L1500 Difficulty Starting

[Madhun]

Hi Folks,

Long time lurker, first time posting.

I have an L1500 which is a little champion; a friend called him Wally and it stuck.

Use it mainly to slash a 5 acre block with a 4' Slasher; not quickly but we get the job done.

He's been running like a dream since I picked it up until the last time I tried to start it.

Cranks over fine with the decompression valve pulled, but very slowly with it engaged. Battery is new and was connected via jumper to a running diesel car engine so assume sufficient voltage.

I managed to get him started to move him out from undercover but had to push him back because for the life of me couldn't get him going.

Happened once before and simply tow started him and ran fine all day.

Bled the system, starting at the filter, than the banjo fitting at the pump, then up at the injectors. There wasn't a lot of fuel coming out of the injectors but there was fuel there so would have to expect the pump was working, and would certainly rule out fuel issues pre pump.

I'll have to take a multimeter out with me next time to check the voltage at the glow plugs but the indicator wire is heating up.

When i got it going the first time it was running perfectly without misbehaving at all.

Below there injector pump there is a sprung lever which I can not find any info on at all, when I turned it a nominal amount of water came out and then stopped; I assumed this might be a drain for a water separator?

Any suggestions here; perhaps starter motor U/S?

Would anyone have a service/repair manual they could share?

 

[Daren Todd]

My first thought is to check your battery cables really good. Clean both ends, especially where the ground contacts the frame. If the ground cable is the old style braided wire, it might be best just to replace it. After a while they tend to get a lot of corrosion build up by the frame. Wouldn't hurt to replace the positive cable as well. Both cables are fairly inexpensive from the local auto parts store.

The spring loaded valve below the injection pump is a block drain for coolant check your wiring as well where it crosses from one side of the tractor to the other. Should be just below the fuel tank. I had some wiring melt down where it contacted the block. Caused all sorts of starting issues. And clean the contacts and make sure they are good and snug on the glow plugs. A loose or bad connection there will cause the glow plugs to not work properly.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Watch voltage while cranking with a voltmeter. Should not be below 10 volts if everything is good. Starter, cables and battery all need to be in good condition for starting.

 

[Madhun]

Thanks Darren & Frank.

Darren would you happen to know the gauge and length of both the starter and earth cables. I might as well just replace them both as they are no doubt factory issued and would seem cheap insurance.

Would you happen to have any details on a replacement starter if the current one is U/S?

I might replace the glow plugs for good measure; they are cheap enough.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Heres a couple numbers to work with.
Z750 z751 starter.
I cant guarantee anything, as i didnt go with my original starter number.

 

[Corney]

Cranks over fine with the decompression valve pulled, but very slowly with it engaged. Battery is new and was connected via jumper to a running diesel car engine so assume sufficient voltage.

How and where does one go about pulling this valve?

 

[Madhun]

Hi Corney on the Z750 series engine the valve is on the front side of the tappet cover basically in the middle; pull it all the way toward the exhaust side of the engine, assuming of course the decompression cable is no longer fitted.

 

[Madhun]

Heres a couple numbers to work with. View attachment 18702
Z750 z751 starter.
I cant guarantee anything, as i didnt go with my original starter number.

Frank, thanks for that, unfortunately I can't read the writing.

Could I trouble you to type the relevant numbers?

 

[Madhun]

Here's a picture of Wally!

 

[coachgeo]

Dog operator [/MG]

Here's a picture of Wally![/QUOTE]Looks like it is operator error.;) Keeps getting "[B]Squir[/B]l" distracted "[B]Squir[/B]l":D from proper starting procedure. :p

 

[coachgeo]

Check oil.

 

[Madhun]

Would anyone happen to know the appropriate gauge and length of the positve wire from the battery to the starter and the earth wire from the battery to the chassis? I need to replace the wire but it's a 400km round trip.

 

[Madhun]

Anyone? Bueler, Bueler, Bueler

 

[Tooljunkie]

If i get on my tractor i will measure. I could guess but i will be wrong.

 

[Madhun]

Thanks; I'll be looking forward to it.

 

[Russell King]

I recall it being 13" on my L185 and that was the shortest you could buy


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Madhun]

Thanks Russell

 

[coachgeo]

so no water in oil? Suggested earlier to check oil to partially rule out worst case scenario. Water in Oil could mean water in one cylinder too.... thus suffering some hydrolock symptoms. (causing slow or no turn over when compression release is NOT activated)

 

[Madhun]

so no water in oil? Suggested earlier to check oil to partially rule out worst case scenario. Water in Oil could mean water in one cylinder too.... thus suffering some hydrolock symptoms. (causing slow or no turn over when compression release is NOT activated)

Oil is as black as my beating heart

I'm guessing the state of these two leads is not helping the cause!

 

[Corney]

Give that girl a bath to start with!

I was having a hey of a time starting my girl and a good pressure wash, new battery and some tape over the rubbed through wires kept her going.

This winter is a rewire, it will be a hey of a lot easier to do so cause she doesn't look like a dirty girl?