Updates on my 3000 hard starting etc...

for those of you that have been following the saga of my new / used 3000 tractor with starting problems:

http://ytforums.ytmag.com/viewtopic.php?t=382908&highlight=

http://ytforums.ytmag.com/viewtopic.php?t=391076&highlight=

Here is what I found wrong:

1. battery is a 500 amp from a Honda Civic or something?
2. Cables are aftermarket parts store type.
3. themostat was failed open and engine never came to operating temperature.
4. Injector was failed: fuel in oil, slobbering all over me!
5. generator not charging

Here is what I have done so far:

1. Have not changed battery yet. I pulled one of the 900 amps out of my Dodge CTD and it was no different with starting. Will change in the future when my tractor jar gets a little more jingle in it.
2. will replace cables same time I do battery.
3. replaced thermostat and now the engine comes to temperature normally.
4. replaced all three injectors with exchange set.
5. replaced generator with 1-wire alternator.

Results:

I found the compression low on one cylinder but I have not done anything as it could be related to fuel glazing down the cylinder walls and low spin up speed due to a poor battery and cables. I am going to run it hard and see if it comes up first. I will not be able to do this untill next year when I start mowing the deer hunting land. Untill then it will just be used to move trailers around....

The fuel in the oil and slobbering is gone. Oil is nice and clean after running and sitting. (this one worried me, but all is well now).

It is still hard to start when cold but will start with ether and will start on its own afterward for the day. Doesnt smoke as much and runs really good. This may clear up after I run it in to get the compression up and change the battery and cables.

So, as of right now I am really happy with the results.

Thanks again for all of y'alls help.

genny situation might have been a 40$ regulator.. or a 'free' 2 second polerization.. but that's neither here nor now at this point.

Don't bother putting hte 900a battery in if you still have the wimpy sub-compact car 4-ga cables... total waste... get real cables before you test the starter again..

soundguy

I run an automotive battery in my 4600 and with a good charge and warm weather, it spins over and starts fine. The key I think is that I don't use it in the winter and the alternator keeps the battery at top charge. The down side is tat if there is a problem, it's the starter you are hurting, which is not cheap.

Make sure that you have either 1/0 or 2/0 battery cables with soldered battery connectors. It really critical to have large cables ( low resistance) to supply the high current required to start a diesel because of the high compression ratio. make sur ethat the bateery connectors are clean and all the connection in the starter circuit are "bright and tight".

(quoted from post at 08:15:52 11/13/08) genny situation might have been a 40$ regulator.. or a 'free' 2 second polerization.. but that's neither here nor now at this point.

Don't bother putting hte 900a battery in if you still have the wimpy sub-compact car 4-ga cables... total waste... get real cables before you test the starter again..

soundguy

Click to expand...

I would have changed the gernerator even if it was working. There is a reason all of the automobile OEM's have been using alternators for years. For the most part, they work and work well for many years. And myself coming from an aviation background, I just dont want the headaches associated with generators.

Battery cable change is a definate. The cables that are there are plenty big to carry the amps but they have the .99cent repair ends on them and I am certain this is contributing to a power loss. I will just replace them and be done with it. It will be a little bit though as the wife just dont understand why my "great deal" is costing so much money...sigh somethings she just doesnt understand.

It's better to just say thst you don't like generators.. then give a half technical reason for not liking them.

As you mentioned for alternators.. generator's 'work'.. and work well for many -DECADES-.

Most people that have headaches about gennies don't understand their maintenance or upkeep.. and that's fine too... nothing wrong with wanting an alternator.. especially if you aren't capable of maintaining a genny based system so that it is reliable. no one wants unreliable power.

That said, good luck on the repairs. And keep us posted.

soundguy

OK I will say it: "I dont like generators" Now I feel better.

But serouisly whether I am right wrong or indifferent, I consider them old-school technology just like I consider points style ignitions the same way. Yes, I can set the points and dwell and keep them running fine but why would I want the hassle when I can get an electronic ignition that performs well and requires very little atention?

Here is a good link to the differences between alternators and generators:

http://www.venselenterprises.com/techtipsfromdick_files/alternators.pdf

I will let the reader form his or her conclusions.

for me the alternator is the best choice and the cost to change it over was relatively inexpensive.

congrads and thanks for taking the time to let us know..

Why even have an old tractor at all.. get something new and hi-tech.. seems like you don't like old tech in general. right?

soundguy

ok, local parts house has 2 guage cables in stock. Think it is ok or should I buy the oem replacement?

your thoughts...

Decades?
I'm afraid you've got a different batch of generators than most of us... I guess if you want to 'maintain' it every other week you can keep it running forever.
The point with alternators is that you put them on and forget about them for about 5000 hours, until the brushes die and then you go get another one... free if you had a lifetime warranty.

It's got nothing to do with not knowing how to maintain a generator. It's got to do with not wanting to know how to maintain a generator, and more importantly, not wanting constant maintenance. Chock that up to personal preference...
Other than that, I can't right now think of one thousand series tractor that didn't have ongoing problems with it's charging system. SOme of us fired the problem in the scrap bin and bought an alt, and then there's some of my neighbours that still deal with the problem.... either because they don't want to spend the money or they don't know that there's a solution. Personally I was tired of being nickle and dimed to death by a generator.

Rod

(quoted from post at 15:11:15 11/13/08)

Battery cable change is a definate. The cables that are there are plenty big to carry the amps but they have the .99cent repair ends on them and I am certain this is contributing to a power loss. I will just replace them and be done with it. It will be a little bit though as the wife just dont understand why my "great deal" is costing so much money...sigh somethings she just doesnt understand.

Click to expand...

Go to your local welding supply shop and buy the heavy lug terminals and hammer them on the ends of your 2g or 0g cables, they work.

I think what you relate as absolute. is perhaps.. just a large percentage instead.

I se lots of ford tractors with gens down here in florida.

Perhaps it's the lowered electrical demands of the 'warm weather' that helps them to last.. vs constantly reviving cold flat batteries that grind over forever getting a 50 yr old diesel going in 3 feet of snow... I guess that might adversely effect te lifespan of the genny quite a bit...

While I've now had 2 gennies rebuilt. I have plenty more that are, as far as I can tell, still stock. Have a 3rd that the vreg was replaced. I simply don't considder small attention every few years or less tobe much trouble. The closest I had to trouble was that lucas genny and keeping it going for a few years took me all of about 15 minutes work up untill I rebuilt it.. as of which.. it's had -0- prolems.

We know you don't like gennies.

I don't however, dislike alternators.. I like both and i like them for different reasons. I really like the fault tolerance of a generator. Remember.. i work with a road construction crew.. average education level is high school or less... In the last 15 ys I've been with that company I can't tell you how many alternators have been shelled out from mis-boosting / juming.. or incorrect hookup where some idiot can't tellthe difference between a plus sign and a dash... on the other and.. or machines with gennies ( yep.. we got some from the 60's with oem stock gennies ).. none of them have given out..yet... worst that had to be done was a polerization that I can remember doing a single time in those 13 ys.

they all have their niche....

soundguy