1020 will not crank

lambs · May 18, 2007

I think you need help beyond my ability, but my opinion is that if you're cranking the engine and the injector pump is working properly, you should be getting fuel at all 3 injectors. Something could just be stopped up. Or you could have an injector pump issue.

I recommend you get an I&T manual for the 1020 and see if it offers any help. They are not very expensive. I do not know how similar the 1020 is to my 1010, but I'll check my manuals and see if there are any easy to follow troubleshooting ideas in it.

lambs · May 21, 2007

Hey Always,
The I&T manual for the 1010 covers the 1020 as well. I imagine the engines are very similar. The fuel injection section looks pretty complicated, enough so that I would never try trouble shooting beyond bleeding the system and changing the oil in the pump. It does indicate that the pressure from the injectors themselves is high enough to inject diesel into your skin.

I think you indicated you are not getting fuel through all three injector lines. If not, I'd get the tractor to a dealer.

But the I&T manual is commonly available new on the internet for only a few bucks, so if you want to check it out, you can.

Good luck with it.

AllWaysBreakinSomething · May 23, 2007

Lambs thanks for the info

I'm going to start by getting a new started and rule that out. I had a old timer come by and he said it was turning over way too slow. I found one on ebay for $200 at the door. Much better than the $400 from Massey dealer. I'll get it tomorrow.

The old timer also said the injector pump may not be pumping right at that slow of a speed. Especially if your trying to prime it. He may have something there. So I'll see how my $200 investment helps tomorrow and check thoses injector lines again.

scott_vt · May 23, 2007

Afternoon ABS,
I have been following along and am also curious to see if additional turning over speed will solve the problem. I assume you have checked all your cables for good solid contact and conections ?

AllWaysBreakinSomething · May 23, 2007

Scott_vt, I suspected the cables at first and cleaned the cable and battery ends. After running the battery dead trying different things I connected to my truck and to a freshly charged battery. No change in speed at all even with all this cranking amps available. I'm just as curious as you on this. I sure hope I didn't waste money on the starter. I will although go back and check my cable ground to chassis if the new starter doesn't fix the slow turnover problem.

My weeds are out of control in the garden and need to till.. Peanuts are hard to harvest if you have weeds and grass in them.

The old 20" tiller hopefully isn't my only choice. I'll be dead before I finish all those peanuts.

HTWT · May 23, 2007

The 1020 has a mechamical fuel shut off. Make sure it is open.

lambs · May 26, 2007

Let us know how the starter works out. On the 1010, I've noticed the battery needs to be fully charged, especially if it's cold, as we noted earlier in the thread. But mine seems to spin fast enough if the battery is hot. I think my battery is rated at 495 CCA.

I don't know about your 1020, but my 1010 actually has a generator on it. And it takes a lot of running to recharge the battery after starting. There are people around who can replace it with an alternator, although I haven't tried that yet. I don't run mine enough to justify the expense. But if the generator ever gives up, I'll convert it. In the meantime, every time I park it, the battery tender gets hooked back up. I might try a marine battery at some point.

JerryG · May 27, 2007

Sometimes the cables will corrode inside where you can't see it unless they are cut open. If you haven't already ordered or received your starter, you might see if you have a local rebuilder. We have one here that usually does a rebuild for $50 or a little more if more parts are needed.

tractorshawn · May 27, 2007

hey guys I have a 1010 and I also have had troubles with it the last few weeks, rebuilt mower deck, rebuilt starter, rebuilt injector pump, and rebuilt injectors, im just in the proccess of puting it all back together, I hope it starts, If it doesnt. Im thinking that the cyl compression is bad, I hope not. Worst case you and I could take the two tractors and make one good one with the extra parts we could make art to sell. I hope your luck is better than mine.Let me know interested to know how you make out.

AllWaysBreakinSomething · May 31, 2007

An update is I have succeeded in getting the 1020 to crank

. The solution was the starter (never seen it spin so fast). I think this has been my slow cranking problem for a long time. It was confusing since it did spin decently fast.

I did however learn something from the bleeding process. Bleeding the injectors worked best for me by completely opening the lines and pulling them back enought to see diesel when turned over. Just backing off the nuts at the injector lines did not work at first. However once you get a good flow with them completely off then turn over a few times with them backed off. It takes a few turn-overs and a few minutes to get things smoothed out.

Lambs-- you may want to check out your starter as well as mine starts very easily now on the same size battery you have.
I also had an issue with the charging system some time back and turned out to be the regulator (that part is $$$, $120). The generator only puts out about 7 amps on my 1020 so that's why you can't charge it very fast.

JerryG- Does that $50 rebuild include winding the stator and armature? One of those was my problem - I paid $200 and includes 1 yr warranty

Thanks guys for your help

. It gave me confidence to keep at it. Otherwise it would have been at the shop and most likely more $$ later.

I feel obligated now to send you guys some photos of the grading I accomplished this weekend on my horse barn project. I'll get them this afternoon and post tomorrow. (I promised some other people I'd post them as well, I'll start a new thread and post the link here)