L2402 won't start

[case685]

Hi I looked at a L2402 today but it would not start. The temp was about 30f. The tractor has been sitting since the summer but did run then. It has about 400 hrs on it. The glow plug indicator would not light so I'm guessing they don't work. We did however crank the engine alot and gave it a few shots of ether. Does this engine (D1402) have to have the glow plugs working to start in the cold?
I also noticed unburned fuel leaking out of the exhaust manifold (it was only loosely mounted) but I'm guessing thats normal if you crank a diesel engine alot and it doesn't fire. It seems to try to start and throws alot of grey /black smoke out but will not run. Thanks in advance for any and all replies. Gerry

 

[lens12]

It needs the glow plugs to start. Don't use glow plugs & ether. Kaboom.

 

[Egon]

As stated look into the glow plugs.

On an interim basis trow a tarp over the tractor and put a small heater under it. It may warm things up so it will start.

Either may work for some but if it gets improperly used things can get expensive! Throw the darned stuff away!

 

[diyDave]

Ditto- nix the ether unless you want some new pistons. Bring a test light with you and trace out whether you have juice to the glow plugs, could be as minor as a blown fuse or a loose wire.

 

[case685]

Hi Thanks for the replies. This tractor also has the compression bypass on it. Not sure how or whether that should be used in conjunction with the glow plugs.If somebody can enlighten me regarding how that works that would be great. Also I'm guessing the fuel may be old which probably would cause more issues in cold weather thaan in warm. The guy has a mechanic coming to look at it in the next few days. I called him and asked him to not use ether. Was wondering, can ether do damage to an engine which is not readily apparent ie: could it shorten engine life but leave the engine running normal. Thanks again. Gerry

 

[lens12]

"can ether do damage to an engine which is not readily apparent."
Too much ether will wash the oil off of the cylinder walls.

 

[diyDave]

Compression release is to get the motor spinning faster than what is normal under the load of compression. Procedure is to preheat the tractor as described in the manual(Some plugs heat up in less than 30 seconds, some may take a minute, that's why I say look it up), then, at the same time, pull out the comp. release, then hit the starter, then release the comp. release, after the motor is going as fast as it's going to go. The thing you don't want to do is to run the starter with the comp. release open, for any longer than the minimal time it takes for the motor to achieve max rpm. If you do, you'll cool your plugs from the air moving across them. Done right it's heat, whirr, release, it's started. Total elapsed time after pre-heating: a second or three.

 

[case685]

Thanks guys. More great info.

 

[case685]

Hi I'm still not able to get the tractor to start. I cleaned up the connections and the glow plugs are now working or at least appear to be. I changed the fuel and fuel filter but after several attempts to bleed the lines it still won't go. One thing I noticed when bleeding the lines is that no amount of bleeding would eliminate tiny bubbles from appearing at the connection at the top of each injector. I'm not sure if this is okay or if it is a sign that air is being pulled into the system somewhere. When bleeding it I kept the compression bypass open to make it easier on the starter hopefully thats okay.
I have tried several times to start it leaving the glow plugs on as long as 90 seconds. Each time it seems very close to starting and throws grayish white smoke but will not run. Thanks in advance for any replies. Gerry

 

[js5020]

If you are near electricty use a hair dryer to blow warm air into the intake, don't be tempted to use a can of insta start. Make sure your battery is fully charged and the starter is able to spin the engine over well. Did you fill the fuel filter with fuel? or did you spin it on empty, if empty it may take a bit to get all the air out. My machine is a Bear to start after changing a fuel filter and has been since new, I always change it only after warming up the machine and before it gets cold. If all else fails start at the tank and make sure you are getting fuel, some have a strainer in the fuel bowl or at the tank outlet, bowl is full but fuel will not pass, neighbors backhoe is famous for this, make sure you have good flow for a few seconds, had a machine that would let me get a half mile down the road and would shut down out of fuel with a full tank, tank strainer blocked with gunk. Take off the line right before the filter run it into a fuel can make sure you have fuel, if good go to the pump in line and if you have good fuel there, check to be sure something hasn't moved or changed the operation of the pump shut off rod. Let us know how you make out and good luck.