BX starting procedure question

ejb11235

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23S, Braber BBR4G 4' Box Blade & LRM5G 5' landscape rake
Jan 20, 2022
452
327
63
Seattle, WA, USA
I've got a BX23S with about 50 hours on it. First tractor.

I was reading the starting procedure in the Operators Manual and was surprised to see the instruction "Set the hand accelerator lever to about
1/2 way
" before starting the engine.

I have been starting the engine with the accelerator lever in idle position. It's been starting just fine.

Does anybody start their engine with the accelerator lever in mid-position?

Thanks,

--eric
 

Daisy Cutter

New member

Equipment
L2501 w/ssqt fel,60" LP finish mower, 54" LP grapple, and 48" BushHog box blade
Oct 6, 2019
8
3
3
Priceville AL
I had a BX before my L2501. Like you I always started it in idle until reading that same same section in the manual. I tried it both ways and could never tell a difference. I could however tell a difference when shutting the engine off. It was much happier when I throttled down to idle and let it get there before turning the switch of rather than throttling down and turning the switch before the engine actually reached idle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

85Hokie

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,745
2,551
113
Bedford - VA
I have always...... always preheated my bx for 3-5 seconds.......... and fired it up in idle. I will say a little bump in idle makes it smoother to the ear. Idle is about 1400 rpms ........ smooth sound vibration free at about 1600. Winter I glow longer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

johnjk

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B3200 w/loader, Woods RC5 brush hog, 4' box blade, tooth bar, B1700 MMM,
Apr 13, 2017
1,458
1,263
113
West Mansfield, OH
Part of my pre start check for all my Orange. Throttle at idle, PTO’s off, transmission in neutral, 4wd set to 2wd clutch in, a few seconds of glow plugs then start. You never know what lever might get banged. Even the dealer showed me to start my B3200 at idle
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
11,396
4,897
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
I do the same as 85Hokie for the past 751+ hours on my '19 BX23S ,winter,spring,summer, fall every time for the 1st start of the day. It always starts easily. Even in summer you can tell the difference in not using 3 steamboats of glowplugs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Pawnee

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501
Jul 1, 2021
351
305
63
Ontario Canada
Mine starts very quickly but I notice less smoke if I use the glow plugs when it's below zero. I'm now in the habit of a few seconds of glow plug regardless of temperature but I can't tell the difference.

I never start at other than idle.
Is there a reason for that?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

RalphVa

Well-known member
Jan 19, 2020
738
320
63
Charlottesville
On all 3 JDs and the B2601 in cold weather, I ran the hand throttle up about half way. Throttled back soon as the shuddering evened out. However, the B2601 does not shudder.

Our 1973 and 1983 Benzes had to be started cold at about 1/2 throttle. You don't let the rpm go much above normal idle speed before throttling back.
 

ejb11235

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23S, Braber BBR4G 4' Box Blade & LRM5G 5' landscape rake
Jan 20, 2022
452
327
63
Seattle, WA, USA
Thanks for all of the responses! Only one person said they start at half throttle. The only other diesel engine I've had was my VW TDI. But my fear was that starting with half-throttle would cause the engine to rev way up, but now I'm thinking maybe that's not what diesels do when they're cold.

GLOW PLUGS: I always use the glow plugs for a couple of seconds and the engine has started right up and run smoothly, at least at the moderate temps (>25F) we had this winter.

WARM-UP: I do let it warm up for four to five minutes, as recommended in the operator's manual. I even set a timer on my phone so I don't get impatient.
 

TheOldHokie

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3901/LA525, B7200DT/B1630, G2160/RCK60, G2460/RCK60
Apr 6, 2021
8,727
4,467
113
Myersville, MD
windyridgefarm.us
Thanks for all of the responses! Only one person said they start at half throttle. The only other diesel engine I've had was my VW TDI. But my fear was that starting with half-throttle would cause the engine to rev way up, but now I'm thinking maybe that's not what diesels do when they're cold.

GLOW PLUGS: I always use the glow plugs for a couple of seconds and the engine has started right up and run smoothly, at least at the moderate temps (>25F) we had this winter.

WARM-UP: I do let it warm up for four to five minutes, as recommended in the operator's manual. I even set a timer on my phone so I don't get impatient.
I start my cranky (pardon the pun) old B7200 at about half throttle. The G2160 and L3901 get advanced throttle but not 1/2.

A "fast idle" setting for cold starts has been standard design of most every engine I have ever owned. Even my chain saws have a fast idle cam for cold starting.

Dan
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

ejb11235

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23S, Braber BBR4G 4' Box Blade & LRM5G 5' landscape rake
Jan 20, 2022
452
327
63
Seattle, WA, USA
I start my cranky (pardon the pun) old B7200 at about half throttle. The G2160 and L3901 get advanced throttle but not 1/2.

A "fast idle" setting for cold starts has been standard design of most every engine I have ever owned. Even my chain saws have a fast idle cam for cold starting.

Dan
Good points. So basically, "use advanced/half throttle if you need it". I was just so surprised to see half throttle in the manual...seemed like an awful lot of throttle!
 

OrangeKrush

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2680, LA344 with Piranha tooth bar, LP PF 1242, LP Rear Blade, KK 60" BB
Nov 15, 2020
1,047
515
113
Indy
Half throttle doesn't seem like it's much when you do use it to start but like you and most I don't throttle up for cold starts.
I read about half throttle also or heard about it and tried a couple times.. my BX does not like any more than Idle or just above that. It's actually a rough start at half throttle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user