I recently replaced the voltage regulator on my 124 with the one from my 125 just to see if that was the reason for it not starting and everything was fine. Since replacing the V/R I have plowed snow 4 times and it ran fine. I've been pushing some really deep, heavy snow with the only issue being an occasional sputter/exhaust backfire when I press the clutch while pushing heavy snow.
The issue now is that it won't fire up. It ran fine while plowing and when done I parked it in the garage and hooked it up to the trickle charger like I always do in sub-zero temps. The next time I went out to fire it up it wouldn't start. It was -15(-40 with windchill) that day so I got the garage heated up to about 40 degrees and let the tractor sit for 3 hours with an electric heater pointed at the oil pan. It is getting plenty of fuel and the spark is very strong but it will still just crank and crank without even the slightest sign of wanting to ignite in the cylinder. I have used it in cold weather like this all winter long and it has fired right up...well, except for when the voltage regulator quit working but that's beside the point.
When cranking it does not make any unusual noise indicating a broken connecting rod or any other internal issue. The engine is an original, unrebuilt K301 with who knows how many hours but it has always ran fine. It's just frustrating because it ran fine one day and not the next. It has fuel and spark, but no fire. Today it's about 30 degrees outside and it still will not start so the weather is not the issue.
What would you guys check first? I'm thinking maybe some carbon may have come loose and blocked a valve from closing all the way and making enough compression to start? I checked the cylinder compression and it's at 30PSI. That is extremely low and I'm thinking it's the result of an obstructed valve. I mean, I know the engine is old and probably doesn't have full compression anymore, I'm aware of that. However, it wouldn't just run one day with no indication of low compression like smoking and excessive oil consuption and then suddenly refuse to start because compression was so low from warn out rings or whatever. It would be using oil and smoking before that would happen.
Any thoughts?
The issue now is that it won't fire up. It ran fine while plowing and when done I parked it in the garage and hooked it up to the trickle charger like I always do in sub-zero temps. The next time I went out to fire it up it wouldn't start. It was -15(-40 with windchill) that day so I got the garage heated up to about 40 degrees and let the tractor sit for 3 hours with an electric heater pointed at the oil pan. It is getting plenty of fuel and the spark is very strong but it will still just crank and crank without even the slightest sign of wanting to ignite in the cylinder. I have used it in cold weather like this all winter long and it has fired right up...well, except for when the voltage regulator quit working but that's beside the point.
When cranking it does not make any unusual noise indicating a broken connecting rod or any other internal issue. The engine is an original, unrebuilt K301 with who knows how many hours but it has always ran fine. It's just frustrating because it ran fine one day and not the next. It has fuel and spark, but no fire. Today it's about 30 degrees outside and it still will not start so the weather is not the issue.
What would you guys check first? I'm thinking maybe some carbon may have come loose and blocked a valve from closing all the way and making enough compression to start? I checked the cylinder compression and it's at 30PSI. That is extremely low and I'm thinking it's the result of an obstructed valve. I mean, I know the engine is old and probably doesn't have full compression anymore, I'm aware of that. However, it wouldn't just run one day with no indication of low compression like smoking and excessive oil consuption and then suddenly refuse to start because compression was so low from warn out rings or whatever. It would be using oil and smoking before that would happen.
Any thoughts?
