starting issues with 730d

Matt Thomas · Mar 26, 2015

A good friend of mine just bought a '59 730d. Before the sale he had the opportunity to drive it around a good bit. Ran like a top so he bought it. Took it home on a trailer. When he got home, it would not start. Now...he can pull it and it starts in less than one rotation of the front tires and still runs like a top but if uses the starter....will not start.

Where should we look? This baffles me just a bit.

gtx1967jewison · Mar 26, 2015

Electric start 2-cyl diesels are marginally functional at best. You will need 2 big CCA batteries @ 100%, 00 cables in perfect condition with Swaged ends, and a good strong starter for it to work. And a good charging system. They turn over too slow otherwise. Also check injection timing, valve lash, fuel quality (could be old), filters, just a start.

rrlund · Mar 26, 2015

Are you stepping down on the compression release when you try to turn it with the starter? You have to hold it down,get the engine turning with the starter and let the pedal up slowly.

Matt Thomas · Mar 26, 2015

Thanks for the replies.
Yes, stepping on the compression release.
Batteries and cables in great shape. He had no trouble starting it during the tryout. Only after getting it home.

Ferris Boy · Mar 26, 2015

Whats the voltage reading at the starter?

cornerpost · Mar 27, 2015

A little more info please. Is it turning over slow? Not at all? We are all assuming this but you do not exactly tell us. Dad had a 730D electric start from 1961 to end of 1965. My memory is when something went wrong with the 4 six volt batteries tied in series for starting usually sparks flew and then nothing happened. You do not say what is in there but I would sure get it down to 2 12 volt batteries big as will fit in the box.

Ferris Boy · Mar 28, 2015

Okay so look for the starter by the starter there should be a power to starter cable you need to figure out how much power is making it to the starter then we can trouble shoot why the starter is cranking slow

Matt Thomas · Mar 30, 2015

Thanks again for all the replies. I will need get with my bud and do some voltage measuring but it does sound as if it may not be turning fast enough.
I know the cables are 00 and swaged but do not know what size the two 12-volt batteries are....need to check that out.

Matt Thomas · Mar 30, 2015

Yes, it's turning over...just won't fire unless we pull it. To my untrained ear it seemed to be turning over pretty good but after reading the replies, I am guessing it is not fast enough.

cornerpost · Mar 31, 2015

We did not let the decompression pedal up slow. Foot off the decompression pedal and a nano-second later push the throttle ahead to give it fuel.

Matt Thomas · Apr 3, 2015

Got it. Before he even got to checking the voltage at the starter, he figured out the starter was dragging. Took care of that, charged the batteries fully and away she went. Thank for all the replies.

Ferris Boy · Apr 9, 2015

with a volt meter check how many volts your battery is producing if you give me the information I can help you also I need you to get under the tractor underneath the flywheel there should be the starter if you can get a reading on howmany volts the starter is recieveing then that might be your problem you could have 2 volts at your starter from a bad ground but until you get around and look I cant help you

starting issues with 730d

Matt Thomas

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gtx1967jewison

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rrlund

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Matt Thomas

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Ferris Boy

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cornerpost

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Ferris Boy

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Matt Thomas

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Matt Thomas

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cornerpost

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Matt Thomas

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