880 diesel starting

Don-Ont · May 13, 2018

Engine starts best when throttle is wide open and still have to crank it a lot. Is this normal or is there a problem. Thanks.

oliver90owner · May 13, 2018

Cold engine or hot? Ambient temperature? Does it have a cold start device? The extra detail helps.

J. Schwiebert · May 13, 2018

like 90 owner asked. We need a lot more details! Does it smoke when you are trying to start the tractor? You have a serial number? In 1961 they installed valve seats in the head to help starting problems. How is cranking speed?

Don-Ont · May 13, 2018

Tractor is 1958. Temp usually 70-80. It
has a manifold heater. Never tried to
start in cooler temps, 40-60 degrees. It
does smoke a lot, blue smoke. Good fast
cranking, rebuilt starter and 850 amp hour
battery. Original injection pump was
rebuilt recently.
Thanks.

90 Percent Retired · May 13, 2018

J. asked if it smoked when cranking. White smoke while cranking indicates low compression, blue smoke when running is most likely oil consumption.

Don-Ont · May 13, 2018

Starts better when hot but still needs full throttle.

Gary Mitchell · May 13, 2018

Not Oliver and not in-direct injection but, I've started a lot of Cummins diesels in the cold. The best practice I found was throttle wide open to lube rings and raise compression, turn 3 or 4 seconds, wait that long and try 3 or 4 seconds again, repeat until it starts to start. My assumption was that the brief cranking periods heated the cylinders and the rest of the engine enough to initially start. Seemed to work pretty well. gm

oliver90owner · May 13, 2018

If oil burning it is likely low on compression. That might be borne out by the fast cranking speed.

Best start with a compression test. It could be leakage past the pistons or it could be valve recession (as JS was suggesting). Or both.

Could be injectors, too. Or were they sorted at the same time as the pump? Is the pump timing correct?

Is the manifold heater working? And do you operate it for cold starts?

So many possibilities...

RAB

johns · May 13, 2018

Bosch pump its acceptable to move throttle wide open when cranking over. Regardless, if it starts hard and smokes it could use an overhaul
and head gone thru with special attention paid to valve protrusion. Are you willing to put $2K+ into overhauling the engine right? If not,
then you'll have to live with it as is.

880 diesel starting

Don-Ont

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J. Schwiebert

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90 Percent Retired

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Gary Mitchell

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