC.

blueriver · Jan 17, 2012

I don't get as cold as some parts of the country. My Branson recently suffered a cold start ... upon investigation I found the wire that goes to the glow plug bar to be loose. I tightened it and solved the problem.

Have you also tryed to cycle the glow plugs several times?

rjmack · Jan 17, 2012

i have a gc2610 tlb has 130 hrs. on it when temp. gets below freezing or so, it is very hard to start sometimes i run the battery dead trying

i have never run my battery dead, but these things don't like starting when it's cold... nature of the beast.

when you think about it, they should be kept inside during the winter anyways. i just built a heated shed for mine, that way the hydro and engine oil are both warm before i take it outside. i don't have a link handy, but i'm pretty sure the overwhelming majority of engine/transmission component wear occurs the first few minutes after cold start.

ray66v · Jan 17, 2012

I have owned one of these tractors for 7 years, and have never had "trouble" starting mine in cold weather.

Sure the block heater "solves" the problem, and if you have $125 to spend, you can add one. Your still going to have to know how to start the tractor, when you forget to plug it in.

In that case, you just need to understand that starting one of these in cold weather, requires a different starting procedure than a normal warm weather start.

First, your glow plug time needs to be extended longer as the temperature decreases. In extremely cold weather, it could be as long as 45 seconds. Perhaps even longer, as your glow plugs get old.

You also have to consider the air density, cold air is more dense. So, very cold air means you are adding more air to your fuel mixture, making too lean to start.

To solve this problem, you simply open the throttle partway before cranking. How much depends on temperature.

On a very cold day, (single digits, or lower), mine starts right up with about 3-4 seconds of cranking, after 30 seconds of glow plug time, and the throttle opened 1/4 of the way.

Each one is going to be a little different; you need to try different combination's to determine what works for you.

If you find your still cranking after 5-6 seconds STOP, and try a different combination. Running the starter until the battery is dead, serves no purpose.

It is a good idea to have a float charger on your battery when not using your tractor, so it is putting out full cranking power in the cold. I added a plug under my dash, so I don't have to open the hood, to put the float charger on my battery.

Keep in mind, as a diesel engine gets worn, it gets harder to start, so your starting procedure may need to be modified eventually.

I have a mower with a Mitsubishi 3 cylinder diesel engine that has over 4000 hours on it. I can start it pretty easily even in the dead of winter. But, some people can't get it to start it in the summer. The only difference is technique.

Jerry/MT · Jan 17, 2012

candyman said:
i have a gc2610 tlb has 130 hrs. on it when temp. gets below freezing or so, it is very hard to start sometimes i run the battery dead trying.

any suggestions.
thanks,

cm

The diesel engines high compression ratio and the fact that the battery output is reduced by cold temperatures works against easy starting when it gets cold.The high compression ratio increases the normal starter torque requirements and the increased oil viscosity ( both engine lube oil and hydraulic system fluid) when the temperature drops increases the required starter torque even more. The peak temperatures in the cylinder due to the compression are also lower so the combustion reaction is a bit harder to get started. Glow plugs and inlet heaters (Thermostart system) help this later issue. The other issues can be helped by block heaters (both cylinder warming and oil viscosity reduction) and battery heaters (increased battery output). Some tractors have hydraulic sump heaters as an option to allow for faster hydraulic operation in cold weather and further enhance starting.

I use block heaters on our diesel powered equipment and that has made for easier starts in cold weather. They are not expensive to buy and are generally easy to insall and don't consume that much power during the 2 hr warm up period. They also save wear and tear on the engine. I have the feeding tractor on a timer that's set to go on before I feed. It's has a cab and heater and the block heater warms the coolant so I have cab heat sooner.

I'd recommend a block heater for improved diesel engine starting in cold weather.

candyman · Jan 17, 2012

thank you all for the advise glow plugs are ok i`ll try ray66 advise first before i get a block heater.

cm

Willl · Jan 17, 2012

candyman said:
when temp. gets below freezing or so,

You mean right around 32 degrees ?

If so, you shouldn't have problems.

How are you going about in checking your glowplugs ?

cdaigle430 · Jan 17, 2012

I dont understand, why spend 20k on a machine and not be able to afford an additional 125 bucks for a block heater? I know its not my descision but to me 125 bucks=less engine wear, faster warm ups, piece of mind, easier on the battery, starter and all with less than a 30 minute waiting period once its plugged in.

Sure the machine will start in cold weather but why do it this way when you dont have to?

Not trying to make this political or drama-just reiterating the other side.

ray66v · Jan 18, 2012

cdaigle430 said:
I dont understand, why spend 20k on a machine and not be able to afford an additional 125 bucks for a block heater? I know its not my descision but to me 125 bucks=less engine wear, faster warm ups, piece of mind, easier on the battery, starter and all with less than a 30 minute waiting period once its plugged in.

Sure the machine will start in cold weather but why do it this way when you dont have to?

Not trying to make this political or drama-just reiterating the other side.

Seems as if your imagining an engine cranking repeatedly until the battery is at least half dead, before it finally reluctantly starts.

My tractor starts in almost the same amount of cranking time as it does in the summer. And, my batter is 7 years old.

Too many people refuse to accept these tractors will start cold, once you learn how to do it.

The only arguable point I see, is the engine wear difference. Which is minuscule. It's not going to add up to any discernible difference, especially in my case.

The engine in my tractor is going to last a lot longer than I will ever need it to.

Since you mention engine wear, what about a pre-oiler? That would greatly reduce start up engine wear, and you can use it year round. Should we all get those too? They are not expensive either. Some people think anyone who doesn't have one of those is crazy.

