1981 450c problems

north country dozer · Post by **north country dozer** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 2:17 pm

hey guys this seems like a great site and I'm excited that I found it as I own a '81 450 C.I live in the north country and the snow really dumps on me and I use it for snow removal works great. I have N't once put additive in my fuel and I've started up on mornings as cold as -27 with just a spritz a starter fluid. Never had lines gel up on me. Just a few days ago I was cleaning up some snow and I believe I had let the fuel tank get a little low . It was late and i parked it. Just yesterday I got some fuel that I put an additive in. I went to start the dozer up and it started right up,but within five seconds shut right downand now it will not start it all. Could it just be the fuel filter gummed up? Thanks in advance for any help as I really need. 2 months of snow left to come still

north country dozer · Post by **north country dozer** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 2:29 pm

Forgot to mention that there is no sense of diesel emission from the exhaust pipe after or while cranking. Makes me think its gotta be filter.

Tigerhaze · Post by **Tigerhaze** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 3:52 pm

Gelling could be an issue, but also consider the possibility that the combination of sucking your tank too low plus an additive may have caused dirt/gunk/etc. in the tank to become mobilized and plug up the fuel tank outlet or clog your lines or filters.

Check for crud issue as well as the gelling issue, and also any tank vents which can be another cause of that problem. You can search for a number of similar threads discussing this.

north country dozer · Post by **north country dozer** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 4:31 pm

Thanks for response tigerhaze. I've had the darn thing for four hears now and have never treated the fuel. Should've stuck to my usual norms. Battery is having trouble keeping up. Have the Silverado 1500 jumped to it right now with the pedal propped to 2000 rpms. Gonna wait to see what happens if its got good juice. Otherwise I may have to seek help from the local tractor mechanic as I can build a building from start to scratch but combustion engines never squeezed in to my knowledge base

north country dozer · Post by **north country dozer** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 4:40 pm

Just got a good hard 20 second ignition trial with a starter fluid spray. Just before she lost power the exhaust had a faint smell of diesel emission. I'm gonna give it another ten minutes of high charge and try one more time... unless I am doing damage by anyone concerns...

north country dozer · Post by **north country dozer** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 5:19 pm

After a ten minute high charge with my Silverado pedal propped to 2000 rpm, I got a good hard crank and she lit up. Started surging from low to high in 2 second intervals. After a minute I eased the throttle up slowly and she became steady. Backed her down to idle and she was purring like a lion!!! So happy. Let her run for ten minutes and shut her down.

It probably was the additive on the low tank. Thank god ididnt clog anything too much. These machines are great. I look forward to further chatter on this board

Labparamour · Post by **Labparamour** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 8:48 am

Check the fuel tank vent, too.
I had a similar event- tried to start up after running fine the previous day- nothing. Would chuff a bit with starting fluid.
When I took the fuel cap off I heard a vacuum!
Cleaned the vent on the underside of the tank (flet like ice/dirt in there), bled filters and it fired right off.
Good luck

north country dozer · Post by **north country dozer** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 2:02 pm

Thanks for the tip lab

Tigerhaze · Post by **Tigerhaze** » Mon Feb 10, 2014 9:35 am

I would be cautious in the future about the use of starting fluid; I believe the later model 450s have upgraded piston rings that can handle the increased pressures but you should really use it sparingly, if at all as diesel engines aren't designed for the explosions that starting fluid causes in the combustion chamber. There is a number of threads discussing the use of ether you can also read.

Another thing potentially hampering startup is slow cranking speed due to worn starters. Even if the starter works if worn it may be turning the engine over more slowly than a fresh starter and that can really impact starting. Also if your model has a HLR disconnect lever (earlier models like 2010s did but not sure on later 450s) , it can also make a big difference in that cranking speed.

north country dozer · Post by **north country dozer** » Mon Feb 10, 2014 10:55 am

Thanks for the tip haze. I am extremely sparing... but I can't seem to start without once late fall kicks around. And when it's -27 and 3' of snow in my driveway I need my dozer running. I'm gonna do a little more research and look in to your suggestions regarding the starter. Thanks again...

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1981 450c problems

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