JD 4300 Hydrostat

This tractor is a 2001, I have had it since 2005. It has 435 hrs on it and has never failed to start except for one time when I needed to replace the battery. This past Saturday, I used it for 3 hrs while snow blowing snow from my lane and several other lanes here In Illinois. It ran fine. I had added diesel fuel treatment to the tank before using it for the 3 hrs. It had @ 1/4 tank of fuel in it, plastic tank, but today I added @ 2 gal of winter diesel fuel to the tank and it will not start. Turns over fine. I checked the battery to see if the cranking amps were too low, and decided that I needed a new battery. Bought one, installed same. Cranks fine, but won't start. It has glow plugs and a heater. I have had it plugged in for 4 hours and used the glow plug function for up to 45 seconds on one attempt. Nothing. I went to town and bought a can of starting fluid from tractor supply. I have NEVER used that stuff and know one has to be careful about the amount sprayed. I removed the filter elements, sprayed a short burst into the canister and it started up.....but died after running out of either. I gave it a very short blast, it started again....stumbled....I gave a short blast...it ran....then stumbled... I quit. What happened since I shut it off two days ago and now? Any suggestions?

Check your fuses, perhaps the fuel shutoff solenoid is not opening, thus no fuel. Usually, I can hear mine open when the key is turned to RUN before cranking.

Firing the starting fluid points heavily towards a fuel issue. Even though you added fuel conditioner and winter blend fuel, if crud has been building up in the filter it could have plugged in the cold. When was the fuel filter last changed? Is fuel getting to the filter? Are you getting fuel to the injection pump? Fuel tanks are best kept near full in the winter to lessen condensation during temperature changes. I don't know if it has to open or close to run, but is the fuel solenoid working properly?

Turn the key on and off while listening to hear if the injection pump solenoid is working. You can usually hear them click. If no click then look for a blown fuse. If it is clicking then move on to seeing if you have fuel at the injection pump. The tank sets higher than the injection pump on these tractors. So with fuel in the tank they will gravity flow fuel to the injection pump.

I would bet that you have water in the fuel filter bowl that froze. The diesel fuel treatment does nothing to water in the system. So get a new fuel filter and change it. While you have the filter off open the valve while holding a pan/jug under the filter housing. You should have a good flow. Plus it will flush the line out. Clean the filter bowl out and put it all back together. Open the shut off valve and bleed the inlet fuel line at the injection pump.

Be careful - starting fluid and glow plugs used together can go BANG and do lots of damage to machine and man.

(quoted from post at 23:26:37 01/14/19) Be careful - starting fluid and glow plugs used together can go BANG and do lots of damage to machine and man.

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Ditto starting fluid & glow plugs is a big NO-NO.

I suggest to check fuel solenoid operation & check for good fuel flow from tank to inj pump.

I have a PDF of the technical manual you?re more than welcome to, shoot me your email if wanted

Joe

I could not give any better advice than the seller.

Whoah, I am in the same situation. Went from full tank with additives to 1/4 tank. Was planning to just get some filling station fuel and let her rip. I hope I am not back here Saturday singing the same song. I did go into this winter with a new fuel filter installed.

Good luck. Al Roker says we got a chit load on the way again.