I don't start the tractor everyday, or live where it's really freaking cold all winter, or have trouble starting it. That's why I don't have one, because I don't need it. Not everyone who buys a GC, needs a block heater either. They should at least see if they can learn to start it first.

But, as I said before, anyone that has $125 and needs, or wants one, they have all your want at the dealer.

rjmack · Jan 18, 2012

Too many people refuse to accept these tractors will start cold, once you learn how to do it

you may have a bit of a point there, but my 2410 really is finicky at less than tropical temps.

it doesn't have to be anywhere near freezing to require preheat to spark right up, has been that way since new... added throttle or not. not sure if they have glow plugs or a grid heater. anyway, i'm glad i had the sense/money to build a dedicated heated storage for it. one winter sitting outside was probably more than enough.

Ray, i did get some 82w cfl's sent up from the states, pricey but they seem to do the job pretty good.

thanks. :thumbsup:

cdaigle430 · Jan 18, 2012

ray66v said:
Seems as if your imagining an engine cranking repeatedly until the battery is at least half dead, before it finally reluctantly starts.

My tractor starts in almost the same amount of cranking time as it does in the summer. And, my batter is 7 years old.

Too many people refuse to accept these tractors will start cold, once you learn how to do it.

The only arguable point I see, is the engine wear difference. Which is minuscule. It's not going to add up to any discernible difference, especially in my case.

The engine in my tractor is going to last a lot longer than I will ever need it to.

Since you mention engine wear, what about a pre-oiler? That would greatly reduce start up engine wear, and you can use it year round. Should we all get those too? They are not expensive either. Some people think anyone who doesn't have one of those is crazy.

I don't start the tractor everyday, or live where it's really freaking cold all winter, or have trouble starting it. That's why I don't have one, because I don't need it. Not everyone who buys a GC, needs a block heater either. They should at least see if they can learn to start it first.

But, as I said before, anyone that has $125 and needs, or wants one, they have all your want at the dealer.

Ray66,
No need to be condescending everytime I post something. The more you respond to my posts the more I come to the conclusion your just a PITA(now you can flame me). I do have a right to my opinion, and yes, I have 25 years around diesels, tractors so my opinion is an educated one. Block heaters can save wear and tear on your electrical system and engine parts this I know. $125 dollar investment is an investment with a great return for your machine.

ray66v · Jan 18, 2012

rjmack said:
you may have a bit of a point there, but my 2410 really is finicky at less than tropical temps.

it doesn't have to be anywhere near freezing to require preheat to spark right up, has been that way since new... added throttle or not. not sure if they have glow plugs or a grid heater. anyway, i'm glad i had the sense/money to build a dedicated heated storage for it. one winter sitting outside was probably more than enough.

Ray, i did get some 82w cfl's sent up from the states, pricey but they seem to do the job pretty good.

thanks. :thumbsup:

If your the only one who cold starts your tractor, you won't know for sure if it's you, or the tractor.

Sometimes one person can easily start an engine, another person can't.

I see that all the time with airplanes.

I have a friend who bought a '58 Harley as a basket case. I did the paint work for him, and he restored the bike to like new condition. The day came where he had to figure out how to start it. It took him a while, but it always starts right up for him now. I still can't start it, even on a nice day, with him standing right there telling me what to do. :confused3:

Glad the CFL's worked out for you. :drink:

ray66v · Jan 18, 2012

cdaigle430 said:
Ray66,
No need to be condescending everytime I post something. The more you respond to my posts the more I come to the conclusion your just a PITA(now you can flame me). I do have a right to my opinion, and yes, I have 25 years around diesels, tractors so my opinion is an educated one. Block heaters can save wear and tear on your electrical system and engine parts this I know. $125 dollar investment is an investment with a great return for your machine.

You made a post which disagreed with mine, asked questions, and received a response. :confused3:

Sorry you did not like the answers.

I ask that you please put me on your TBN ignore list. That way you will not have to read any of my posts.

If you choose not to, you should expect to find me willing to defend my positions, and opinions. And, I will expect you to be willing to discuss, and debate, without violating the rules of TBN.

MF RED in MT · Jan 19, 2012

It took me awhile to learn how to start my GC in our cold weather, :confused2:. My GC is stored in a non-heated garage. What I remember most when it was new, is a lot of the time I was forgetting to increasing the throttle lever enough,

. Once I developed my starting procedure for cold weather, I was not happy listening to the engine warming up,

. It sounded like some nuts and bolts were traveling throughout the engine during the warm up phase, :confused3:. I have since installed the MF blockheater, switched all of my fluids to Amsoil Synthethic, and use Power Service in the white bottle year around in my fuel, :thumbsup:. At minus 35 degrees F, I plug the block heater in for about 45 minutes, start up the tractor, and let it warm up in the garage for about another 45 minutes, :2cents:. The tractor now sounds great during he warm up phase and that makes me feel like I am doing everything within reason to protect my $$$$$ investment, :drink:. This has worked great for me, but others might not need all of this effort I put into cold weather starting, :thumbsup:

Forgot to mention that I always keep the fuel tank full in the winter and never let if fall below half full in the summer.

irvingj · Jan 19, 2012

Guess I fall into the "cheap (well, maybe not so cheap...) insurance" category.

I sprung for the OEM block heater, just to make things a bit easier on the engine during cold weather.

Yes, it was expensive compared to other types, but installation was a breeze and it fit perfectly. It certainly does make starting easier, and I suspect the engine and battery like it too....