Tractor Not Running for Blizzard Help!!!

[Mikek101]

Please help

I have a 1 year old JD 4410 that is having some troubles running. After starting the tractor idles for a few seconds and then dies. I’ve checked the diesel and fuel lines and neither are frozen. I use an anti-gel adative this time of year. The tractor has been sitting for about a week in pretty cold weather. Before attempting to start it I used the engine block heater for about an hour, when I tried starting it, it seem to run for a few seconds then die. During 1 attempt I was able to drive it to the garage and back to my barn ~600ft round trip, when I got back to the barn it died again.


Can anyone suggest what may be the problem and give a quick fix? We are expecting 2-3 ft of snow tonight and I will really need my tractor tomorrow to make paths for my horse and 2 goats.

Thanks

 

[Egon]

Check out the fuel supply system making sure there are no blockages or the filter is not plugged.

I need help too. Got a terrible cold and the storms comming tonight. And I just don't relish thoughts of going out in the morning to spend hours clearing snow. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Mikek101]

I looked at fuel filter it looks clean through the plastic, is this enough or should I remove the fuel filter to make sure its clean?

 

[JimR]

It is a fuel problem. I would pull the filter and blow it out. Maybe it had some water get in it. I had this happen to me once.

 

[Mikek101]

Sorry to be ignorante,


After pulling the fuel filter out, do I need to imerse it back in disel or will the engine prime it by itself?

 

[thcri]

I would immerse it. You can't go wrong. When you did get it started were you able to run up the RPM's or just idle it?


murph

 

[TCSavage]

Be sure gasoline did not somehow get mixed with the diesel fuel. It would respond as you described if there is gas mixed with the diesel.

 

[Mikek101]

I got the rpms up to the max and was able to drive about 600ft

 

[Mikek101]

I don't think gas got mixed with the diesel, I have separate marked cans with diesel. If it is possible, would you suggest draining the tank and adding fresh diesel? If so what is the easiest way to empty the tank?

 

[RalphVa]

It's probably wax on the filter, if you don't see any water in the bottom of the bowl. If you have some kerosene and have room in the tank, I'd top it off with it. Maybe siphon some out to get a 30-50% solution of kerosene and diesel. The anti-gel maybe didn't get mixed in good. There's such a small amount normally needed, but such a small amount is difficult to get totally dispersed.

If you can get a warm towel wrapped around the inltet line and fuel bowl, this may do the trick. What you actually need it probably one of those battery heater pads to put down there. Wire in a cigar heater to plug it into.

I once started my old 1973 Benz diesel with an engine water heater at -20 F in Vermont. Started instantly but died a couple miles down the road. After sitting a couple minutes, it fired up. Drove another couple miles. Died again. Sat a couple minutes and restarted. After this, it was fine. The fuel filter sits right up against the engine on Benzes though. Think they should have put the fuel filter up against the engine on JDs, too. Wax freezes out on the filter surfaces and will coat it and make passage of fuel impossible. A little warmth melts the wax. You likely won't be able to see it on the filter. It'll be white or water-clear.

I worked for 31 years on lube oil dewaxing plants around the world. Know a bit about wax. It's great lubricating oil, but some of it will actually solidify even in summer temperatures.

Ralph

 

[pat32rf]

Might also be electrical. Is the seat switch ok?(Check for snow build up. If this is the problem it will start but die when you hit the go pedal, or a bump) How about the solenoid for the fuel pump. Don't know what part of the country you are in but we burn a product in all non highway vehicles known as "dyed diesel" here in Central Ontario. It is also sold as stove oil and used for furnace oil when the tank is outside. Barring water (condensation) in the tank it never seems to cause a filter problem, even at 30 below(Cent)

 

[JimR]

Do you have an air compressor? Pull the filter and wash it out with gas. Blow the filter dry with air. Pour a gallon or so of kerosene as mentioned into your tank to thin out the diesel.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Mike, just a suggestion, but if your engine block heater is thermostatically controlled, then let it run longer than an hour. When we park our diesels, we plug them in and leave them plugged in until the next time they are used.

A cold engine contains a lot of mass, a typical block heater heats part of the engine, it will very likely take several hours to warm most of it. However, if your block heater is a simple heater then I would not plug it in and leave it, but I would run it for a couple hours.

 

[GoodGuy]

Mike...
Beside the fuel filter there is a petcock valve that when you turn it, it will drain the tank through a hose to a container. For the cost of a few gallons of diesel, maybe it's not a bad idea to add fresh fuel & conditioner.

 

[JerryG]

Powerservice makes a product that is call Powerservice 911. If you can get a bottle, fill your filter up with it and then dump the rest in your tank. Start it up and go. It will take care of the problem.

 

[Mikek101]

So it seems that my disel froze up in the fuel lines. I took 4 halogen lights and placed them around the engine and covered the tractor with a tarp. I let this sit for 4 hours, it was also very sunny today. The tractor started up on the first try and ran without problems. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Thanks for everyones help.

 

[markie61]

Better start using an additive like Powerservice. It will remove water and lowers the diesel gel point.
Mark

 

[johnday]

Also, get yourself a quart of Meltdown for the next time it gels up. Forgetfullness can happen to anyone. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Meltdown can be had at most truck stops. I don't know whats in it, but it'll clear jelled fuel pretty quick. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> So it seems that my disel froze up in the fuel lines. I took 4 halogen lights and placed them around the engine and covered the tractor with a tarp. I let this sit for 4 hours, it was also very sunny today. The tractor started up on the first try and ran without problems. </font>


Mike, we've had semi-trucks freeze in our docks and our truck fleet freeze up the same way. The fuel line seems to be the most vulnerable. We keep a "torpedo" heater (sometimes called a "salamander") here to thaw the trucks out in exactly the same way you did. Toss a large tarp over the entire cab of the truck and blow in hot air until the things thaw out . . . THEN WE TREAT THE FUEL . . . AGAIN!

Good to see you up and running!

 

[RalphVa]

Do you or your wife have an old hair dryer? That ought to work pretty good, probably better than the flood lamps and maybe less chance of burning something.

I'd put some kero in the tank, too.

Ralph