Cold Weather Starting Question

MarkF48 · Jan 3, 2014

Yesterday with temps around 8 deg F, went to clear some snow. Went to start the 2216 letting the glow plug light timeout and hit the starter. It tried, but didn't make it on the first try. I attempted another start without fully turning off the ignition key and this time it caught.

Wondering if I should have turned the key totally off before trying again and allowed another heat up of the glow plugs or does it make any difference?

RalphVa · Jan 3, 2014

Might have been a little better (particularly at a lower temp) to let the glow plugs cycle again. Usually, about 6 seconds at low temps with the modern glow plugs is enough. On the JD 4010, it had no glow plug cycling nor glow plug light. I'd just pull up the PTO knob and turn to "start" and count to 6 before pushing the PTO knob in to start it. It never failed to start on the first 1/2 turn of the crankshaft. This was true of our 1983 240D through its life of 26 years we had it (it had glow plug light and proper cycling, of course, and it was typically near 6 seconds in really cold weather.)

Ralph

MarkF48 · Jan 3, 2014

The 4 deg F temps were more challenging this morning. Sort of did as you suggested and it still took a bit to get it started, but after running a while started to lose power and came close to stalling. I never had to put additives in the diesel in previous winters, but I think with the cold we're getting now it's time to see if that helps.

Tkblacktail · Jan 3, 2014

......Warning, Cold weather nostalgia alert.........

Cold weather starting of diesel engines has come a long way from my time in Korea (1980); sub-zero temps were not uncommon; the "low men on the totem pole" were required to start the vehicles (and free the tracks from the ice) several times a night when the temps dipped. The penalties for leaving the fuel shut-off pulled out were severe; a week's pay, 14 days of extra duty, and a (smoke session) hazing.

We had to prime the Detroit engines with a plunger-lever.

View attachment 353072

Pictured is me near my M551 Sheridan near Yonjugol; an Armored Reconnaissance Airborne Assault Vehicle (ARAAV) with a 152mm navy gun.

Residuals 30+ years later: When I feel cold, I think of Korea, and I park my 3016 in the shop when the temps dip below 150 degrees...

Pitch1 · Jan 3, 2014

I cleared a foot of snow today with my Maxx25 FEL. Temps were about -5 last nite coming up to 5+ today. tractor is in an unheated tent. I operated it for about an hour yesterday so it has been cold for about 20 hours.
Took 2 glow plug cycles to start, ran for about 30 seconds stalled, one more cycle started up and ran. Smoked and rattled for about 5 minutes then smoothed out. HST was so thick I had to put it in low range to move it. Once I moved it back and forth 50' or so I put it in high range and went to work. Loader was slow as death for 10 minutes.
After the drama of warming up performance was perfect.

bobmisi · Jan 3, 2014

My tractor was doing the same thing. After checking the glow plugs I found I had two that were bad. Replaced them, and now it starts like a new tractor. Easy fix. Worth giving it a look.

Shift4200 · Jan 8, 2014

Traskblacktail said:
......Warning, Cold weather nostalgia alert.........

Cold weather starting of diesel engines has come a long way from my time in Korea (1980); sub-zero temps were not uncommon; the "low men on the totem pole" were required to start the vehicles (and free the tracks from the ice) several times a night when the temps dipped. The penalties for leaving the fuel shut-off pulled out were severe; a week's pay, 14 days of extra duty, and a (smoke session) hazing.

We had to prime the Detroit engines with a plunger-lever.

View attachment 353072

Pictured is me near my M551 Sheridan near Yonjugol; an Armored Reconnaissance Airborne Assault Vehicle (ARAAV) with a 152mm navy gun.

Residuals 30+ years later: When I feel cold, I think of Korea, and I park my 3016 in the shop when the temps dip below 150 degrees...

Awesome Pic and a great story, thanks for sharing.

After the storm we had recently, I too cleared about a food of fresh from the drive with my Max25. I store her outside, covered. One cycle of the glow plugs and she fired right up. Don't get me wrong, it was a little cranky for the first 30sec or so, but after that it evened out and i set it to idle at 1500rpm. I let it idle for a good 10m while i shoveled the walks and whatnot. From there I warm the hydros by manipulating the FEL and 3pt, along with holding the steering all the way right or left. I read somewhere that doing this will leave the valves open and continually circulate the fluid. Could be total BS, but it's part of my routine. Finally in Low gear I creep around with it for a few to warm the HST.

Slowest thing to warm is the bucket hydros. As if the bucket wasn't slow enough already.

-J

roughcut · Jan 9, 2014

The last couple cold nights the max 28 had a real hard time starting and then on Saturday would not start at all. I had to put the charger on it for a while to get the battery charged. Still wouldn't start. Pulled the bowl off, cleaned it out, changed the filter and it fired 1st roll over. I looked at the bowl a couple times prior but could not tell that there was any water in it. When I took it off, the diesel in it looked milky. I do add anti gel to my diesel and keep the tank full but still ended up with water in it. That will be the 1st thing I do next time it won't start or runs a bit rough.

Tkblacktail · Jan 9, 2014

roughcut said:
The last couple cold nights the max 28 had a real hard time starting and then on Saturday would not start at all. I had to put the charger on it for a while to get the battery charged. Still wouldn't start. Pulled the bowl off, cleaned it out, changed the filter and it fired 1st roll over. I looked at the bowl a couple times prior but could not tell that there was any water in it. When I took it off, the diesel in it looked milky. I do add anti gel to my diesel and keep the tank full but still ended up with water in it. That will be the 1st thing I do next time it won't start or runs a bit rough.

Good news!

ArmyPair2 · Jan 9, 2014

Traskblacktail said:
......Warning, Cold weather nostalgia alert.........

Cold weather starting of diesel engines has come a long way from my time in Korea (1980); sub-zero temps were not uncommon; the "low men on the totem pole" were required to start the vehicles (and free the tracks from the ice) several times a night when the temps dipped. The penalties for leaving the fuel shut-off pulled out were severe; a week's pay, 14 days of extra duty, and a (smoke session) hazing.

We had to prime the Detroit engines with a plunger-lever.

View attachment 353072

Pictured is me near my M551 Sheridan near Yonjugol; an Armored Reconnaissance Airborne Assault Vehicle (ARAAV) with a 152mm navy gun.

Residuals 30+ years later: When I feel cold, I think of Korea, and I park my 3016 in the shop when the temps dip below 150 degrees...

I know what you mean about starting a track it was called tank crank detail in the winter in Korea. We had M48A5's and I know about your 551's I started out playing on M60A2's when I first joined back in Germany. They was always a pain to start up and you was talking about the purge pump that heats up the diesel.

B Company 1st Battalion 72nd Armor 2nd Infantry Division. Korea