OT - starting diesel engines

[AJMD429]

A couple dumb tractor-questions...

The other day I was driving my utility tractor, and some firewood fell off the 3-point-hitch hauler, so I put the parking brake on, & hopped off to pick it up. The engine turned off due to the seat-safety, since I'd left it in (hydrostatic) gear. I noticed the glow-plug light went on, and the timer started clicking, like when you first start up. Should I have jumped up immediately and turned the key 'off', so something didn't get messed up? I don't quite know what is happening when the 'glow plug' thing is going.

The tractor starts right up, without waiting for the light/timer to go off, so am I messing things up by just starting it right up, vs. waiting for whatever it is to 'finish'...?

[pokey]

sounds too new for me, but make and model might help.

[pwl44m]

The clicking U heard was prolly just the hour meter clicking away.It doesn't know the Engine isn't running. as for the heater light idk, maybe just the Alt light.
DON't U Have to turn the Switch backawards and hold it for the Glow Plugs. ?

[adirondakjack]

I dunno how yers is wired. My dad had a (mazda) diesel Ford Escort, and if ya turned it on "on" and waited until the glow plug light went out, it was ready to turn the rest of the way to crank (this according to the timer) But in any temp above 40 F or so, it'd start just like a gas job, ignoring the waiting time/light, etc even when not run for days.

I don't think you can overheat the glow plugs, so yer only taxing the battery when ya do what you did.

[Noah Zark]

The clicking is most likely the glow plug relay, which is a timer relay that "pulses" voltage to the glow plugs on and off so that they heat up without burning out. Glow plugs are not designed to be switched on and left on until the engine is started; the heating element will burn up.

The engine most likely started quickly because is was already warm from running before you got of the seat and activated the deadman switch. And apparently the engine doesn't have a thermostatic switch that cuts out the glow plugs if the engine is already warm.

I was hoping you were looking for information on how to start an Electro-Motive Series 567 diesel engine, but that's another thread . . .

Noah

[Bruce]

OK, I am a little confused. I understand what happened when you got off the tractor, but not what you mean is happening now. Is the light staying on now? It is starting properly (now) right? Is this a John Deere? Some tractors don't need the wait time we were used too in our younger days. Most are self bleeding these days, so that is probably not an issue either.

[AJMD429]

Thanks for the info. Makes sense. I suppose the timer quits pulsing the glow-plugs after 30 sec (that's when the noise stops and the 'glow' light on the dashboard goes out if I haven't started the tractor by then for some reason) so they don't burn out, so that is hopefully protecting things a bit if the same thing happens (i.e. key in ignition and 'on' but tractor not started/running).

It also sounds like I don't need to feel bad starting the engine 'early' (not waiting for the 'glow' timer/light to go off) when it's up to it. Since it's a 2010 (John Deere 2520) it still starts fast rain or shine, hot or cold, pretty much instantly, just like a gas engine.

[Nath]

Handbook, operators manual?????

Nath

[Don McDowell]

You don't need to feel bad about starting the engine before the glowplug light goes out,,,,, until you have to start replacing gloplugs..

[Nath]

You don't need to feel bad about starting the engine before the glowplug light goes out,,,,, until you have to start replacing gloplugs..

Or starter motors!

N.

[Don McDowell]

If there's a place to rebuild the starter it's not so bad, but man if you have to go buy that rebuilt green paint.... ooffta...

[m.wun]

How about jumping out that seat switch and not worrying about the glow plugs...

[kimwcook]

Personally, I can't stand seat safety switches like that and I bypass any I've had. That said, some engines have thermostatically controlled switches that control the glow plugs and some don't. They shut off the glow plug system when they reach a certain temp and back on when it cools below that threshold. My tractor doesn't and every time I shut it off, whether, cold, luke warm or warmed all the way up they come on. Depending on the tractor some engines will start really easy once warmed up just a little, some are cold blooded and need more. A warm diesel engine does not need the glow plugs to start or run. I'm not aware of a pulsing glow plug system. Could be I'm just not aware of them. All I've ever known is those systems that are either on or off. The clicking may be the electric fuel pump. That's how mine works. I think if your glow plug relay is pulsing on and off somethings wrong.

[adirondakjack]

How about jumping out that seat switch and not worrying about the glow plugs...

The seat switch only shut it down because he left the automatic tranny in gear when he climbed off. Better that than run yerself over with the machine....

The last little tractor I ad the seat switch was kaput, as was the PTO indicator light.

I wired two BIG lights and affixed em to the dash. A GREEN "neutral" light telling me the machine was safe to dismount, and a yellow light that lit any time the PTO clutch was engaged. beats heck outta ending up mower chaff.

[mikld]

I would think, from your description, that you have a timer (30 sec.) and a relay (clicking sound) on your glow plug system. Some have an oil pressure switch to turn off the glow plug after the engine starts. One reason for the timer and relay cycling, is most glow plugs use up heavy amperage; 30+, and if not controlled, shut down, would rund down even a good battery pretty quickly...

[Griff]

"Glow plugs"... what are those, some kinda kryptonite bulb? Ah yes... for the low compression diesels... getting off while leaving it in gear is a worse problem than starting it before the glow plugs go off. And if it has an electric fuel pump, like Kim says, that what's you're hearing. "Most" glow plug systems are either "on" or "off". Most are simple timed relays, from the time the key is turned to the "on" position, after 15-20 seconds they turn "off"... better ones are temp controlled... and as soon as it starts they turn off.

[jnyork]

Handbook, operators manual?????

Nath

Beat me to it.

[Old Ironsights]

Handbook, operators manual?????

Nath

Beat me to it.

RTFM...

[adirondakjack]

Handbook, operators manual?????

Nath

We're Americans. We don't ask for directions or read the manual except as a post mortem exercize....

[JB]

How about jumping out that seat switch and not worrying about the glow plugs...

The seat switch only shut it down because he left the automatic tranny in gear when he climbed off. Better that than run yerself over with the machine....

I agree. That seat switch could save your life or at least save you from some serious damage to yourself or someone/something else.