bj60 noob GLOW questions

[cruiserjunktion]

I now have a 81 bj60.

I live in North Fla and it is never that cold.

I hear the glow plugs click on just before the starter engages.

When cold, I let them glow for 8 seconds and then turn the key back w/o engaging the starter.

I do this 2-3 times and she fires right up with lil to no smoking.

The GLOW light never illuminates during the process.

If I don't glow the plugs when cold, it still starts, but idles rough and SMOKES for a minute.

Does the GLOW light need to be illuminated before cold starting?

How many 8 sec bursts should it take to make GLOW light up?

When warm the GLOW light comes illuminates immediatley, so I skip the 8sec warming procedure.

Will plugging in the engine heater keep the plugs warms for eazier cold starting?

 

[crushers]

you have a problematic glow light. it shoudl come on right away and stay on for a few seconds.
if you live in florida you should only need to glow once if the system is working properly.
it is normal for the engine to run rough and smoke if you do not engage the glows on the first start of the day...

 

[83bj60]

I now have a 81 bj60.

I live in North Fla and it is never that cold.

I hear the glow plugs click on just before the starter engages.

it doesn't mean it's working right. You should have voltage as well at the glow plug bar during that period. The relay contacts can become pitted or worn with age.

When cold, I let them glow for 8 seconds and then turn the key back w/o engaging the starter.

I do this 2-3 times and she fires right up with lil to no smoking.

The GLOW light never illuminates during the process.

Unless I'm grossly mistaken and the 81 system is vastly different from the 83 system, the glow plug indicator is not connecetd to the glow plugs at all, it's on its own timing circuit, so that doesn't mean much.

If I don't glow the plugs when cold, it still starts, but idles rough and SMOKES for a minute.

Pretty much normal for an old BJ60...

Does the GLOW light need to be illuminated before cold starting?

See above. As for the delay, IIRC in those years the glow time is between something like 3-5 seconds and 25 seconds. Anyway as it isn't superglow you can leave it on for a long time (assuming the PO didn't install 6V plugs in there) and they won't be damaged.

How many 8 sec bursts should it take to make GLOW light up?

It should come on for the minimum duration required, depending on engine temperature.

When warm the GLOW light comes illuminates immediatley, so I skip the 8sec warming procedure.

I believe your glow plug warning light is way off of maybe wrongly connected. That is abnormal.

Will plugging in the engine heater keep the plugs warms for eazier cold starting?

It always help, but in your case it should be easy to start in your climate. If it doesn't start easily maybe your injectors are worn or your engine compression is too low.

A diesel always makes some smoke at startup, especially the old tractors such as the 3B. My old BJ60 used to make tons of it in winter, but here winter means 20 below, not 40 - 50 like you usually have where you live

Hope this helps a bit...

 

[Tapage]

I thought really you don't need to glow your engine if is good compresion and more than 24ºC in the mornings or at your first start ..

In my 2H I need to glow for a while 10 segs and that star rough .. only for first start in the day.