TC21D Very hard to start...looking for suggestions

[speters]

I have a 2002 TC21D that I purchased used 2 years ago. It is just shy of 1300 hours. I haven't used it all that much. This spring I put a new fuel filter and glow plugs in because when it would start it seemed to run a bit rough for a while longer than my Kubota ZD21. It has ran great ever since until this past weekend. It took several attempts to get it started. It turns over great, is getting power to the glow plugs, and emits white fumes from the exhaust (unburned fuel I assume) while trying to start. Every now and then it will cough like it wants to start. I did get it to start and used it to brush hog for appx 2 hours with no problems. Then yesterday I tried to start it and had the same issues. So...since it has been setting idle for a couple of months I drained the fuel and put in fresh. I pulled the sediment bowl and drained it, refilled with fuel and bled the line at the banjo bolt on the fuel pump. Same results when I tried to start it. I'm thinking my step should be to pull the glow plugs and see if they are good and do a compression test while they are out. I bought the glow plugs (not OEM) on ebay. The first few times I started it after installing them it fired right up. It has always ran well with no noticeable loss of power. Any suggestion?
Thank you!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm betting it's the glow plugs...

A "couple months old" fuel is no big deal... I have diesel tractors that sit a lot longer than that, and NEVER have fuel problems...

Check your glow plugs to see if they are getting hot enough, or are even working at all...

ANOTHER way to get it started, IF the glow plugs aren't working properly is, take the air cleaner out and hold a hair dryer on hi, blowing the HOT air into the intake. That heated air will really help to get it started.

SR

 

[speters]

I'm betting it's the glow plugs...

A "couple months old" fuel is no big deal... I have diesel tractors that sit a lot longer than that, and NEVER have fuel problems...

Check your glow plugs to see if they are getting hot enough, or are even working at all...

ANOTHER way to get it started, IF the glow plugs aren't working properly is, take the air cleaner out and hold a hair dryer on hi, blowing the HOT air into the intake. That heated air will really help to get it started.

SR

Great idea regarding the hair dryer. The reason I suspected the fuel is because I had a 1/2 full can in my garage and I think I used it to fill the tractor the last time I used it before this starting issue began. I'm going to try the hair dryer this weekend and see if that gets it going then check the glow plugs. Thanks for the help!

 

[oldnslo]

If you have a voltmeter check to make sure you have 12 volts going to the glow plugs. Possible that a relay or wire is broken so they are not getting voltage to them.

Also slight possibility the valves could use some adjustment at 1300 hrs.

 

[jaxs]

If you have a voltmeter check to make sure you have 12 volts going to the glow plugs. Possible that a relay or wire is broken so they are not getting voltage to them.
.

Very good advice and if you don't have a volt meter already,buy one and learn how to use it. Much easier than pulling parts. You said glows are getting 12 volts,do this. Disconnect wire from glow plug,put one vom probe to wire and other to glow plug,turn switch on so that plugs receive 12 volts. If plug is working,meter should read 12 volts. If 11volts or less plug is bad. A better test is seeing how many amps plugs draw,either way check them all. Also,EVERY TIME you drain fuel,catch it in a clear glass jar,let it sit a few hours to see if water collect's in bottom of jar. If you don't know for certain what water in diesel look's like,put some diesel in a jar and add 1/2 oz water then let it sit. The importance of knowing is so you don't waste time doing things "just in case". On the other hand if water is found,you know a complete clean out is worth while. Whatever you do,don't use starting fluid,,,,ever in a diesel.
,

 

[airbiscuit]

Very good advice and if you don't have a volt meter already,buy one and learn how to use it. Much easier than pulling parts. You said glows are getting 12 volts,do this. Disconnect wire from glow plug,put one vom probe to wire and other to glow plug,turn switch on so that plugs receive 12 volts. If plug is working,meter should read 12 volts. If 11volts or less plug is bad. A better test is seeing how many amps plugs draw,either way check them all. Also,EVERY TIME you drain fuel,catch it in a clear glass jar,let it sit a few hours to see if water collect's in bottom of jar. If you don't know for certain what water in diesel look's like,put some diesel in a jar and add 1/2 oz water then let it sit. The importance of knowing is so you don't waste time doing things "just in case". On the other hand if water is found,you know a complete clean out is worth while. Whatever you do,don't use starting fluid,,,,ever in a diesel.
,

My TC21D had the same symptoms a while back. In that case, it was water in the fuel. I took care of that and - problem solved. Good Luck.

 

[speters]

If you have a voltmeter check to make sure you have 12 volts going to the glow plugs. Possible that a relay or wire is broken so they are not getting voltage to them.

Also slight possibility the valves could use some adjustment at 1300 hrs.

The first thing I did when I started having this issue was test for voltage to the plugs and I am getting 12V. I forgot to mention in my original post that I replaced the glow plug relay when I replaced the glow plugs because the glow plug lamp wasn't working. That lamp circuit however is completely independent of the glow plugs themselves. I hadn't considered a valve adjustment. Would the compresssion test reveal valve issues? I have a diesel compression tester so if I do pull my plugs I could easily check compression then. Thanks!

 

[speters]

Thanks Airbiscuit! I'm haven't abandoned that being the root cause since that fuel I dumped in when I filled it had been sitting ina half full can for at least a year. My Buddy at work who used to work on diesels thinks I may have flooded it after I drained the fuel and bled the lines. I'm going to try and start it today after it setting a couple of days and see what happens. Thanks!

 

[speters]

Very good advice and if you don't have a volt meter already,buy one and learn how to use it. Much easier than pulling parts. You said glows are getting 12 volts,do this. Disconnect wire from glow plug,put one vom probe to wire and other to glow plug,turn switch on so that plugs receive 12 volts. If plug is working,meter should read 12 volts. If 11volts or less plug is bad. A better test is seeing how many amps plugs draw,either way check them all. Also,EVERY TIME you drain fuel,catch it in a clear glass jar,let it sit a few hours to see if water collect's in bottom of jar. If you don't know for certain what water in diesel look's like,put some diesel in a jar and add 1/2 oz water then let it sit. The importance of knowing is so you don't waste time doing things "just in case". On the other hand if water is found,you know a complete clean out is worth while. Whatever you do,don't use starting fluid,,,,ever in a diesel.
,

Yup...have Vom and know how to use it. I'll give the V and Amp test as you suggest as well as the water in fuel idea. And I totally agree about NEVER using starting fluid as tempting as it may be! Thanks!

 

[speters]

My TC21D had the same symptoms a while back. In that case, it was water in the fuel. I took care of that and - problem solved. Good Luck.

What all did you do to solve the problem? I purchased some fuel dryer "Heet" but it's basically isopropyl alcohol and was hesitant about using it if water isn't the issue. Instead I added Lucas but after reading found it doesn't treat fuel for water, just cleaning and stabilizing. I still suspect fuel since it ran and started great right up to this point. Doesn't seem like glow plugs would go bad that quickly. They are only about 5 months old but not OEM so ??? Thanks!