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Read articles →This is a narrow, owner-made explainer on how the Bobcat CT5555's five-position ignition switch controls glow plug cycling, not a walkaround or buying guide. The owner explains manual vs auto glow plug modes, the water-temp-based auto relay, why re-cycling glow plugs burns them out, and then demonstrates timing an actual cold start (about 17 seconds at 25°F) in both modes. Best for current owners troubleshooting cold-start or glow plug habits, not shoppers.
Posted by the Gaining Ground channel, an owner sharing hands-on operating knowledge from their own Bobcat tractor.
Holding the spring-loaded switch back manually turns on the glow plugs and starts the timer, springing back to stop once you release it.
Cycling them again right after they shut off runs them at 1,400 to 1,500 degrees for another full cycle, which can melt the tip or burn out the plug.
At about 25 degrees Fahrenheit, timed cycles ran just over 17 seconds, close to the 15-second maximum the system allows.
Yes, plugging in the block heater and warming the engine block shortens the length of time the glow plugs run.
