TC29D no start

[RuT]

I have a TC29D with 750 hours. I used it last week and it ran fine. Parked it in the unheated garage. It won't start now. It cranks, kind of spits/cranks fast, spews out loads of blue smoke and generally won't do much more than that.

I cleaned the fuel filter bowl, replaced the fuel filter, replaced the air filter, bled the air from everything per manual and same thing...just cranks, spews loads of smoke, and won't go. I also checked the 5 or so fuses under the hood and they seem in order.

Everything seems in order and it has always started well. Fuel is not gelled, temps in the 30s and 40s, just can't figure it out. It ran great as always - then parked it, now nothing.

Any ideas?

 

[wallace]

Sound like you have some bad glowplugs.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

There is probably a relay or timer for the glowplugs that isn't working. If you can, put a test light on the glowplg where the wire or buss bar conects and turn the key on to see if you have power. One other thing to try is plug the block heater in (if you have one) and let the engine get real warm and try to start it.

 

[TrippleT]

There is a timer relay, and if it doesn't work it makes my 33 hard to start. In fact, in 30 to 40 degree weather it won't start well at all.There should be a light on the left side of the instrument cluster indicating the glow plugs are on.
I had it in the shop to have the hydraulic conversion, and was having some trouble with my relay. The shop foreman put a toggle switch on there to turn on the glow plugs. I replaced that with a push button type, in case I forgot to turn the toggle switch off.
It only takes about 5 seconds to heat in this area. And I think that is the relay setting for the 29 and 33D's.
When I get a chance to go back down there I may get a new relay and change it back. Maybe?

 

[Soundguy]

Some of us have diesels with no cold start options, and they start just fine. I'm in florida of course.. but.. still.. some people act is if without glow plugs that a diesel would never start...

Soundguy

 

[RickB]

still.. some people act is if without glow plugs that a diesel would never start...

Soundguy

That's mainly because many indirect injected diesels simply will not start without preheating. I have seen several Class II ignition switches that had the glowplug lead corrode and simply fal off the back of the switch. Check that if there is no power to the glowplug buss bar.l

 

[RuT]

An update...thanks for all the advice...looks like you are leaning toward glow plugs and that that is where I was leaning after this morning.

I did plug the tractor in this a.m. for about a hour in mid twenties temps. The tractor did fire up and run after that - would not go over idle for about 30 seconds no matter where the throttle was set. After 30 seconds or so the engine would speed up and run as normal.

What's odd is this tractor always starts, I mean always starts in cold temps with just the glow plugs. Even if it was in the low teens and single digits it would still start without the block heater. Now, thirty degrees hits and it needs the block heater.

So, you all concur the fact that the block heater got it going that it looks like the glow plugs are at fault?

I'll check the items mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

[Soundguy]

What kinda fuel you using?

Soundguy

 

[RuT]

The fuel is the on road diesel that I get at the local gas station. What you thinking?

 

[Roto]

The first time after changing fuel filter and bleeding would start hard anyway because of a little air in there.. Maybe now it will come out of it. It may have been something in the fuel. I have a tc33d and i needed to replace my relay for glow plugs because it was intermittent and wouldnt act right.

Mike

 

[dqdave1]

Sounds like you had air in fuel system, or partial plugged system; I assume it runs ok now. Check glow plug circuit, relay, etc. Were you getting the glow plug light to come on when turning key to heat position? Did it go off after preset time? Did glow plugs get voltage when activated? These are the things to test, check and you will resolve your problem. My TC 29 will not start without glow plugs. Check connection (glow/heat position) on starter switch, clean if needed. You will need to remove right cowl under dash to access the timer relay and starter switch. Clean all connections and use dielectric grease on cleaned terminals before replacing.

 

[Soundguy]

The fuel is the on road diesel that I get at the local gas station. What you thinking?

I was wondering if it was old fuel.. or a old summer fuel.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[RuT]

Soundguy and others - I noticed on the fuel pump a sticker that said the fuel was not for use in 2007 and newer diesel engines...led me to believe that there might be a day that there would be two blends or something going on.

Anyone know the deal with the warning stickers?

 

[RickB]

The fuel not for use in 2007 vehicles is NOT Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel fuel. Not a contributing factor to your problems.

 

[daTeacha]

Another possible avenue to explore involves the temperature. As a fellow Buckeye, I'm very familiar with the freeze/thaw cycles we deal with here. Is it possible that you had gotten something wet which then froze and separated? Could you have gotten snow or ice in somewhere which melted from engine heat and then refroze, expanding and causing either an electrical malfunction or perhaps allowing a bit of air into the fuel lines?

I'm just brainstorming, but it sounds likely since your problem seems to occur around the freezing point.

 

[kensfarm]

I'd try re-bleeding..

How much fuel do you have in the tank?

Did you move the fuel cut-off lever?

 

[Soundguy]

Also.. don't believe the fuel gauge... My fuel gauge onmy NH 7610s is 'optimistic' Anything under 1/4 on the gauge means 'virtually empty' even though 1/4 tank could/should be about 4-5 gallons..e tc..

Soundguy