Mahindra 4035 won't start

[RockyNY]

My 4035 has never made any trouble starting until today, and I can't figure it out. I had started it, backed it out of the barn and shut it back off before it had fully warmed up. I went back an hour later to move it again, and it will crank but not fire up. It's up to 18* and I've started it in much colder weather than this, so I couldn't believe the the fuel would have jelled, but I drained the fuel filter (there was a little crud on top of the drain plug), primed it back up and loosed the fuel delivery line above the fuel filter and diesel is coming right out while cranking, so I know the filter isn't plugged. At first, there was some smoke coming out the exhaust while cranking, but that cleared up and now it doesn't show anything at the exhaust while cranking. Any ideas of what to try next? I did plug the block heater in now, but I still can't believe it could be cold weather related. I started it just a couple days ago in 10* weather, without the block heater.

 

[RockyNY]

Well I did vet it running, although I'm not sure what the problem was. The only thing I can figure out is that it didn't like me shutting it off before it warmed up. I plugged the block heater in and within 15 minutes it was making a"chugging" noise when cranking (like it was trying to start), and blowing smoke out the exhaust. After a few more minutes of waiting, it started up. I let it warm up a while, and it seems to be fine so far.

 

[JerryK]

Wouldn't take much time outside at that temp to gel up/or freeze a small slug of moisture/bad fuel in a fuel line. Not saying that was your problem, but fresh clean fuel and keeping all fuel cans/fuel tank as full as possible is a big plus... especially in the winter. Hopefully, whatever was the cause, it will not return and you will be a happy camper the rest of this godforsaken winter [ IF IT EVER ENDS ] .....