? chipper struggles to start ..

[TheTreeWrangler]

Hi all ..   

 

We have a forst chipper, been pretty good ,  till now .. what we are finding is that if the chipper hasn't been started for a couple of days, it is a real pain to start, and takes some going ...   once its started it starts fine first time, the problem is only if it goes a couple of days without running ..  

 

I have a few thoughts, but wanted to see what you all think the problem could be,  am prob going to put it in for a service some time soon ..   

 

but your thoughts would be welcomed ...   thanks. .

[Jase hutch]

Petrol or diesel  ?

[Tree monkey 1682]

What engines in her 

[TheTreeWrangler]

diesel, and it the Kubota engine ..    

 

thanks . .

[Muddy42]

Have you tested voltage and load on the battery?  Are the battery connections clean?  have you bled the fuel system to see if air is getting in or if fuel is reaching the injectors? Replace fuel filters?  Id ohm test the glow plugs to see if they are working (should be low resistance). I presume you are pre-heating the glow plugs?

[TheTreeWrangler]

yeah pre heating the glow plugs , battery is new this was my first thought.   

 

I haven't replace the filter, but can do this asap as a matter of caution, but if there was a blockage id expect it to do it every time not just after a few days .. ??   

 

I had thought that it maybe not holding a lift on the fuel but if air was being drawn in , id expect to see a leak ??   

[GarethM]

Is it firing over or just lazy starting 

[TheTreeWrangler]

it fires over fine ,  and if its been used the day before it starts ok ...   but if it hasn't been run for a couple of days then its a real pain ..

[Muddy42]

15 minutes ago, TheTreeWrangler said:

yeah pre heating the glow plugs , battery is new this was my first thought.   

 

I haven't replace the filter, but can do this asap as a matter of caution, but if there was a blockage id expect it to do it every time not just after a few days .. ??   

 

I had thought that it maybe not holding a lift on the fuel but if air was being drawn in , id expect to see a leak ??   

 

If you have a multimeter, remove and test the glow plugs for resistance.

Id check the fuel filter first and maybe flush it with solvent. If it needs replacing, whack a hole through it temporarily with a screw driver and carry on testing while you wait for a replacement.

if you disconnect the fuel lines at various points, you should get decent squirts when you the engine is turned over.

 

[GarethM]

9 minutes ago, TheTreeWrangler said:

it fires over fine ,  and if its been used the day before it starts ok ...   but if it hasn't been run for a couple of days then its a real pain ..

Presumably it has a electric fuel pump, that would be my first guess other than the usual dirty filters, rubber hoses leaking or blocked.