LS MT125 Rough Cold Start - Glow Plug Issue?

[mslisaj]

Thanks "the old grind" for your thoughts and comments here. I'll bet your absolutely right with the manual's instructions are for if it got down to a cold 50 degrees F. The only real time I use this tractor is in the winter and your comment about not being able to truly warm it up is so true. But I'm pushing and moviing snow with it. I'm learning a longer glow plug cycle time truly makes a huge difference.

 

[Underdog57]

I put one of these in-line coolant heaters in with a timer on the extension cord. I only plug it in if I think I will use the tractor the next morning.

https://www.amazon.com/Kats-16800-L...=inline+coolant+heater&qid=1608384545&sr=8-11

 

[mslisaj]

Great idea on the hose heater!

 

[mslisaj]

Just went out after a 25 degree night and I held the glow plugs for 30 seconds and it started and ran like it was all warmed up. So I think that was an easy fix. But thank you all for your help, now I know how to test and replace glowplugs if I have to that one day.

Regards,

Lisa

 

[Doofy]

I put one of these in-line coolant heaters in with a timer on the extension cord. I only plug it in if I think I will use the tractor the next morning.

Amazon.com: Kat's (168) 2" Lower Radiator Heater Hose: Automotive


View attachment 680331

My dealer installed the Lower Radiator Hose Heater before he delivered my tractor. I plug the heater in for 1 hour before starting and you'd think it was 80 degrees outside. Oil pressure pops right up and there is no engine rattle. Heating any engine before starting helps increase its lifespan. Plugging in is recommended any time temps drop to 20F or colder.

 

[the old grind]

Yeah, I gotta have that, say three of 'em to start and a fourth if I can get the skidder to start in ANY weather.

 

[Doofy]

My old plow truck has a 7.3 Diesel with dual batteries and glow plugs. I added a trickle charger to keep the batteries fully charged, a block heater to warm the engine, and pad heaters on both the oil and transmission pans. Even with all this, it takes at least an hour with everything plugged in for this beast to fire up.

These SCUTS and CUTS have small engines but they would still benefit from ANY additional heat.

 

[the old grind]

Doofy, even with a trickle charger to top up, if we're plugged into 110v anyway there are thermostatic battery-heating 'mats', too. They can work wonders.

Note that a typical CUT 'calls out' a battery with 80% or more of the CA/CCA of a 'road' diesel of twice the displacement/hp.

I keep a 3-bank of spare batts rotated between a 'desulphating' trickle-charger (Battey-Minder 1500s aplenty) and have dual batts in my trucks. (Chev 2500, Ford SD-450, I wish both had battery isolators vs the direct connection on the Chevy.)

btw, no need to disconnect some higher-amp 'automatic' chargers when cranking. :2cents: I have a 10a Exide that's a lifesaver.

 

[Doofy]

I've used 80 watt Battery Blankets for years and I'm not sure why I stopped using them. Maybe I'll start using them again. They really help with cold weather starts and also prolong the life of the batteries.

 

[the old grind]

'Wet cel' battery lifespan is directly proportional to time spent 'topped up' to full charge. No exceptions, although SLA and gel batteries have a lower rate of self-discharge when idle and typically a longer life. They still go to s__ if left discharged for any length of time, weeks-months for example.

I check my traps in the barn and rotate chargers/tricklers daily between several machines that may be used only once or twice/yr, having learned a lot during my biking and boating years. :laughing: