Starting --- long crank times?

[RobiBX2230]

So no matter how long I glow my BX2230 for, when I turn the key it takes about 10 seconds to start -- does this sound like a tired battery or a future starter issue. I keep the tractor in the garage so its never less than 30 degress, even if I glow for 30 seconds or 2 seconds, same thing...

 

[RPW]

If when you crank you're getting good speed then I'd look into a small air leak in the fuel system that's allowing your injector to lose prime. You can also look and see if your glow plug is working. To do that you could disconnect the glow plug and using a multmeter check for continuity between tip and frame.

Good luck.

 

[RobiBX2230]

If when you crank you're getting good speed then I'd look into a small air leak in the fuel system that's allowing your injector to lose prime. You can also look and see if your glow plug is working. To do that you could disconnect the glow plug and using a multmeter check for continuity between tip and frame.

Good luck.

So, another silly question, would the machine start up if there were NO glow - as you said, check to make sure there is continuity, if there is not then I'd have NO glow

 

[RPW]

Yes, it would start. Just takes longer. On a good number of tractors the glowplug is in the air inlet and not on the cylinders as diesel pickups.

 

[RobiBX2230]

Yes, it would start. Just takes longer. On a good number of tractors the glowplug is in the air inlet and not on the cylinders as diesel pickups.

I'm 100% new to diesel engines, I'll have to see if the manual has anything about the location of the glow on my machine - if I get a multimeter to it, I assume I put it in glow to see what I can find out - if its not working (is this common first of all) and can I just get new glow plugs for cheap money?

 

[RPW]

Cost? depends. Yes just disconnect the wire from the glowplug. If you have glowplugs on each cylinder you will see a wire to each and you will need to disconnect all. Basic meter setup is to set it to continuity or ohms (low range). If open plug bad. A good plug will only have a few ohms. If you have a continuity setting you will usually get a tone if good.

 

[RobiBX2230]

Cost? depends. Yes just disconnect the wire from the glowplug. If you have glowplugs on each cylinder you will see a wire to each and you will need to disconnect all. Basic meter setup is to set it to continuity or ohms (low range). If open plug bad. A good plug will only have a few ohms. If you have a continuity setting you will usually get a tone if good.

This is awesome, thank you -- Hopefully I can figure this out, plugs look to be about $20 each, I'm sure the dealership wants $40 a piece haha

 

[dex3361]

This is awesome, thank you -- Hopefully I can figure this out, plugs look to be about $20 each, I'm sure the dealership wants $40 a piece haha

Here is a link to Messicks web site for parts
Kubota BX2230D Parts Diagrams
On the left of the screen choose engine then nozzle holder and glow plug and the prices are on the right.
and there are 3 glow plugs and they are mounted in the head beside the fuel injector and they are $26.70 each.

 

[RobiBX2230]

I believe I am going to pick up a frost plug style block heater -- only $41 bucks at the dealership -- this will help me out a lot I think...

 

[Soundguy]

Also.. are you making black smoke during the cranking?

soundguy

 

[Egon]

I believe I am going to pick up a frost plug style block heater -- only $41 bucks at the dealership -- this will help me out a lot I think...

Now that may make a real difference!

 

[RobiBX2230]

Also.. are you making black smoke during the cranking?

soundguy

Not during the crank, but once it fires up I get a decent puff - not too bad --- I'm picking up a frost plug style block heater in about 15 minutes, $40, I figure its worth it to help the machine start easier...

 

[pitt_md]

Not during the crank, but once it fires up I get a decent puff - not too bad --- I'm picking up a frost plug style block heater in about 15 minutes, $40, I figure its worth it to help the machine start easier...

Let me know how hard this is to install. I have had one sitting on the shelf since my tractor was new about three years ago I never find time to do it since I always have something lined up to do that involves my tractor.

 

[RobiBX2230]

Let me know how hard this is to install. I have had one sitting on the shelf since my tractor was new about three years ago I never find time to do it since I always have something lined up to do that involves my tractor.

