Starting/running issues for 970

JK5 · Jan 11, 2020

I'm brand new to the world of tractors and have only had a brief run through on operating the one I have... I can't seem to get it started

I have had it plugged in all night, drenched it with starter fluid, verified it is in neutral gear and just refueled it. When I turn the ignition it grinds away like it's trying to start but won't catch - it did start for about 5 seconds and promptly died once. It now sounds like the battery might be dying (the grinding is died off and is now just doing nothing).

I honestly have no idea what I'm doing wrong but I'm currently snowed in and need to get it going this weekend

RGMartin · Jan 11, 2020

The 5 seconds was probably just running on the starting fluid. What brand fluid are you using?

Are you getting white smoke of the exhaust when you crank without starting fluid?

Does the engine block actually feel warm to the touch after being plugged in for a couple hours?

Charge your battery.

The 4 1/8 bore tractors(770 and 970) seem to get the hardest starting 70 series. I have a 970 here that I don't even try unless it is 50 degrees(it is very well worn).

mEl · Jan 11, 2020

If you keep "drenching" it with starting fluid as you stated you will destroy the piston ring lands and break the top compression rings. I know very few people who know how to use starting fluid properly. You should be thankful that I answered this post first because there are others on here who would not be so tactful!! Starting fluid for some on here is a definite NO NO.

It sounds like you have air in the fuel system and the injectors are not getting fuel, try bleeding the air from the filters at the screws on top of the filter body, the rear one will bleed by gravity, the other by turning the engine over with the screw out, if the injection pump is delivering fuel you should be able to get it going, if it is you should be getting white smoke when it is turning. If the tractor has been sitting for a while not run the rack in the pump may be stuck, let us know after the filters are bled if it starts. If it has a block heater plug it in and verify that it works, the block should get warm to the touch after a bit.

mEl · Jan 11, 2020

Sorry I duplicated some of your stuff RG, all good advice.

JK5 · Jan 11, 2020

(quoted from post at 13:05:27 01/11/20)
If you keep "drenching" it with starting fluid as you stated you will destroy the piston ring lands and break the top compression rings. I know very few people who know how to use starting fluid properly. You should be thankful that I answered this post first because there are others on here who would not be so tactful!! Starting fluid for some on here is a definite NO NO.

It sounds like you have air in the fuel system and the injectors are not getting fuel, try bleeding the air from the filters at the screws on top of the filter body, the rear one will bleed by gravity, the other by turning the engine over with the screw out, if the injection pump is delivering fuel you should be able to get it going, if it is you should be getting white smoke when it is turning. If the tractor has been sitting for a while not run the rack in the pump may be stuck, let us know after the filters are bled if it starts. If it has a block heater plug it in and verify that it works, the block should get warm to the touch after a bit.

That information on using the starter fluid is depressing because that is what my husband instructed me to do to get it started when it was cold outside.

I will try to figure out how to get the air out.

fastfarmall · Jan 11, 2020

If you use to much, and in the case i am going to tell you about it was way to much, it washed the oil off the cylinder walls and didn't have any compression,it turn over like a gas engine with the spark plugs were out, just a sniff is all you need!

097Clint · Jan 11, 2020

Did you push the shut off cable in? It is on the dash left of the key,
Clint

JK5 · Jan 11, 2020

(quoted from post at 14:40:36 01/11/20) If you use to much, and in the case i am going to tell you about it was way to much, it washed the oil off the cylinder walls and didn't have any compression,it turn over like a gas engine with the spark plugs were out, just a sniff is all you need!

Good to know thank you! I went back out and gave it just a quick squirt of starter fluid and tried starting again. Not sure what exactly I did differently but it turned over and kept going without needing to bleed any air out. I did put the throttle higher, so maybe that was my problem the whole time...

JK5 · Jan 11, 2020

Yes, that one I did remember to do thank you

JK5 · Jan 11, 2020

When I finally got it going it did spit out a ton of white smoke right after it started. The block heater does appear to be working okay

BarryfromIA · Jan 11, 2020

It might be a good idea to put a battery maintainer on it. That will make it spin over better. Probably not from Harbor Freight some on here have not liked that brand.

JK5 · Jan 13, 2020

(quoted from post at 17:44:44 01/11/20) It might be a good idea to put a battery maintainer on it. That will make it spin over better. Probably not from Harbor Freight some on here have not liked that brand.

Thank you

Starting/running issues for 970

JK5

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RGMartin

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mEl

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mEl

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JK5

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fastfarmall

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097Clint

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JK5

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JK5

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JK5

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BarryfromIA

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JK5

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