BX Starting and Winterizing

OregonTom · Oct 22, 2001

For the first few months I owned my BX I used it fairly regularly. During those times, it always started right up when I turned the key. In the past month deer and bird hunting have pulled me away from my projects around the property and I haven't been on the tractor much. This weekend I fired the BX up again and had to crank it three times to get it to start. When it did a fair amount of smoke can out of the exhaust for a few moments. I assume my experience is the normal result of not using the tractor for a time. Can any of the fine minds on this board confirm or deny my conclusion? If its not normal, what should I do?

Also, I strongly suspect I will not use the tractor too much during the Oregon winter rains which will begin in earnest in the next month or so. I will have to store the tractor outside this winter as my barn is a project slated for next spring. Any suggestions for winter storage (it won't be below freezing here this winter except perhaps for very short periods)? Also, do I need to winterize the tractor? If so, how do I do it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

OregonTom

msocko3 · Oct 23, 2001

Sounds to me like you didn't use the glow plugs before you cranked it over. I let my Bx1800 set all last winter in 40 deg heated garage and after setting 5 months I hit the glow plugs for about 5 sec and it fired up on the 1st revolution. It only put out the normal amount of 1st starting smoke which is just a small puff.

RPM · Oct 23, 2001

Sounds like glow-plugs. I did this a couple of times when I first got my BX. The glow-plug position on the BX is spring-loaded. You'll see the orange glow-plug light illuminate on the dash when you reach it. Hold it there for 5 seconds and you'll be good to go.

Patrick

frank_f15 · Oct 23, 2001

aggree with the others, hit the glo plugs for at least 5 sec. if u have to crank it a few times u will get more fuel and when it does start u will get more grey smoke. kind of like flooding a car, when it starts u get smoke. as far as winterizing, just keep the poor thing covered, and other than a weak battery, after so many months of non use , u should have no problem.

fuzzmental · Oct 24, 2001

I'm a little late but I had the exact same experience with my BX2200. When the weather started to turn here in Minnesota I had the same symptoms you mentioned. The owners manual has a nice section on starting and warming up your tractor. They also have a chart that shows how long to "engage" the glow plug depending on temperature.

After I started using the glow plug correctly I have had zero problems with start-up

OregonTom · Oct 24, 2001

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I tried it. You were right.

M: Thanks to you for hosting this board. Its nice to have a place where one can admit one's ignorance and get helpful information instead of being flamed. Keep up the good work.

OregonTom

DaRube · Oct 26, 2001

Tom, I also have the winterizing issue, as my B7500 lives in a semi-protected area under our deck. It will keep the worst of the snow off of it, but it will still get wet and frozen. I am most concerned about the seat getting weathered, but perhaps other parts are vulnerable as well.

What type of coverings do you folks recommend for exposed tractors? Just plastic sheeting? Or something more elaborate?

MikePA · Oct 26, 2001

Plastic sheeting would allow moisture to condense underneath it and might make things worse. I have seen tractor covers plus a compact car cover might work as well. Perhaps just tipping the seat forward to prevent moisture from collecting on it might be all you need to do. At most dealers, the tractors sit outside all the time.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 26, 2001

Hey DaRube,
Why not try what I did under my deck. I took some 2x6's and ripped them diagonally lengthwise and attached them to the bottom of the joists supporting my deck, then I attached some 1x2 strapping crosswise about every three feet. Then fastened metal roofing to the underside of the deck so the metal is sloped and water runs off. it turned my whole deck into a nice dry storage area. I did this ten years ago and the only maintenance I've had to do is flush out some leave and dirt accumulation about every five years.

accordionman · Oct 29, 2001

TOM,
you may need to use some stabilizer in the fuel. this will keep it from
turning to gel. this is all new to me, because i have never owned a
diesel tractor before. i was told that i should use this in the fuel, and
i did. the weather is starting to get cold here in east central missouri,
so now i am ready for it. good luck.
accordionman
william l. brown in wright city, mo.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 29, 2001

I would also suggest on tractors sitting for a long time to sit it on blocks with most of the load off the tires, or at least inflated to max. Those economical trickle chargers can keep the battery from a premature death from discharge, or better yet (especially in the real cold) pull the battery and bring it inside.

All my stuff stays inside, a closed garage even unheated has a good chance of staying above freezing from ground heat.

No room? Push the wife's Buick outside, it won't be worth anything in 15 years anyway, and besides after the Arabs go after our food, the Buick won't help you grow your own /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

del

woodstock · Oct 30, 2001

<font color=blue>had to crank it three times to get it to start. When it did a fair amount of smoke can out of the exhaust for a few moments.</font color=blue>
Every cold start I use the Glow Plugs for 5 seconds as recommended.
However, lately with over night lows of 25, I too was experiencing hard noisey lots of black smoke and initial rough running for several moments.
Then I uped the Glow plug time to 20 seconds and the starts are now like the middle of summer again.
I wonder if my GP can install a glow plug you know wear to get ME going quicker, smoother and with less fuss in the morning.