Block Heater Surprise

Gordon Gould · Jan 5, 2017

Did some starting experiments the last couple days and this morning and there is no doubt in my mind now - The procedure to run the glow plugs independently from the automatic timer by using the start position of the ignition switch with the shuttle in forward works on my 2001 L3010. Intended by Kubota or not, Who knows.

Thanks again Dave !!!

gg

coldsteelva · Jan 5, 2017

Just for further confirmation, could one of you place an inline LED or non-contact voltage tester at the glow plug to confirm that power is indeed being sent to it. An actual visual indicator is better than seat of the pants. I think it's cool that it works this way.

dieselcrawler · Jan 5, 2017

Rustyiron said:
This is a little diesel trick that I've used, not on a tractor, but I've pointed a heat gun (hair dryer would work) into the air cleaner (while cranking) and it was the difference between starting or not.

Ive done the same with a propane torch... Equipment at work, easily removable air cleaner assembly, metal intake tube. Stick the torch in there while another guy cranks it over... Fired right up every time. Be careful... Dont melt stuff!

Dave M7040 · Jan 5, 2017

dieselcrawler said:
Ive done the same with a propane torch... Equipment at work, easily removable air cleaner assembly, metal intake tube. Stick the torch in there while another guy cranks it over... Fired right up every time. Be careful... Dont melt stuff!

You can buy that design in package called Thermostart.

An electrical heating element located inside the intake manifold gets red hot and then diesel fuel drips on the element producing a flame which the engine ingests as it cranks.

Not uncommon on older UK tractors. This video shows how effective in producing a flame. Thermostart on my JD 65 - YouTube

Watched a youtube video of a Russian building a fire under his engine. Oil pans were a structural member in those days

Dave M7040

RaydaKub · Jan 5, 2017

npalen said:
When I was a child we would play in the family Ford Galaxy and if we turned on the four way flashers and step down on the brake we could listen to the radio with out the keys.

That's hilarious!

Don't you wonder how many combinations of levers and switches they tried until something happened and they figured that out?

tcreeley · Jan 5, 2017

You must have newer tractors!
My tractor is always plugged in and I always set the glow plugs on with my key by turning it backwards, count to 30 or watch for 3 blinks - then I start it. Starts right up. Starts faster than if I hadn't plugged it in. In the summer it does better if I use the glow plugs too.

npalen · Jan 5, 2017

When I was a child we would play in the family Ford Galaxy and if we turned on the four way flashers and step down on the brake we could listen to the radio with out the keys.

Did you have to wait for the vacuum tube radio to warm up?

Rocky J · Jan 5, 2017

npalen said:
When I was a child we would play in the family Ford Galaxy and if we turned on the four way flashers and step down on the brake we could listen to the radio with out the keys.

Did you have to wait for the vacuum tube radio to warm up?

Yes we did,some times we would run the battery down and half to walk to school and it was up hill both ways.

CobyRupert · Jan 6, 2017

Gordon Gould said:
Did some starting experiments the last couple days and this morning and there is no doubt in my mind now - The procedure to run the glow plugs independently from the automatic timer by using the start position of the ignition switch with the shuttle in forward works on my 2001 L3010. Intended by Kubota or not, Who knows.

Thanks again Dave !!!

gg

Automatic timer? Previously someone mentioned that normally it's an automatic temperature sensor that cuts out the glow plugs, thus the glow plugs don't work if the block heater has been plugged in.

I don't know much about Kubotas, but I know a couple things about circuits. Can I assume that normally the shuttle needs to be in neutral to start? (Thus the "bypass" isn't so much about putting the shuttle into forward as it is about not being in neutral?)
To me the simplest explanation is the glow plugs normally temporarily come on (without indication lights, or temp/timer interlock) when key is in the starting position, even in the summer; but your safety interlocks only interrupt starter circuit and not the glow plugs.
I suspect if you turned the PTO on, instead of moving shuttle shift, and then tried starting you might get the same "work around" results at the glow plugs?

Gordon Gould · Jan 6, 2017

It is hard to explain these complicated things so that everyone knows what you are saying.

There is a automatic variable timer. The time duration is controlled by a temp sensor. The lower the temp the longer the time out.

In normal operation when the ignition goes from off to on (not start) the timer starts and the glow plugs and dash indicator come on. You wait until the timer expires, indicator goes out and you can hear the glow plug relay open, and then advance the ignition switch to start.

If you do not wait for the timer to expire and turn the ignition to start while the glow plugs are on the glow plug indicator goes out and the relay opens, immediately. So it seems in normal operation the glow plugs are never on when the ignition is in the start position.

gg