This Goes Against All What I Have Known....

[sweep]

What should the throttle rpm be set at when starting our tractors when it is cold outside i.e. 10-20 degrees and what should it be set at in the summertime?

Saw a previous thread here by very knowledegble/experienced posters that the tractors should be started at a fairly high rpm and kept there on initial start up. This goes against all what I have always thought about starting engines when they are cold.

Up to now I always start my engine at the lowest throttle setting and keep it there for 4-5 minutes in the sumertime and longer in the winter then proceed.

Have I been doing it wrong??

 

[Argosy]

You're doing it right. It takes a few seconds when the oil is cold and thick to get through the engine, longer for it to splash on the cylinder walls and do any real good. Better to let it warm up for a few minutes at idle and thin the oil than run machined surfaces nearly dry.

 

[Transit]

if your engine can be de-compressed by leaving the exhaust valves open, do so and spin the engine till you see oil pressure, it is much easer on the engine to start that way. :thumbsup:

 

[beenthere]

I find better engine performance starting at 1/3 throttle opening. That would be with the Yanmar 3-cyl diesel. Once fired up, I'm moving out. Get the early exhaust fumes outside.

But do as whatever feels good.

 

[sweep]

You're doing it right. It takes a few seconds when the oil is cold and thick to get through the engine, longer for it to splash on the cylinder walls and do any real good. Better to let it warm up for a few minutes at idle and thin the oil than run machined surfaces nearly dry.

That makes 100% sense to me but again some very knowledgable posters on this site (who I respect) said that is harmful-that the throttle should be at 1/3 throttle or slightly higher for cold startups........was it because at low throttle, oil pressure was not building up as fast nor as strong as it should be so in effect the engine is being hurt at low throttle??????

I wish I can find that thread.

 

[yooper1]

My operator's manual says to move the hand throttle to about 1/3 for starting.

That is on a t1510 NH

 

[RADIUM]

I watched a video on the Kubota website of a cold starting procedure three quarters throttle and then once it starts to bring it back down , also don't forget to let it idle a little higher, So you don't get wet stacking . The video is amusing to see people's faces when the engineer said this, It is important to give a compression engine fuel to start the Thermo process LOL , I've personally never done this, especially with modern tractors that have glow plugs it just seems excessive. Now the old Massey Ferguson she needs a good shot of starter fluid to get her fired up but you should never do that in a modern tractor with their higher compression and tolerances. just remember to let it idle in the wintertime, a little higher so it doesn't produce wet stacking affect Take care

 

[Ford850]

My DX55 says to have the throttle at 1/4 to 1/3 for starting.
My Kubota 902 diesel engine says to start with the throttle "more than half speed", and then let it warm up at half speed.

 

[jlsmith]

I try to start mine about 1/4 and let it run for a sec then rev it up. To me it gives it time to oil everything properly and warm up. I do this all year long.:thumbsup:

 

[20 20]

for the diesels that I have owned the manuals write, start at 1/3 to 1/2 throttle, then once engine is running lower the throttle to around 500-600rpms to let warm up.