Proper use of compression release...

When it's cold, I cannot start ours without a shot of ether, and the prior two owners reported the same (one was the dealer, and he admittedly didn't start it much). In fact, the tractor came with a can of starting fluid in the tool box.

As far as the glow plug goes, it very well might work. All of us physically involved with the tractor so far are probably suffering from operator ignorance..including the fellow who sold it to me. I don't think he knew about the glow plug either, since I learned to start the tractor from him, so I will have to go try turning the key to the "left" and see if anything happens.

At the very least, now that I know there's supposed to be a glow plug there, I can figure out the circuit and make a repair if need be.

On the big cats its used to bleed the fuel system after you run out of fuel because you didn't watch the tank. Works great for that too.

I don't know of anyone using one to stop and engine other than in an emergancy. Can be used as a Jake brake on a steep hill also. Be careful when doing this but can stop a run-a-way tractor on pretty steep hill.

Walt

Some of the guys on here really are down on using ether on the 30 series Cases since too much of a good thing will crack the heads. So use it very saringly and with caution ONLY when the glow plugs aren't enough.

If you have tried the glow plugs to no avail, let the plugs and manifold go back to ambient temp before using the ether. We used it on our 830 for 3 winters in northwestern Colorado with no problems, but as I said very sparingly!!

It's only been getting down to around 10 degrees here at night..that's a LOT warmer than 30 below!!

I have a feeling that if this 830 has glow plugs, they aren't working, and that might be the problem. Are they supposed to activate with the key switch? There's no other switch on the dash for anything other than the lights.

Reason I ask, is that I have had to re-wire under the dash, because a long ago previous owner (looks like a couple of paint jobs ago, from the paint on the added wiring) had wired in a push button for the starter on the far left side of the dash..bypassed the neutral safety switch and all. I was happy to see that the wiring wasn't hacked up, just the stuff that was disconnected was left hanging under the dash. I figured whomever did it, did it so he/she could stand there on the left side, and shoot the ether into the intake while hitting the start button. I didn't like the idea of possibly getting run over by that big wheel on my right, so I hooked everything back up normal..as best I know. At least the neutral safety switch is back in action, and you have to use the key to start it now...keeps the kids from possibly running over all the other vehicles in the yard, or each other, as well..maybe I'll use that now abandoned momentary contact switch for an "ahh-oogah" horn or something...LOL

Just went outside and took a gander, and I didn't see where the glow plugs would be wired in. Would they be above the injectors, or on the other side of the motor? I didn't see any electrical connections that could be for glow plugs. Perhaps I need to take the "hood" off and look higher?

Our 861 Ford diesel had a humongous "Ford" brand battey instead of off the shelf group 24 12v batteries like Case. Could only fit in the Ford battery, they were the only one that supplied it, and they were VERY proud of that fact. When auto batteries were $25 this one was $150!! Another reason I will NEVER own a Ford tractor!

I will trace down those wires and see where they lead. I imagine the glow plug must be threaded into the manifold, so if it's burned out, it must be replaceable...

The only tractors we had with compression release was our John Deere R and D-2 Cat. Same deal, release the compression until you got the big engine turning good with the pony motor and then released the lever and threw the coals to'er and she started with a cloud of black smoke.