BX18 No Glow/No Fuel Pump

[n4k]

I have an older BX18 that I inherited from my dad. I have an issue that I can't figure out. Back late summer, it was running fine, left it sitting for a couple weeks and came back and it wouldn't start. It turns over fine, but won't fire.

Here is what I have determined so far:
1. No power to the fuel pump (checked with meter and no clicking/sound).
2. Glow plugs not clicking.
3. Instrument panel not lighting up (the glow plug light seems to come on intermittently/dimly)
4. All fuses are fine-again, checked with meter (unless there is a fuse somewhere other than the small 4-fuse box under the dash).
5. Battery--meh, I'm not sure that isn't my problem. The battery is pretty old. Today, it read 12.3V. It turns the engine over pretty good, but is definitely not super-strong. I put it on the charger and the charger is telling me it's either dead or I have the terminals reversed (which I don't). I'm thinking either a dead cell or sulfated. Either way, I'm prepared to buy a new battery this week. I did clean terminals/cables.
6. The fuel-shut off solenoid switch is working properly. I do have it straight wired, but it's been this way for a while now.

My dear dad was a jury rigger and a safety nightmare, so the seat safety switch has been bypassed since the day he purchased it new (which I think wouldn't impact the instrument panel anyhow?).

So, could a bad battery be the entire problem or am I looking at two problems? I traced wires and cannot see any obvious issues. I've not pulled off the dash yet to check underneath. I know there is a control and relay for the glow plug under there, but not sure how to check those once I get there. I'm in the deep south, so the glow plugs MAY not have worked for a while, but I'm not sure. If I'm looking at more than just the battery, please tell me where to start reading with the meter.

Part of me just wants to trailer it and let the Orange Mechanics figure it out, but if it's simple, I'd rather not. Plus, I last shut it off with the bucket on the ground, so....

Thanks in advance!

 

[whitetiger]

I have an older BX18

There is no such unit as a BX18, so do you have a BX1800, BX1830, BX1850, BX1860, BX1870, or BX1880 ???
It will make a huge difference as there are changes to each model.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Sure sounds like the wiring's been 'bodged' for awhile so step #1, get a wiring diagram for the tractor ! You can't really troublshoot how to fix it until you KNOW what wire goes where.
Even though it does turn over, there may be a 'separate primary' fuse that feeds the glowplugs/fuel pump ? Again the wiring diagram will TELL you. A good battery should read over 13.2 volts, 12 something is 'marginal', when charging expect to see 14.5ish...

 

[n4k]

There is no such unit as a BX18, so do you have a BX1800, BX1830, BX1850, BX1860, BX1870, or BX1880 ???
It will make a huge difference as there are changes to each model.

My bad, mine is an 1800.

 

[n4k]

Sure sounds like the wiring's been 'bodged' for awhile so step #1, get a wiring diagram for the tractor ! You can't really troublshoot how to fix it until you KNOW what wire goes where.
Even though it does turn over, there may be a 'separate primary' fuse that feeds the glowplugs/fuel pump ? Again the wiring diagram will TELL you. A good battery should read over 13.2 volts, 12 something is 'marginal', when charging expect to see 14.5ish...

Thank you! I just found a wiring diagram from a link here, and it does look like there are a couple inline fuses that I've not found yet. I'll pull the dash next weekend and see if that's my culprit. Thanks again!

 

[armylifer]

If it ran when you last used it, and no wiring has been changed since last use, it is not likely a wiring problem. The very first thing I would check is the fuel system. How long ago was it last run? Did you run it our of fuel, or very low on fuel last time it was running? Is the fuel tank full of clean, fresh fuel? Do you know how long ago the fuel filters were changed? The place to start is to answer all of the fuel related questions first.

BTW, when you tried cranking it, did any smoke come out of the exhaust pipe? If so, what color?

 

[Henro]

If it ran when you last used it, and no wiring has been changed since last use, it is not likely a wiring problem. The very first thing I would check is the fuel system. How long ago was it last run? Did you run it our of fuel, or very low on fuel last time it was running? Is the fuel tank full of clean, fresh fuel? Do you know how long ago the fuel filters were changed? The place to start is to answer all of the fuel related questions first.

BTW, when you tried cranking it, did any smoke come out of the exhaust pipe? If so, what color?

A shorted wire could cause a blown fuse, so it could be a wiring (or other) electrical problem. Lack of power measured with a volt meter was also mentioned.

One point of possible confusion on the electrical diagram is (probably not the issue) that the wiring diagram is for both the BX2200 & BX1800.

Two fuel cut off solenoids are shown on the diagram. you choose the one that matches your model by engine type. Ignore the other one.

Was a point of confusion for me on my BX2200 until I got the answer here at OTT.

 

[n4k]

If it ran when you last used it, and no wiring has been changed since last use, it is not likely a wiring problem. The very first thing I would check is the fuel system. How long ago was it last run? Did you run it our of fuel, or very low on fuel last time it was running? Is the fuel tank full of clean, fresh fuel? Do you know how long ago the fuel filters were changed? The place to start is to answer all of the fuel related questions first.

BTW, when you tried cranking it, did any smoke come out of the exhaust pipe? If so, what color?

I am back trying to fix it, and feel like I'm close, but cannot quite get it to fire up. I DID have a loose fuse under the dash, and that solved a lot of my problem (no fuel pump, panel, etc.). BUT it still will not fire up. I know for a fact the fuel was nasty (see pic). I have drained the tank, poured some diesel cleaner in tank, drained again, replaced both filters, and now added a small amount of fuel with about an ounce of diesel cleaner. I purged the air out of the fuel line all the way to where it goes into the injectors. The fuel to that point now looks clear.

It will ALMMMMOOOOOOOOST start, but won't. Black smoke from exhaust.

Is this gunk in my injectors? If I let that fuel with the additive sit, will it clean them or do I need to look at having them cleaned/replaced?

Lastly, WHAT is that? Prior to this issue (I think) I had put some STP Diesel Fuel treatment in the fuel can.

Thank you!!

 

[armylifer]

There is a lot of junk in that filter you are holding. It is not possible to tell if that junk is clogging your injectors without pulling them and inspecting them. The fact that black smoke is coming out when you crank it, that at least some of the fuel in maybe one cylinder is igniting, but that is not quite enough to get it running.

Have you done a compression test? The symptom you describe sounds like low compression or clogged injectors.