-25c My Tractor Won't Start After Being Plugged in. Help please

[Mikey22]

Need some help getting my 1990 Ford 545C diesel started in the cold. I plugged in the block heater and battery blanket for about 3 hours this morning and went to start it. Cold and slow cranking but no start. I tried the thermostart button as per the operators manual but it still wouldn't start. I could smell fuel so assume the fuel is ok (I added winter additive to the fuel a month ago so assume the fuel hasn't gelled).

Next I brought battery indoors and charged it for 4 hours until the charger indicated the battery was fully charged. Tried again and although lots of cranking for a few minutes, no start. I checked the block heater and it is good and hot.

I brought the battery back indoors for charging overnight.

What next? The engine should be warm and with a fully charged battery, I would think it should go. Is it possible that by using the thermostart button that I "flooded" the engine? I don't know much about diesels so not even sure this is possible. Can I use ether on a diesel?

I would hate to go out and buy another battery when the problem could be elsewhere.

Appreciate any help you can offer.

Thanks

 

[cartod]

Could you cover the tractor with blankets to hold in the heat? Maybe stick an extra light bulb or two under the hood.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

What does the smoke look like when it's trying to start?

1.) No smoke = no fuel
2.) White smoke = not enough heat
3.) Black smoke = not sure on this one. My tractor will do this on startup but fail to continue to run [in cold temps - warm no issues]. Air filter is fine. I can tell it's trying to run, but I need to keep cranking until it takes off on its own. Black smoke usually indicates insufficient air, but if you can hold the rack back there should be enough air in the chamber to support full combustion. I'm thinking the colder fuel isn't atomizing properly and subsequently mixing with air/oxygen during injection resulting in the black smoke. Other thoughts?

Here is a video of it not starting at 20°F:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncQHDF6U1Nc

 

[3930dave]

Check the fuel filter bowl(s) (assuming glass bottom) with a good flashlight, to see that the fuel is fully liquid, not gelled. Check for water in the bottom of these sight bowls, and drain through the petcock if much is present.

Check the radiator level, if you haven't recently.

On my 3930, there is one wire connected to the thermostart fitting, which is located in the intake manifold. There is also a fuel line that feeds the thermostart fitting. Test for 12v at that thermostart terminal, when you are turning on the thermostart switch - might need 2 people for that, and a 12v test light.

I'm assuming a mechanical pull cable for engine shutoff - work the cable and make sure the whole thing is moving freely, including the lever at the fuel shutoff assembly.

If you are cranking over at good speed, and your fuel is good, about what is left is air - what kind of condition is the air filter in ?

Rgds, D.

 

[Mikey22]

I will try covering the engine overnight to keep the warmth in. Thanks for your reply cartod.

I was always looking down and praying and didn't notice any smoke while it was cranking.. Pretty sure if there was white or black puffs coming out I would have noticed. I will have to check this when I try to start it tomorrow.

The engine was cranking fast enough that One would think I should seen smoke, but I don't think I did.
Thanks!

 

[Egon]

Yes throw something over it and put a small electric heater under it. Also leave it plugged in and check to make sure the block heater is working.

In the morning feel the block and rad checking for warmth.

There are times the fuel will wash the cylinder walls and increase friction and lower compression.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Your glow plugs (I assume this is what you are calling thermostart) may not be working or maybe some are defective. I don't know if your tractor has a single element in the intake manifold or a glow plug for each cylinder but they must not be putting out enough heat.

A quick work around is to borrow your wife's hair dryer, turn it on high heat and after removing the air filter, stick the hair dryer nozzle into the air filter housing. Crank over the engine and if it is getting fuel it should start. This is how I had to crank my old '84 Yanmar anytime it got below 50F because it didn't have any glow plugs.

 

[Coyote machine]

DO NOT use ether to get her started! You can do irreparable damage.
You need two things to start a diesel, air fuel mixture and compression ignition of the mix. You need to verify the engine is getting ungelled fuel. Try cracking an injector line and crank for a short time and see if fuel is present. If not, there is your problem.
Your battery is NOT the problem, and don't crank for several minutes at a time- you'll just overheat your starter and wear down the battery's state of charge.
Do crank for up to 15 seconds and then back off and let it and you rest while you figure out what is going on. Do you know if your glow plug circuit, assuming your engine has them, is working properly? Without glow plugs, if it has them, and if they are NOT working it will be hard , if not impossible to start. Post back answers and results.
Don't charge a frozen battery either, it can/may explode. Do let it thaw out before charging to prevent any accidents while charging.

 

[3930dave]

Check that your Winter Additive contains a cetane booster - it should, but if it doesn't, get a name brand product that specifically lists Cetane Boost as a feature.

If you need to go shopping for this, verify your status re. gelling first, as you may need a new filter.... if that is a problem.

Rgds, D.

 

[Mikey22]

Thanks for all the great advice. I'll do all the suggested checks and try again in the morning. Winter here in Manitoba is long and cold so I will need to come up with a workable solution so I don't have these problems regularly. Indoor storage would no doubt be the best solution but my garage isn't big enough for the tractor to fit in. I may need to invest in one of those portable canvass garages to keep the tractor out of the wind and snow.

I will post results tomorrow morning.
Thanks
Mike