I went to the dealership and they gave me a radiator hose style heater. I told them it wasn't what I asked for, they looked it up and their system said "Frost Plug" but it wasn't a frost plug style. The guy asked the Service department (that actually does work on tractors) and they swore you couldn't reach the frost plug on a BX. Oh well, I returned the radiator hose one since there really isn't a good spot to install it on the radiator hose and ordered a Kat's magnetic one (small, 200 Watt, but got great reviews for small diesel tractors). I'll just put it on the oil pan an hour or so before snowblowing - it was $10 cheaper and no chance to mess up an install...

 

[jimmysisson]

Probably more like 4 hours, but it will help.
Jim

 

[RobiBX2230]

Probably more like 4 hours, but it will help.
Jim

Really that long? All I've read so far is people saying 1-2 hours... Either way, it'll be worth it

 

[JoelD]

Not sure the year of your tractor but cold should not be a problem

I can start in zero f without a problem

glow plugs for 45 seconds to one minute then quick crank she starts if not imediately o re cycle the plugs and as soon as she fires I flip the plugs back on until she smooths out

I always try to remeber to spin the motor with fuel shut off the prime oil preside before start

I have hose heater just have not got around to installing

Joel

 

[RobiBX2230]

Not sure the year of your tractor but cold should not be a problem

I can start in zero f without a problem

glow plugs for 45 seconds to one minute then quick crank she starts if not imediately o re cycle the plugs and as soon as she fires I flip the plugs back on until she smooths out

I always try to remeber to spin the motor with fuel shut off the prime oil preside before start

I have hose heater just have not got around to installing

Joel

The tractor is a 2004... Its odd because I can glow it for 10 or 60 seconds, same result. However, once its warm, the plugs don't even go on, I can fire it up as if it were a gas engine... I think the glow plugs might need replacing, I only have 218 hours on the machine, but that could have been a lot of start up cycles with low hours by the previous owners

 

[Wayne_H]

Something is wrong if you need to install a block heater to start it when it is stored in your garage. We've got five diesels, the oldest being an 88 F-250 and they all start when it is 20-25 degrees out without a block heater and without cranking for more than a few seconds.

In order for the diesel engine to start, it needs to crank over fast. It is not like a gas engine that if it gets past compression it will fire up. So my first question is does it seem to crank over fast?

The glow plugs are easy to check. They should appear almost like a short circuit on your voltmeter. Or, check the battery voltage and see if it drops down some when the glow plugs are energized. Might be the glow plug relay is not working???

Fuel could be a problem, but it does not sound like it to me. Easy enough to check though, crank the line at the plug and crank when cold to see what comes out. Ought to be fuel.

How old is the battery anyway? A weak battery will start it, but iit may not crank over too fast.

It took a while to get my 88 7.3 right. In the end it was the starter, and over the past ten years it was slowly getting worse, but I never realized it. Put a new starter in and it cranked like mad and started right up even on the coldest winter days. (it doesn't get too cold here in Maryland!)

Good luck

Wayne

 

[RobiBX2230]

Something is wrong if you need to install a block heater to start it when it is stored in your garage. We've got five diesels, the oldest being an 88 F-250 and they all start when it is 20-25 degrees out without a block heater and without cranking for more than a few seconds.

In order for the diesel engine to start, it needs to crank over fast. It is not like a gas engine that if it gets past compression it will fire up. So my first question is does it seem to crank over fast?

The glow plugs are easy to check. They should appear almost like a short circuit on your voltmeter. Or, check the battery voltage and see if it drops down some when the glow plugs are energized. Might be the glow plug relay is not working???

Fuel could be a problem, but it does not sound like it to me. Easy enough to check though, crank the line at the plug and crank when cold to see what comes out. Ought to be fuel.

How old is the battery anyway? A weak battery will start it, but iit may not crank over too fast.

It took a while to get my 88 7.3 right. In the end it was the starter, and over the past ten years it was slowly getting worse, but I never realized it. Put a new starter in and it cranked like mad and started right up even on the coldest winter days. (it doesn't get too cold here in Maryland!)

Good luck

Wayne

I think it may be a weak battery, it appears original, if not, its not "new". I wanted the block heater anyway to make it a little easier on the machine, it was cheap money ($30) and I got a solar battery maintainer for the times when I go a week or so without using the tractor ($20). I think you make a good point, and for me being new to the diesel thing I didn't think of it - it needs to crank FAST, it does crank a bit slow but will always start after about 10 seconds (sometimes less) of crank.