1981 ford 1700, hard to start

[Breau123]

Hey everyone.
I have an 1981 ford 1700 that is very hard to start. At -2 degree celcius it can take me about an hour of cranking to start. With 2 magnetic block heater and the in line pipe heater.
Im new with diesel, but have relatively very good mechanical skills.

Heres what i know
Glow plugs are working.
Its Cranking good.
Fuel filter is new.
Oil filter is new, oil and oil is new rotella 10w40.
There not any leaks to be seen around injectors/plugs/line/pump
Somr black smoke when cranking
Once its starts, i can shut her off and re start it real easy.
I can run it all day long once its started, barely any smoke and seems to have all its power.
It takes quite a while of running before it will idle on it self.

I begining to suspect its a compression problem, but i dont have any diesel compression gauge to check.
Theres not really any blow by, and bately any smoke while running so i still doubt it could be the compression.

Anyways, any help or ideas could help me. And would be appreciated
thanks
Philippe

 

[Breau123]

I should add that i cycle the glow plus 20 seconds everytime i crank it.

 

[Breau123]

Up!

Any suggestions?

 

[K5lwq]

At -2 degrees you may have to cycle the glow plugs a additional 20 seconds.

Are you positive all the glow plugs are working? Have you tested them?

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

At -2 degrees you may have to cycle the glow plugs a additional 20 seconds.

Are you positive all the glow plugs are working? Have you tested them?

Thats what I'm wondering. We have a 1900 that age and glow plugs have to work. Just because they are getting power means nothing. Ive seen good looking spark plugs that made me think it jumped time when I started it. So thoroughly check the glow plugs out. Ours you have to use the glow plugs in summer too. It's how it has always been. Since 1981 have only replaced O ring on lift, two water pumps, radiator, besides normal things. My granddaddy truck patched a 40 with it until 1988. We still make a garden with it each year. Plus a lot of other use around here. But at the farm are five other tractors twice or more in size.

 

[thepumpguysc]

If it’s equipped w a supply pump, I would start there..
Loosen the inlet connector and have someone turn the key to see if u have fuel there immediately when the engine turns..
If not, replace the supply pump and filters.
Good luck.

 

[JC-jetro]

Make sure yu can good contact at the glow plugs. Take the metal bar that connect both glow plugs, use a sand paper to clean all contacts. Make sure you have good voltage there. Your glow plugs might be duds. It is difficult to see if it warms up without removing a glow plugs. I would go beyond 20 seconds for pre-heat. make sure your throttle is more than 1/2. I would certainly look at the both glow plugs to make sure they both work. You can do a continuity check against the ground to make sure it is not open and then get the ohm (resistance) of the plug. I have to dig it up but I am sure there is a spec on what a working plug ohm need to be.

JC,

Glow plug rating should be around 1 ohm.

 

[Breau123]

Thanks everyone for the awnsera
Well, 2 new brand new ngk glow plug dosnt help. But now im sure everyrhing works as it should for the plugs.

I dont have to bleed the system when changing glow plug hey?

When removes old glow plug i noticed they were dry and full of what seems carbon ? Is that suppose to tell me something?

 

[Fxfymn413]

I suspect a fuel problem since it runs normally after the first start. The most likely problem is something is allowing air into the fuel system which in turn requires you to "bleed" the system by continually cranking the engine.

A quick diagnostic trick would be to spray oil based (from the dark blue can) WD-40 into the air intake while someone cranks the engine. If it starts it is telling you that it is a fuel problem and you need to find out where the air is getting in or conversely what is allowing the fuel to drain back.