5245 start only on 1 cylinder...

We have owned a Zetor 5245 for over 15 years. This winter when its cold, the tractor is quite difficult to start. Eventually, it starts but only on 1 cylinder then slowly gets going... Once it is warm, everything runs like a charm. Even after 14,000 hrs, there is no loss of power and no burning oil. I was just wondering what could make it so difficult to start. The battery has plenty of juice and it turns over plenty fast to start. Any comments?

Dan,

Could be low cylinder compression - see the "7341 overheating" post in the Tractor Forum.

Ambient temp is a so a critical factor as the battery cranking capacity degrades rapidly with falling temp while the engine oil thickens up also making it more difficult to start. What temp are you at?

Air in the fuel, or a faulty automatic cold start mechanism are biggest causes for it.

Even with no oil consumption you could still have pitted valves.
Mine does the same and i'm still working on it, replaced all copper washers, replaced the fuel lines, i just have to replace teh rubbers on sediment bowl and filters.
If that still doesnt work i'll install an electrical feed pump.

Probable long solved but try priming it on the lift pump before starting it. If it fires up clean then a non return valve between the pump and the filter will fix it. My 7245 was the same but a couple of pumps on the lift pump would fix it up ok

14.000 hrs is a good achievement for a utility tractor that's used intermittently and makes many cold hours...

what is the normal procedure for starting a 5245 and is there a special procedure if the zetor 5245 has been sitting for a few months?

prime it with the hand pump on the injection pump. unscrew the cap so you can pull it out, then pump untill you hear air squirting back into the tank. it whines then.