Why do some diesel engines start and others need ether?

[Farmboy62]

I have a Scat Trak 1300C with a kubota diesel engine that will not start without using ether. Is there any fix to this problem? I really don't like being in the cab when I'm starting it that way.

 

[OldMachinist]

Something is wrong with the glow plugs if it doesn't start without using ether. It could be the relay isn't working or the glow plugs themselves are burned up.
Also very low cylinder compression could cause it too. How many hours are there on the engine?

 

[Tazza]

Something is wrong with the glow plugs if it doesn't start without using ether. It could be the relay isn't working or the glow plugs themselves are burned up.
Also very low cylinder compression could cause it too. How many hours are there on the engine?

All diesels in good condition don't need ether. If it won't start with glowing, there is a problem.
As OM stated, make sure your glow plugs are working. Even remove them and check that they glow right to the tip. They are simple to test, a jumper cable to the body of the plug, the other end to a battery terminal then rest the threaded part to the other battery terminal. If they don't glow right to the tip your plugs need replacing. If they do glow, make sure you have power to the glow plug rail.
How good is your battery? if its gettilg a bit sad it won't crank fast enough to get it to fire. Even a bad ground or weak starter can cause it too. It may be spinning, but it may not be fast enough.

 

[CASE 1840]

All diesels in good condition don't need ether. If it won't start with glowing, there is a problem.
As OM stated, make sure your glow plugs are working. Even remove them and check that they glow right to the tip. They are simple to test, a jumper cable to the body of the plug, the other end to a battery terminal then rest the threaded part to the other battery terminal. If they don't glow right to the tip your plugs need replacing. If they do glow, make sure you have power to the glow plug rail.
How good is your battery? if its gettilg a bit sad it won't crank fast enough to get it to fire. Even a bad ground or weak starter can cause it too. It may be spinning, but it may not be fast enough.

Before running the glow pulg directly off the battery, check the voltage printed on the hex of the plug. Many glow plugs are rated less than 12V when used on a 12 V system and giving them full power can make them burn out. The low voltage plugs will have either a controler , series resistor eye or even a self resetting circuit breaker to limit on time. The low voltage plugs are used to allow quick heat up and glow action during cranking when battery voltage is low due to the heavy draw of the starter.
The resistor eye is a ballast resistor, when the key is turned to glow, the resistance is low allowing full battery power to be applied to the resistor. As the resistor heats up, its resistance rises cutting back the current runing through the glow plugs. When the key is turned to crank, the resistor is bypassed allowing the plugs to continue glowing.
Controlers use engine temp to regulate on time. The curcuit breaker system is used on at least the Case 1835C with a Continental TMD20.
If the engine has a suction leak on the fuel supply, weak transfer pump or clogged strainer in the tank or fuel pump, extended cranking will occur.