Black Smoke followed by sudden death?

[Iplayfarmer]

If I can get another tractor without having to sell what's left of this one, I may. I might have more fun working on this one if I know that I don't have to get it running soon to get the work done.

 

[Soundguy]

If it truly is a compression issue.. try pull starting it..

soundguy

 

[MJPetersen]

I would not think that the main problem is compression--in the first post he said that it was loosing power and started belching black smoke. Unless something like a holed piston or stuck valve you do not have a running engine die from low compression.

I agree that the mechanic just did not want to work on it and that it should be fixable for relatively little--just finding the reason for dying out. A lack of air or improper delivery of fuel--not much else it can be.

Mike

 

[H.D.Tool]

If your engine had low compression you should have noticed excessive blow-by from the breather tube when it was working. An engine with low compression will start but with more effort and maybe some ether. By the sound of things I would check for a blocked muffler (remove muffler) this has the same effect as a plugged air filter and would cause slower cranking. Check fuel pressure feeding the injection pump 5 to 6 psi. Gear train timing can be checked without removing the front cover. Dealers have been known to try and finesse a tractor sale.


eric

 

[Eagleview]

I think he"s just totally over it know and has decided to get another tractor . I'd be pretty confident a quick hone and a set of rings would fix the compression side ( if theres only a small lip in the bore ). As he said the cylinders were low but even . As for the sudden black smoke , i think its only a minor problem and if i could see the tractor i'd find the problem . Did the injectors get fixed or are have they been thrown into the "mechanics" too hard basket ?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Here's the laundry list of what has been done...

New injector nozzles
New shims in injectors to bring start pressure up to spec.
New fuel lines from the tank to the pump
New fuel filter
Test Compression
New fuel pump.
Checked timing of new injector pump vs. old injector pump and they both time at the same point.

My favorite comment from most people after explaining all the specs and situation is "well it should run, then".

It doesn't.

 

[john_bud]

Well, I'd say just break down and pull the head off that sucker and take a look. Costs you nothing but a couple of hours at worst. You may have a blown head gasket and that's all you need to get back running.

By the way, what is the compession in each cylinder? At what rpm?


If you have a helper and need it to be done at higher than starter rpms, you have pull it to test.

jb

 

[Soundguy]

Ditto on the pull.

To iron horse.. if it has a ridge.. a r-reamer will fix that up quick.

I still think this engine has a minor problem that not much mor ethan a 'wearables' rebuild kit would make it 'happen'.

no way i'd let a 'mystery' like this one slip past me...

soundguy

 

[Eagleview]

Just thinking out loud , is the timing gear on the camshaft keyed on or is it pressed on ? I wonder if the cam timing has been checked . Worked on an M.A.N Diesel truck motor that had a pressed on gear , had the same kind of symptoms . The gear slipped 5 degrees on the shaft and killed the engine , can't remeber if it was belching black or white smoke . Soundguy// . I have a "Wirth" ridge remover that works a treat but i was meaning if it has a large lip in the the bore it will indicate it's too far oversize for a re ring as it will make the new ring gaps to wide . Which will prevent compression coming up too specs . It's about a hundred years since i knew this stuff well but 3thou per inch of bore is ideal , would that be correct ?

 

[mahlers]

I'm sure this has been checked, but I thought I'd throw it in for kicks. Did the mechanic check to see whether any of the accessory drives or hydraulic pump seized up? I've seen what you described a few times from different causes. Once it was the alternator that seized, another time it was the hydraulic pump, and once it was the water pump bearing. These were all different vehicles, by the way

In any event, the symptoms were exactly the same - engine suddenly started bogging down really bad, started belching smoke, and died.