Bx1800 will turnover won't fireup and run

[Dave_eng]

Not all diesel engines are created equal and manufacturers wouldn't put them on if not needed. The BX series engine always have power to the glowplugs when cranking over and I know y BX23s starts better with 2-3 seconds of preheat.
I stored a Freightliner semi here for 3-4 years, would start it up for driver if he called. It always started yet did NOT have any glowplugs,even in dead of winter,and I never ever used ether.

This is a FYI
A Freightliner engine intake preheater, also known as an air intake heater or grid heater, is a device that heats the air entering the engine to help it start and improve drivability in cold weather:

• How it works
  The heater is powered by the vehicle battery and is located near the top of the intake manifold. The engine control module controls the electrical supply to the heater elements using two air heater relays.
• 
  
  

Dave

 

[GreensvilleJay]

this one was 40+ years old. My forklift had an 'intake heater', needed 2nd battery for it ! used ether instead.
If there was a heater it must have been 'automatic', as all I ever did was get in, turn key, engine always started. he hauled an old style 6 car trailer.made a great storage rack for 6 CJ-7s for 3 years....

 

[lugbolt]

if you have low compression and valve clearance is ok, you could do a leakdown test to verify where the leakage is going, or you can pull the head and start looking. I find it just about as easy to pull the head, especially if you don't have a leakdown tester available.

compression pressure should be up around 450-500 psi on these as I recall. The newer 80 series tractors are closer to 600 psi or a little more, going off of memory.

all 3 are low compression, with one of them just about dead.

Could be a lot of things but if the engine wasn't burning any oil before, I'd look closely for bent rods. Possibly head gasket and/or crack head but rods are a big deal on these little things. All it takes is one little spritz of starting fluid and the rods are bent, and/or pistons broken.

 

[bxwoody]

Here is a link to my tractor turning over. Preheated with heat gun in intake. Compression is in limit on two cylinders. No oil use or smoke, lack of power before this hard to start then not running at all. the link to video. https://youtu.be/u9rdjFdtb0g