MF 1547 doesn't start

frugalyankee · Dec 28, 2011

My neighbor called me for help, as he always does, and I'm stumped. It was running fine when he parked it but then it wouldn't start a day later. He changed the fuel filter and bleed the system but no change. The electric fuel pump is working fine and there is plenty of fuel up to the bleeder plug on the side of the injector pump but nothing comes out when the injector lines are loosened. Fuese are all good and I jumped the seat safety swith but it still just cranks away and not sign of starting. Any ideas from anyone? I think there is a relay (the one the seat switch goes to) that shuts down the injector pump and thinking that might be bad but have no idea where to find it or test it out.

My neighbor thinks I'm a hero as I am always able to fix things for him. Please help me maintain my hero worship. lol.

cat 297c · Dec 28, 2011

frugalyankee said:
My neighbor called me for help, as he always does, and I'm stumped. It was running fine when he parked it but then it wouldn't start a day later. He changed the fuel filter and bleed the system but no change. The electric fuel pump is working fine and there is plenty of fuel up to the bleeder plug on the side of the injector pump but nothing comes out when the injector lines are loosened. Fuese are all good and I jumped the seat safety swith but it still just cranks away and not sign of starting. Any ideas from anyone? I think there is a relay (the one the seat switch goes to) that shuts down the injector pump and thinking that might be bad but have no idea where to find it or test it out.

My neighbor thinks I'm a hero as I am always able to fix things for him. Please help me maintain my hero worship. lol.

take a wire a jump the relay if it runs order a new relay. I have a challenger mt 285 which is basically the same tractor painted cat yellow, anyway mine was doing the same thing an I finally narrowed it down to the siloned on the injector pump.

frugalyankee · Dec 28, 2011

Thanks. I'll see if I can find the relay and the sloenoid and see what happens.

MFRED · Dec 29, 2011

Is there smoke coming out the exhaust when you're cranking? You could check for power at the fuel solenoid. I'm pretty sure you should be able to hear the solenoid "snap" on & off with the key.

frugalyankee · Dec 29, 2011

There is very little smoke coming out of the exhaust, nothing like my diesel PSD when it cranking but not warm enough to fire off. Where is the fuel solenoid located? Is it on the injector pump, external or internal?

MFRED · Dec 29, 2011

on the back side of the pump, 3 wires going into it, external. 2 Allen head bolts hold it in 5mm or 5.5mm, can't remember. They're a bit tough to get to, use a allem socket with extension. you can run it with the shutoff out enough to move it if it's in the way. Oil will spit out at you. Power brings the solenoid back to allow the fuel to open, so you need to stall the tractor or push the rack to shut it off.

frugalyankee · Dec 29, 2011

Thanks so much. I'll check into this today and see waht I can find out.

frugalyankee · Dec 29, 2011

The problem was the solenoid. Picked up a new one, changed it out and it started right up. Thanks for all the help. Great site and good people here.

WilliamBos · Dec 29, 2011

frugalyankee said:
The problem was the solenoid. Picked up a new one, changed it out and it started right up. Thanks for all the help. Great site and good people here.

glad you fixed it. how many hours on the tractor?

frugalyankee · Dec 30, 2011

Between diagnosing and fixing, probably spent about 4 hours on it.

You meant on the meter, didn't you? lol. I'm not sure, I'll check it and get back to you.