Snow Equipment Owning/Operating BX refuses to start HELP (12 inches of snow)

broomjob · Feb 26, 2006

HELP!!! 9 degrees, 12 inches of new snow to be plowed from my driveway. My BX23 turns over, fires, runs rough for 1 min and dies. There was a the usual black smoke when it started but it went away before it quit. I remembered that the fuel was low so I filled the tank with fresh deisel. When I tried to restart , it would catch and die, after a minute of trying the tractor stopped even trying to catch and now just cranks over and smells of unburned fuel. I would appreciate any advice on how I can get the machine to run, I really need to get this snow plowed.

LBrown59 · Feb 26, 2006

Did you bleed the fuel line?
This should be covered in your owners manual.
How long of a warranty did you get on yours?

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HammerFour · Feb 26, 2006

Try using your glow plugs to really get as much heat in as you can, cycle them on and off several times.

When it is really cold I will use my glow plugs for 30 - 45 seconds on our L2350 before I try and start it.

broomjob · Feb 26, 2006

I followed the bleed procedure in the manual (it self bleeds)

broomjob · Feb 26, 2006

I used the glowplugs every time that I tried to start it. In the past (as cold or colder) if i didn't use the plugs long enough, the engine would catch, smoke and die. Now there is no catching at all, zero, zilch, nada.

IH3444 · Feb 26, 2006

Have you added any Power Service? Could be fuel jelling at those temps. Is it inside? Can you throw a heavy tarp over it, and a blanket. Place a trouble light under and allow to warm for a few hours? That with the Power Service should get you on your way. I would also seriously consider a block heater at those temps, it's nice to be able to brag at what low temp your tractor will start, but better for the tractor to have a warmer in it's block. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, 9 degrees. That's getting chillie! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

44trxfun · Feb 26, 2006

broomjob, I'm not the world's handiest guy so I'm just going to ask a few more questions; might help others to diagnose for you. When did you last run the BX and how did it run? Is this a brand new problem, from out of the blue, or has performance been slowly decreasing? How about your diesel; did this batch come from your usual source? Do you normally treat it with Power Service or equivalent? (I know there have been many posts about why this isn't needed but I believe it has helped me through some of our cold weather.) I know you bled the line so I assume this is a moot point, but how's the conidtion of your fuel filter?

Sorry I can't be of more help. I had a similar situation earlier this winter and got a lot of help from one of TBN's finest. I hope your luck turns around. Also found out our Subaru will easily cruise through a foot and a half of snow. At 9 degrees, I bet your snow is pretty dry and fluffy. Don't panic...

Good luck!

NY_Yankees_Fan · Feb 26, 2006

Do you hear the fuel pump running when you turn the key on?, if not check the fuel pump. I had a rubber boot come off the fan shaft, hit the wires for the fuel pump, and took them out.

If this is not the problem then my guess is water in the fuel line, get two new filters and replace them and see what happens.

Volfandt · Feb 26, 2006

Sounds like one or both of the fuel filters are clogged with gelled fuel and/or other contaminates.
Adding Power Service (PS) to your tank will eventually clear them somewhat if it's gelled fuel. If it's water or something else the PS probably won't do you any good.
You could also remove them and shake or blow them out. You'll need to use a propery sized bolt to plug the fuel line whilst you R&R the fuel filters.

The odd's indicate that the problem is fuel delivery related.

Good luck
Volfandt

George2615 · Feb 26, 2006

Sounds to me like your a candidate for an in line lower radiator hose heater and some power service to prevent gelling. I had the same problem last winter. Once I started using PS and installed the in line heater the starting problem went away. Before the PS and heater I had to run my salamander heater in the garage for about an hour facing the tractor to warm it up, cycle the glow plugs a few times and then it would start.