CK20S Cold Weather Start Procedure

[dengar256]

My new CK20S has been serving me very well this summer but I live in eastern Canada and the cold weather is setting in. I would like to know what your thoughts are on the best / suggested cold weather start procedure. I have looked at the manual but I would like to get some "real world" advise on the subject.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[wallace]

Block heater!

 

[dengar256]

Block heater!

LOL.

It does have a block heater. How long should I plug it in before starting?

 

[Bousez]

90 minutes when it's really cold outside should do it ....

I live near Montreal, my CK20S is a 2008 and has always been hard to start in wintertime .......

 

[JoelD]

Not sure if you have fuel shut off or compression release but good to spin the motor prior to start up in order to circulate oil

Glow plug for 30-45 seconds and gore her up

 

[Dmace]

It gets plenty cold here in central New Hampshire and I've NEVER needed to use the coolant hose heater on my CK20. I have cleared snow in -20F and she started just fine and worked it's heart out after idling for a good 15 minutes.

My starting procedure when it's cold is straight from my dealers mechanic.
-Turn the key to start the glow plugs (only once NO cycling the plugs multiple times)
-When the light goes off, turn the key to start
-As soon as the engine turns over - TURN THE KEY TO THE GLOW PLUG SETTING AGAIN so the glow plugs are on.
Since the engine is running, the glow plugs are not relying on just the battery for power so you won't be draining your battery and they work better.
You should only have to hold it on the glow plug setting for 2-3 seconds and you will notice the rpms smooth out. Works like a charm every time!

It's tough to put it in words, I should just make a video of me doing it...

 

[dengar256]

It's tough to put it in words, I should just make a video of me doing it...

Photo / video would be great.

Thanks everyone for the pointers.

 

[malk315]

Derek-

I do this trick too with my 2006 vintage CK20
I thought I remember reading here though that this trick doesn't work on the newer CK20S models.

The glow plug position on my keyswitch is two clicks from completely off. I turn the key two positions to glow and let the glow plugs timeout just like Derek does. Then I start to crank until turnover, but instead of letting the key come back to the glow position I have to hold it kind of halfway between glow and start (there's definiately spring tension I have to hold against). There's plenty of travel so after start and you let off, you turn back towards start against the tension until you get the glow light and hold. There's little risk of hitting start again and grinding the starter because the glow comes back on pretty quick and I think in my experience I can hold there with glow for quite a bit of time. If the machine hasn't run in a while, I usually hold the glow on until no more unburnt fuel and she's running smooth. Usually when she puffs blue (unburnt I believe) smoke and runs a little rough the glow seems to help smooth it out quicker.

Another thing I do -- when it's not quite so cold, I'll start to crank before the glow times out -- in this case my machine leaves the glow on on it's own, but after the timeout you can still turn towards start I believe to get it to come back on.

Certainly a video is a great idea. Maybe I'll make one sometime -- especially since winter is upon us and I'll be going back to holding the glow on.

My machine is my garage right now. If I can build a shed again (moved to a new house) I will certainly go back to using the glow feature and consider a block heater for when it's ridiculously cold and the poor machine is banished to the shed near the woods!

 

[joe48]

basically same procedure I use, except i hold the glow plugs until white smoke clears 2 or 3 sec. usually enough sometimes longer when close to zero, then bring rpm's up a little past idle and let her warm up. I had to figure out by trial and error.

It gets plenty cold here in central New Hampshire and I've NEVER needed to use the coolant hose heater on my CK20. I have cleared snow in -20F and she started just fine and worked it's heart out after idling for a good 15 minutes.

My starting procedure when it's cold is straight from my dealers mechanic.
-Turn the key to start the glow plugs (only once NO cycling the plugs multiple times)
-When the light goes off, turn the key to start
-As soon as the engine turns over - TURN THE KEY TO THE GLOW PLUG SETTING AGAIN so the glow plugs are on.
Since the engine is running, the glow plugs are not relying on just the battery for power so you won't be draining your battery and they work better.
You should only have to hold it on the glow plug setting for 2-3 seconds and you will notice the rpms smooth out. Works like a charm every time!

It's tough to put it in words, I should just make a video of me doing it...

 

[jlsanborn]

I've got a new 20S and the ignition switch doesn't work that way. The glow plugs burn in the "run" position. The "half way" position dosen't work for me either. The ignition must be returned all the way to the off position to reset the glow timer. My dealer instructed me to cycle the glow plugs a few times before cranking it over. I tried this and it still didn't want to fire. It sat inside my shop (un-heated) overnight. The low was probably 10F. I had a heck of a time getting it going this morning. What's the best engine heater? I had an old N with one inline with the lower radiator hose. Looked like you'd cut a couple inches of hose out in a straight section and insert it. That worked well. I've also seen magnetic oil pan heaters.