Could'nt start the BX again today!

frank_f15 · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

( Something is wrong with that tractor or it has been designed wrong.
)

i have seen old tractors sit outside for days and then start righ up, i would imagine a newre machine should do the same. think i would do sometesting on that battery, be it new or old. at only 15 deg, it should crank fast enough to start that thing with no problem, unless it had been sitting for weeks.

cpicton1 · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

Junkman, your right about the ice. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Rogue, I always try to check the battery condition in my vehicles in the autumn before it gets freezing cold. If I detect that it needs attention I do it then. If the charging system is working properly and a starting battery fails me once I replace it. If I'm trying to start a vehicle that doesn't want to start for some reason I put a charger on it before the battery is discharged. If you have discharged your battery three times or more to the point that it will no longer turn the engine over then it will probably never take a full charge again. Most batteries now days will last at least four or five years but I have seen bad ones from the start. I suspect you might also have a fuel problem. A block heater will definitely help you but your BX should start even if it set outside all night in the open air. I sure hope you get her going pretty soon because winter is really just getting started. Best of luck to you! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

Usually when the battery terminals/cables start to corrod Its time for a new battery.

Egon

SUPERNUG · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

This is my 1st winter in Mid-Michigan with my BX. It has been very cold lately (in the teens and below 0). My BX has started every time. It is in an unheated pole barn.

SUPERNUG · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

Folks, this may be a dumb question but what is a magnetic heater? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

art · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

I'd be in touch with your dealer as something is going wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Your battery should be able to turn the engine over to start. You could have a weak battery that can barely handle the glow plugs much less then cranking. Does your fuel look strange? It might be waxing and need an additive. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Junkman · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

( Usually when the battery terminals/cables start to corrod Its time for a new battery.

Egon )

If I replaced a battery every time I found corrosion on the battery terminals, then I would have the newest batteries in town. Corrosion is not a result of age, but of the acid and moisture forming on a terminal and reacting with the impurities in the lead and drawing some of the copper from the wire in the form of copper sulfate... If you ever cut an old battery cable open, you will find that there is corrosion inside the plastic jacket way beyond the point where the terminal ends are located. The reason for the Vaseline is that it will keep the moisture and the battery acid vapors from the terminals and corrosion can't start.

Dewave · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

Magnetic Block Heater

Rowski · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

Junkman,

Just curious...Why do you vaseline?

art · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

Some people just use grease.

frank_f15 · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

no such thing as a stupid question. a MAGNETIC heater is one that attaches to the engine block with a magnet, serves the same purpose as a regular block hearter but not as well.

NY_Yankees_Fan · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

I have a block heater on the engine but nothing on the transmission. I usually wait at least an hour with the heater plugged in and then let the tractor run for about 5 minutes before moving.

Question: Leaving the transmission in neutral and pushing the speed control pedal forward and then reverse will it circulated the transmission oil any faster and warm it up? I also cycle the FEL up down at the same time? Am I hurting anything or helping doing this, or just let it sit and run? I am using super UDT fluid.

sandyc · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

I don't have a heater but I would guess that the magnetic heater uses a magnet to attach a small heater to the oil pan and heat the engine ....just a guess.....

5030 · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

Bill:

As you know, I almost always keep my 5030 in the shop where, even in the winter is kept at 50 degrees. Anyway, yesterday, the shop had 4 snowmobiles in it so the 5030 slept outside.

Last night, the temperature got down to about -10 degrees and this morning when I went out to start it, it was about -2.

I got in, turned the key to pre-heat (my glow plugs are computer controlled as to heat cycle), and cranked the engine. No luck. I slipped the HST into "N" and tried again, No luck. I then locked the clutch to the floor with the storage hook and at that point, I was able to get the starter to spin the engine fast enough to fire. It banged and clanged for a while and then settled down to a somewhat less noisy idle.

I think my 5030 is telling me that it would rather be in the heated shop, so the sleds are on the trailer and the 5030 is asleep in it's proper home. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Junkman · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

( Junkman,

Just curious...Why do you vaseline? )

I prefer the Vaseline as opposed to chassis grease because it isn't as heavy and if you get it on your clothes, it is light enough that it will wash out of your clothes with regular laundry detergent. If you get grease on your clothes and don't notice it, it will spread to other clothes in the laundry. It is by design resistant to easy removal. You can use grease as well, but it isn't as easy to remove from clothing. Like almost everything mechanical, everyone has something that they like better than another, but many times, both will work equally as well... It is a matter of personal choice..There is no right or wrong in this instance.. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Spanky100 · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

Rogue

If you can get another running vehicle (4X4 Truck or tractor with the same voltage and ground polarity AND your owners manual permits jump starting from a running vehicle this would be a possible try. Sounds like others have concluded the corrosion and battery are limiting the voltage and therefore cranking speed. Having a boost at the terminal from a vehicle running could get crank speed up. Is the oil viscosity correct for the temperature? This will help some if it has heavy summer oil in the crank.
Best of luck.
Wayne

TresCrows · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

I think starting the BX is critical enough in cold weather of that sort that the battery probably needs to be in good shape and have good connection. A corroded terminals and a slightly weak battery is still my guess. You could get a trickle charger for the battery. You might also invest in a Booster type charger to help with things like that. J

Egon · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

Junkman:

For some reason I have noticed that with good batteries cable corrosion is no problem. It's only when the battery is getting old that excess fumes are created.

Egon

Junkman · Jan 26, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

The amount of fumes that are given off is dependent on the quality of the plates that make up the battery. I have a tar top battery in my antique car that gives off a lot of fumes. I have a sealed battery in my daily driver that give off no fumes. Today there are a lot of variables to consider. In the old days, if you had a bad battery you could take the caps off and look into the electrolyte while someone was cranking the engine and tell what cells were weak by the amount of bubbles that the cells would produce.... Lots of bubbles that was the weak cell. No bubbles, that was a fully charged cell. I have successfully used the battery extending liquids in the old tar tops, but just replace the newer type batteries. Originality isn't important on a new car to me.......but is on a 40 year old car...

5030 · Jan 26, 2004

Re: Could\'nt start the BX again today!

Junkman:

That would be a good e-bay item?? I watch your auctions intently. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif