Ford 3000 - Blueish hue smoke story / question

[Soundguy]

With the correction on the coolant issue.. I'd down to thinking a bit of low compression like the others.. and unburnt fuel...

I think I'd work it.. or drop rings in it and ream the cyl ridges.. perhaps push some bearing shells into it and let her rip.

soundguy

 

[nspec]

Your killing me. OF COURSE IT HAS LOW COMPRESSION - ITS OLD!!! Do you know how many old tractors (and cars, and trucks, and boats, and trains) are running around with engines that have low compression? Sure they don't start as easy as when it's brand new, and sure they may not burn the fuel completely hence a bit of smoke, but when they go to work, things heat up, tolerences tighten up a bit, smoke clears, and all's well. Don't let this kid waste his money - the tractor is fine to use, it's just over 30 years old. Let's stop overthinking this. There is absolutely no point in throwing money at this thing if it's working fine. I could come up with a whole list of things he could do to this tractor. It won't take too long to put more into it than it's worth.

 

[Soundguy]

Do you know me? Have you taken time to read my profile.

just about all I own is antique tractors.

Age alone does not mean a unit is worn out.

My OLD ford 5000 diesel STILL has compression within factory tolerances.. no smoke except for a black puff right when it really starts to work... same as my newer NH 7610s which is almost 30ys newer. that old 5000 starts faster than my NH 7610s.. or my new diesel pickup.

Most of my tractors are from the 50's. they all start good.. Only a couple have had a 'real' top down rebuild.

A set of rings and bering shells and a few minutes with a ridge reamer and a couple gaskets is no big deal...

If it starts fine might even be an OCR issue and not a compression issue.

The worst machine i have.. smokes very little.. almost imperceptabally. A machine that looks like a steam engine may have lotsa life left.. but that's not to say that there is nothing wrong with it. Sure.. it may run a dozen more years before needing a cheapy ring and ream. hard to tell from this side of the monitor.

soundguy

 

[thartweger]

only time ive tried starting it, its been real cold. i shoot ether into it to get it going. im not sure what an ocr issue is either.

ringing it out and everything sounds nice, but it doesnt appear my problem is really going to be hurting the machine at all, so im just going to run it. maybe down the road i can rebuild it, but if its really not required right now, why mess with it? i know i cant afford it. just so long as im not hurting the tractor im comfortable with it having the issue it does, if you even really want to consider it an issue. ill just be mindful of shutting it off when im not really working it and when i am working it just pay attention and see if i can let it idle then without the problem with it being worked as it has. ill keep an eye on my fluids as always and just let it rip.

as a side note though the only time it looked like a steam engine was the third day, i had started it and let it idle to warm up. i figured the engines movement would get it to normal operating temperature like a car does when you idle it, but i guess i was completely wrong. as i said i let it idle for probably 30 minutes with moving it very little and it then looked like a steam engine. couple days ago when i drove it to my brothers and put torque on the engine and all that good stuff from driving it and pulling its own weight, it wasnt smoking. i think it has years and years of life left given i take care of it, and really as i said before if that fuel issue isnt going to crack a block or ring or do something retarded like that, im not going to worry about it. work it hard, work it long, shut it off and leave it at that.

now that i have some of you guys attention though, i AM looking at another tractor and have been trying to get some light shed on the issue i have seen with it. here is the link the the thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/all-other-brands/133233-allis-chalmers-6140-questions.html

if you could reply there if you have any ideas it would be greatly appreciated. soon as i get my tractor back though im thinking about taking it up to a shop and having them listen to it as well, but its going to be a while before i do that.

 

[2810]

ok my 2cents on this . Disclaimer = i am by no way an expert ,have had 1 tractor for the last 10 years so take this with a grain of salt. i bought my 2810at auction , it was used on a citrus farm its whole life previously so not in the best physical shape when i got it, but when i first started at the auction that day i told my father in law that i thought it smoked a little to much. He ( knows his stuff when it comes to machinery ) told me " its fine , dont worry about it , you cant kill these old tractors , that SOB will smoke and run for the next 15- 20years ". i trusted he knew what he was talking about and 10 years later she still runs great ,smokes till shes warm then it backs off a bit. By the way it stays outside on the farm rain sleet or snow everyday. SO i agree with sounguy about the coolant level ( if it is dropping may have a bigger problem ) but also with NSPEC about just letting it ride and see.

 

[nspec]

First of all, soundguy, I wasn't trying to belittle your advice. Two of my tractors are 56 and 62 years old respectively and they start right up and don't smoke a bit. Just in light of what we've been told, thartwegar has limited funds to spend on this unit. We do know it's old, and no, not all old tractors smoke, but many which have been used hard do. So, rather than throwing money at it, I was just trying to get him to run it and see it for what it is. If it turns out the machine is for him, he can always do a ring job or put some valve guides in it or whatever, but for the time being, he can take his hand off of the panic button and do with it what he intended. Granted, I'm not there to see this first hand, but it doesn't sound to me like the things going to blow up on him tomorrow, or do any long term damage running it like it is.

Secondly, thartwegar - do you know anyone that can help you in checking the valve lash? It's actually a pretty simple adjustment, cheap in that only labor is involved, and could make a world of difference....or not, but it wouldn't hurt a thing. Especially if as you say the fuel pump and injectors were replaced. You sound like you've got a good game plan. Keep an eye on fluids and filters, do your preventative maintenance, and you'll be fine.

 

[Soundguy]

New info.. it's ether addicted.

At this point.. yeah.. I'd run it like it is... Ring lands are probably beat up a bit as it is.. no way I'd do just a ring job on a machine like that in light of new info.. as it could likely need new pistons as well.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

im not sure what an ocr issue is either..

There are compression rings.. and oil control rings.. one can be bad and not the other..

soundguy

 

[thartweger]

in my first post i had talked about starting it with ether, but keep in mind, its been lik 20 degrees here.

 

[Soundguy]

I had hoped the ether you used was just because you had burned the batteries out trying to start it.. however.. in view of everything that's been said.. it does appear to just be a case of slightly tired engine...

Some machines are naturally cold natured.. but in general.. a diesel with some sort of cold start aid really shouldn't need ether, in positive temps, IMHO.

soundguy