Ford 1520, glow plug light supposed to go out?

[NathanatFork]

I have only had this tractor for a few days. It is a 1989 Ford 1520 4x4 hydro, FEL. It is my first tractor. I bought it from a small business that buys/sells/trades tractors. When I go to start it, I turn the key to the left and the glow plug light on the dash lights up. But, it never goes out. The seller told me to just hold the key to the left for 10-15 seconds and then start it up. But, Ive started to wonder if it should go out. After holding the key to the left, it does start up easily only turning over once or twice but, when it starts the engine makes a rattling noise for 10-15 seconds then idles fine. Sometimes it makes the rattling noise longer than other. Is something wrong or is this normal?

 

[North Dakota]

But, Ive started to wonder if it should go out. After holding the key to the left, it does start up easily only turning over once or twice but, when it starts the engine makes a rattling noise for 10-15 seconds then idles fine. Sometimes it makes the rattling noise longer than other. Is something wrong or is this normal?

The rattling noise is normal for a Diesel engine on start-up. The colder the engine is the more rattling it will make.

I would think the glowplug indicator light should go out once you turn the key to start it. Mine does not have an indicator light for the glow plug just a hole in the dash were a coiled wire glows when the plug is supposedly heated up.

 

[drivadesl]

The light on my Ford 1520 goes out as after holding it to the left after a few seconds. It should definitly go out after starting the tractor. Could be the ignition switch is loose. If you remove the dash panel, the switch is easily removed. The switch housing is press fit together, it may have loosened up and the contact is not breaking. I don't know if its possible for the glow plugs to remain powered after starting, but you may want to get this checked by a mechanic.

 

[djradz]

You should post this on the New Holland forum. If I recall, with my old 1720, as long as you hold the key to the left, the glow-plugs are on. Seems like the light went out after about 10 seconds or so.

With it cold, you could try starting it without any glow-plug preheating and compare the difference. If it really struggles to start, the plugs are working but maybe the timer relay that cuts the light off is stuck. If it is staying on after you start it, I'd really have that checked out as the glow-plug life will be significantly reduced, if it hasn't already.