Ford 1620 power loss under load

[tryentolearn]

So today I went out to check for a strainer on the bottom of the tank. I got on my tractor to start it. Nothing happened except for what i believe is the solenoid clicking in. I used the glow plugs again and i know the second time I got the light to start. Nothing happened just same clicking. I tried this multiple times until I was finally was getting the engine to turn over but it was a slow turnover. I read some posts online about cold weather and best I can figure is that the engine is to cold and the multiple times using the glow plug allowed the engine to heat up enough to turn over. Its only 45 degrees out but I used this all last year and never had an issue starting during the winter, and that was parked outside. Now with all the other issues I am having I am wondering if they are related? Any thoughts? Never got her started I didn't want to kill the battery trying.

 

[barbqranch]

Sounds like your battery is discharged or dying. Do you have a charger you can put on it? If not, at least jump it before trying to start it again.

I don't see how a low battery could cause a diesel to lose power. Once they are started, the only power needed is for a fuel shutoff (unless the machine has a manual one). And since it started after the loss of power, there was enough juice to keep the fuel shut-off open.

 

[Opti-Mist]

It may not show it in the parts break down but I'll bet there is one there. Is there a shut off valve at the tank bottom? If there is then the should be a screen on that valve. Even if it doesn't there could be some crap and corruption partially blocking the tank exit or the line between the tank and the filter. check it out. What have you got to lose?

There is merit to this suggestion. My neighbor's Kubota died this summer. Slow flow from the tank, probed it open to achieve good flow. Still no fuel to filter. Replaced fuel tank to filter line. Problem solved, tractor runs fine since.

 

[tryentolearn]

Tried to charge the battery but it wouldn't hold a charge. Took it in and got it tested. They are replacing the battery under warranty. As soon as I get the battery In I will back it out of my garage and pull apart the fuel lines. I will post if I figure out what is wrong with the fuel system

 

[tryentolearn]

Got the replacement battery in and the tractor started rite up. I pulled off the filter and the hoses and the bowl enclosure. I checked and can not find a strainer. Did not see any blockages. I ran it with the diesel cap off so I believe it is getting air. I still have the power loss issue. I have two questions one I believe I see fuel in the exhaust (some sort of mist). Not sure if that is possible. Is it? Second there is a tube that connects to the top of the engine and just runs down and is hanging below the tractor. What is that tube for? It appears to me that there is either diesel or oil mist coming out of the tube b/c it left a residue on the top of the mower deck. I think it is diesel b/c its not black color. Attached is a diagram showing it the hose is number 42 coming off of the cover on engine. Any thoughts?

 

[jinman]

The tube you are talking about is the crankcase vent. If you are getting a lot of mist out of that tube, it indicates you may have piston ring blowby or maybe valve guides are worn so that the exhaust gases are going into the crankcase. There is normally some vapor coming out that tube, but not so much that you could call it "mist." If you hold your hand over the vent, can you feel it puffing? You might also have a burned valve that is allowing compression to blow up and by the valve stem and back into the intake manifold. This could account for your lost power under load. It's just one of those things that needs someone with experience to look at. You just can't get an accurate diagnosis from a description in a forum. At a minimum, I think a compression test is indicated.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Got the replacement battery in and the tractor started rite up. I pulled off the filter and the hoses and the bowl enclosure. I checked and can not find a strainer. Did not see any blockages. I ran it with the diesel cap off so I believe it is getting air. I still have the power loss issue. I have two questions one I believe I see fuel in the exhaust (some sort of mist). Not sure if that is possible. Is it? Second there is a tube that connects to the top of the engine and just runs down and is hanging below the tractor. What is that tube for? It appears to me that there is either diesel or oil mist coming out of the tube b/c it left a residue on the top of the mower deck. I think it is diesel b/c its not black color. Attached is a diagram showing it the hose is number 42 coming off of the cover on engine. Any thoughts?

Using a compressor, blow back through the fuel filter to tank line, toward the tank. You aren't going to necessarily see any blockage unless the line is so short you can see through it. I'll ask you again, do you have a shut off valve on the tank? If you do, the strainer will be part of that.

Hold a piece of cardboard over the exhaust and see if you really have fuel mist in the exhaust. If you do, they'll be fuel and fuel smell on the cardboard. If you do, then you might have a loss in compression caused by a burned or stuck valve, broken rings, etc and the compression loss means the fuel won't ignite due to the attendent reduction in compression temperature. Then do a compression test.

Do likewise with the crankcase breather line. If you have fuel mist there, you may have a burned or cracked piston crown or blown headgasket. With the engine running also check the radiator for bubbles and froth due to a headgasket leak. Check the compression at this point if you're findings are positive.

You might be able to find the bad cylinder if you open the injector lies at the injector one at a time and note which one does not affect the engine running when it is disconnected. That's the bad one. This a messy test (fuel all over the engine) however, and I believe the compression test is more useful.

 

[tryentolearn]

I took the fuel filter bowl assembly off which includes the valve, turned it upside down and can not find a strainer any where . Took the lines off to and seen nothing. The fuel line just comes from the bottom of the fuel tank with a little elbow out of the tank. Re-assembled, bled the entire system and ran it again. It is running ten times better. I cant even get it to die. I loose a few rpms when I floor it in high range starting stopped at the bottom of a hill. Fully loaded down with a loader on and also and belly mower. I took a piece of cardboard and held it to the muffler and the vent hose off the top of the engine and I do not see any fuel. The only time I see smoke is when I hit the throttle hard or I see some when I am going fast up the hills. Which I would think is acceptable correct. Maybe somehow I never got the system bled good till this time or there was something in the fuel. Mowed the yard and it did good. Thanks again for everyone's posts.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I took the fuel filter bowl assembly off which includes the valve, turned it upside down and can not find a strainer any where . Took the lines off to and seen nothing. The fuel line just comes from the bottom of the fuel tank with a little elbow out of the tank. Re-assembled, bled the entire system and ran it again. It is running ten times better. I cant even get it to die. I loose a few rpms when I floor it in high range starting stopped at the bottom of a hill. Fully loaded down with a loader on and also and belly mower. I took a piece of cardboard and held it to the muffler and the vent hose off the top of the engine and I do not see any fuel. The only time I see smoke is when I hit the throttle hard or I see some when I am going fast up the hills. Which I would think is acceptable correct. Maybe somehow I never got the system bled good till this time or there was something in the fuel. Mowed the yard and it did good. Thanks again for everyone's posts.

You most likely had an obstruction somewhere and all the monkey motion of disassembling it cleared the blockage. There's the possibility that there might have been something blocking the tank outlet that you jarred loose. So remember that if it happens again. A puff of smoke when accelerating or increasing load is normal.
Glad you got it going.