Am I being ripped off??? Need serious replies.

[Hans Clahsen]

After many posts and answers here last year, none helped to start my new (24hrs) tractor after it ran out of fuel. Seven socalled mechanics gave up and never returned. Number eight showed up today and diagnosed it with blown head gasket. He cannot give me a quote which I believe. What should be a reasonable price to replace the gasket on a three cylinder Hinomoto? Any professional estimate (ball park) would be appreciated. - Thanks Guys.

 

[MrJimi]

Your socalled mechanics may not know much about your engine and do you have 24 hours running time on your tractor? If so just bring it in on warranty repair
and I don't understand a blown head gasket from running out of fuel

 

[Skyco]

WOW! I went and read all your previous replies on this problem and you got lots of very good advice. Everyone seems to think it is a bleeding problem.


There is a process to draw air pockets out of cooling systems by drawing a vacuum on the degas tank...might be worth a try to rig up something similar on your fuel tank filler...the vacuum will cause any air bubbles to be pulled out. Be careful if you try this as you don't want to get to aggressive and collapse the tank, ( I really have no idea how a hinomoto is made, never seen one), use something like a MightyVac or one of the venturi air compressor vacuum pumps. This will only pull air out in the system up to the injection pump but may be a start to getting good solid fuel flow.

How was it determined it needs a head gasket? Was a compression test done? Is there any coolant in the oil or vice versa?
Have you tried starting it on ether- note do NOT activate glow plugs if you try this!

 

[shvl73]

I thought Hinomoto went out of business years ago. If it is a Vietnam refurb, the 24 hours are just the re-set hour meter, thus it could be old with a multitude of issues. I hope, for your sake, this is not so.

I just read your old posts, you've been dealing with this for awhile and I can imagine your frustration. I do hope you get it worked out.

 

[DavesTractor]

After many posts and answers here last year, none helped to start my new (24hrs) tractor after it ran out of fuel. Seven socalled mechanics gave up and never returned. Number eight showed up today and diagnosed it with blown head gasket. He cannot give me a quote which I believe. What should be a reasonable price to replace the gasket on a three cylinder Hinomoto? Any professional estimate (ball park) would be appreciated. - Thanks Guys.

A blown head gasket and air in the fuel system are two unrelated issues. Any decent diesel mechanic can bleed the air out of the system, in fact most anyone can. If you have good fuel to your injectors, no bubbles, and it won't start, then you have other problems. I am not sure how the headgasket failure was diagnosed, but to replace a headgsaket on most 3-cylinder tractors is about 4 hours labor. Then the head needs to be crack-checked and the valves should be looked at, and you will need a headgasket and then change the engine oil. Probably around $500, rough estimate.

They haven't made Hinomoto tractors in years, so yours surely doesn't have just 24 hours on it. It is probably 20-30 years old. Someone reset the hour meter. If that someone also rebuilt the motor, then you may have more problems if they didn't really know what they were doing. Before you pull the head, have a compression test ran on it. You may have low compression. Compression should be 450psi or so, at least that is my guess as I don't have a manual for that tractor.

If you have compression and fuel and your glowplugs work, it should start.

Finally, why not ask the guy you bought it from to do the repair? Assuming he is a dealer, he should be able to quickly take care of this.

 

[Skyco]

Any decent diesel mechanic can bleed the air out of the system, in fact most anyone can.

Normally I'd agree but reading the past referenced posts where several other Hinomoto owners mentioned this particular type of tractor was very difficult to bleed makes me wonder.....

 

[Ronbo]

How hard does it crank? If it cranks easy, you may have a stuck compression release. Pull the valve cover off and make sure all your valves are opening and closing. Might want to go ahead and adjust your valves.

Just some ideas.

Ron

 

[Ronbo]

How hard does it crank? If it cranks easy, you may have a stuck compression release. Pull the valve cover off and make sure all your valves are opening and closing. Might want to go ahead and adjust your valves.

Just some ideas.

Ron

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Without reading all the other thread posts, bleed it again, then get another tractor to pull you around while you are in a high gear. Even it you have to be pulled a mile, you should be able to get the bubbles out and get it started. The suggestion on a compression release is a possible and yes, go ahead and adjust the valves as well. BobG in VA

 

[Hans Clahsen]

Thanks for all the quick replies. First I realize the 24 hrs. is not since new. The dealer got it directly from VietNam. It had been reconditioned and completely repainted. Looked like brand new. I know they are used. My research found that it has a 17 hp engine. The dealer went out of business and cannot be found. After many tries there is NO air left at the injectors. The glow plugs have been reconditioned (in an acid bath). Several people have, after listening to the start attempts, said that the engine fires only on one cylinder. The other two are out of time. Not enough to run. The exhaust smokes black indicating plenty of fuel on top. My latest mechanic claims 45 yrs. experience on these type tractors and just rebuilt a JD with the same ailments. The ones of you who read my earlier posts can understand how frustrated I am with this thing. Unfortunately I live in a state (Arizona) where most people have never even seen a tractor let alone worked on one. Luckily my previous "mechanics" have not charged me much for their trials. For several weeks I had an offer on the Internet offering anyone who can give me workable advise a hundred dollar bill. We have done EVERYTHING that was hinted on this forum and still NO GO. Will keep you posted and thanks again.