Cranking set back

[Tobers]

I've owned a B6200 for about 3 years. Usually I warm the glow plugs for 10-15 secs, and it fires up in about 5 secs (I live in NC). It never fails. We went overseas for over a month and I inadvertently left the tractor uncovered. When I came back I worried if I'd face starting problems. Sure enough: it took maybe 30-45 seconds to fire up, sputtering all the way. I thought that after the first start the rest would be like start ups before I left it uncovered, but now it struggles on every start. I have Diesel Klean in the diesel. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[jaxs]

Additive can be beneficial but none will offset effects of moisture in fuel. While it can be aurgued that some additives (alcohol as one) can obsorb moisture I will point out the results can do more harm than moisture was doing to begin with. Ask how and I'll expand but meanwhile I suggest treating it as water in fuel. Drain.flush,new filter(s) ect.

 

[Russell King]

So it was uncovered during the hurricane (Debby) that came through?

Does it have a water separator? Is it showing any water?

I would drain some fuel into a clear bottle and let it sit overnight and see if there is water in the tank.

You may want to change the filters (two?) and see if it improves.

 

[N3BP]

30-45 seconds seems pretty normal for that engine. Both of my B7200's require that amount of time of glowing to fire off right away....

 

[jaxs]

My apologies, before mentioning fuel issues I should have suggested that battery power might be below normal. With less than near perfect battery of sufficient ampacity and fully charged, diesel engines are often slow to start. Tip to the wise. Keeping a ggod healthy battery on a diesel will pay dividends in the long haul by extending starter life. You can buy a charger and multiple batteries for the price of a single starter. In the absence of test equipment one "quick and dirty" way of checking for weak battery is connecting a second battery with heavy duty jumper cables to see if it makes a noticeable difference.

 

[Tobers]

thanks for the great input. I'll look into it this weekend. Might as well

My apologies, before mentioning fuel issues I should have suggested that battery power might be below normal. With less than near perfect battery of sufficient ampacity and fully charged, diesel engines are often slow to start. Tip to the wise. Keeping a ggod healthy battery on a diesel will pay dividends in the long haul by extending starter life. You can buy a charger and multiple batteries for the price of a single starter. In the absence of test equipment one "quick and dirty" way of checking for weak battery is connecting a second battery with heavy duty jumper cables to see if it makes a noticeable difference.

thanks. i'll check tonight or this weekend. I've had it 3-4 years, with the same battery, so that's an easy place to start. i have jumpers made out of welding cable. would you jump from a running car battery and attach to the tractor battery?

 

[D2Cat]

While you're checking the battery you might benefit by cleaning BOTH ends of both battery cables. Often times starting problems are cause by a bad ground at the tractor frame on the wire coming from Bat - , cured by removing and cleaning to a shine and reinstalling.

 

[TheOldHokie]

thanks for the great input. I'll look into it this weekend. Might as well

thanks. i'll check tonight or this weekend. I've had it 3-4 years, with the same battery, so that's an easy place to start. i have jumpers made out of welding cable. would you jump from a running car battery and attach to the tractor battery?

Mine his bern jumped many times.

I just started my B7200 after sitting outside in the elements for better part of a year. Battery was dead. Put it on the charger for a couple hours, then preheat for 20-30 seconds, pull decompress, and it fired off almost immediately. Thats with year old diesel and lots of rain.

Dan

 

[fried1765]

My apologies, before mentioning fuel issues I should have suggested that battery power might be below normal. With less than near perfect battery of sufficient ampacity and fully charged, diesel engines are often slow to start. Tip to the wise. Keeping a ggod healthy battery on a diesel will pay dividends in the long haul by extending starter life. You can buy a charger and multiple batteries for the price of a single starter. In the absence of test equipment one "quick and dirty" way of checking for weak battery is connecting a second battery with heavy duty jumper cables to see if it makes a noticeable difference.

Carbon pile battery load testers are cheap.
100 Amp = $45
500 Amp = $80
Everyone with multiple batteries should have one!

 

[Tobers]

I've owned a B6200 for about 3 years. Usually I warm the glow plugs for 10-15 secs, and it fires up in about 5 secs (I live in NC). It never fails. We went overseas for over a month and I inadvertently left the tractor uncovered. When I came back I worried if I'd face starting problems. Sure enough: it took maybe 30-45 seconds to fire up, sputtering all the way. I thought that after the first start the rest would be like start ups before I left it uncovered, but now it struggles on every start. I have Diesel Klean in the diesel. Any suggestions? Thanks.

I bought a new battery. Going out to clean all of the ends now. Here is a question regarding the fuel and possible water. What are the steps to get rid of the old? I could disconnect the line from the tank to the filter to drain the old fuel, but would I lose "prime"? I obviously replace the fuel filter. Is there a second one? Thanks for the ABCs. I can't seem to find a write up on how to do this. Thank you.

 

[Russell King]

You can remove the line without losing the prime to the pump. You just have to remove any air that is left in the line or the filters. Remove the line and drain the fuel. Replace the filters. Put some new fuel in the tank. Then remove the last rubber hose connection going to the injection pump. Drain the air and some fuel out of that line so that no air is trapped inside the lines or filters.

Older tractors had a bleeder valve at the inject pump to open so you could get the air out there also.

Newer tractors withe electric lift pumps will probably pump the air out if the key is in the on position for a while before starting the motor. Maybe 30 seconds to one minute.

Losing the prime is when air gets into the injector pump so getting the air out of the lines before starting the tractor is the key to success (assuming you have a mechanical injector pump)

 

[Tobers]

You can remove the line without losing the prime to the pump. You just have to remove any air that is left in the line or the filters. Remove the line and drain the fuel. Replace the filters. Put some new fuel in the tank. Then remove the last rubber hose connection going to the injection pump. Drain the air and some fuel out of that line so that no air is trapped inside the lines or filters.

Older tractors had a bleeder valve at the inject pump to open so you could get the air out there also.

Newer tractors withe electric lift pumps will probably pump the air out if the key is in the on position for a while before starting the motor. Maybe 30 seconds to one minute.

Losing the prime is when air gets into the injector pump so getting the air out of the lines before starting the tractor is the key to success (assuming you have a mechanical injector pump)

It worked! Thanks to all. This site is great. I cleaned the battery cable terminals. Got a new battery. Drained the fuel. Put in a new filter. Cleaned the filter bowl (which was full of crud), and pre-filled it about 1/2 full. Bled the air out of the system with that screw knob. Now it fires in under 5 seconds now, better than it ever has. Seriously: thank you all.