starting B1700 in cold weather

hodge

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Nov 19, 2010
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If you hold the key to the left for 30 seconds or more, does the pig tail on the dash glow red? Does the tractor start?
I key the glow plugs, pull the decompression knob, wait until I see the pigtail glow, then I let it turn over for a number of seconds. I do this while using the decompression so that some oil pressure will build up before combustion- it's just what I do, and I'm sure someone has a varying opinion about it. I release the decompression, with the throttle set a little above idle, and it fires up. If I don't wait until the pig tail glows, I usually have to cycle the glow plugs a second time. Mine starts like that every time, regardless of how cold.
Knowing the cycle and the fact that it starts, I know my glow plugs work. I have had no reason to test them, nor do I know how (since I haven't had to). I'm sure someone will chime in with information on how to test them with a meter.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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You could disconnect the wire to the glow plug, use a Volt meter to check for voltage on the wire when in preheat switch settings, second would be to use an Ohm meat and from the top of the glow plug to ground check for a good Ohm reading between 2 and 15 if it shows 0 or high Ohms or infinite then the glow plug is bad.
 

orange1021

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Aug 28, 2010
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champaign, IL
You could disconnect the wire to the glow plug, use a Volt meter to check for voltage on the wire when in preheat switch settings, second would be to use an Ohm meat and from the top of the glow plug to ground check for a good Ohm reading between 2 and 15 if it shows 0 or high Ohms or infinite then the glow plug is bad.
When checking ohm, does key need to turned to preheat? Would ground simply be touching the engine block?
Thanks
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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Ohms needs to be with no wire connected and no power. Power and ohms don't play well together.
And yes a good ground is the engine block.

I'll second what Vic says, you could just pull them out and power test them too.
Just do not hold them with a bare hand, they will burn you in a split second.
Pull the glow plug out, connect the wire to the top, hold with pliers, touch the body to ground, turn key to glow to heat.
 
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