DF354-Starting After the Big Flip

[TTTTTT]

Everyone who was following the Big Flip (not the home reno show) knows I am very happy to start this thread. Hopefully it will assist any who have to go through this process and should be interesting for everyone.

The Big Flip http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/145119-big-flip.html

It was suggested, calling Ronald (Ranch hand Supply) was the best thing to do to calm the fears and give a good way to proceed, not that everyones ideas were not useful but from an experienced tractor man couldn't be beat. The bottom line is when the tractor was on its side (about 2hrs.- lucky on that) all the fluids went where they were not intended to go. Namely the engine oil made its way to the cylinders and on top of the heads (hard to say how much- maybe at most 1/2 l. ) This would not allow the engine to crank but maybe for a sec or two but no more, fearing that the worst had happened. The goal then was to get the oil out. Still under compression of course the engine would have a hard time even manually cranking

The pics show the plugs out and oil all around, this after cranking manually

Oil At Glow Plug Ports


Ronald suggested, pulling the plugs and the muffler, and just letting the starter crank to blow it out. I decided to be a little more cautious and crank it by hand via the engine pulley where the TDC pointer is with a socket and handle extension (2' piece of 3/4" pipe)

Crank Pulley


I was able to manually crank the engine about 10-15 revolutions. You could hear each cylinder open & close as oil spurted out. The first cylinder(closest to front) had no oil and only little vapour came out. The others gradually had less and less until vapour came out of those. Thought I would now crank it with the starter. Turned no problem (wouldn't do it plugged with oil) and more but not much blew out. (forgot the video of that).

Time now to put it all back together and try to start as normal. I left the muffler off as Ronald suggested. Ensured the fuel lines were all bled.

And tried the big start..............................

The Big Start




The results were good as you saw. I put the muffler back on, checked a few more things. At higher revs a little more smoke than normal but that was expected. Didn't take long for that to disappear, and then it was back to work. Well almost ....widened the stance out (another thread)

A Few Extras

A pic of the glow plugs documented for future reference.

Glow Plugs


A stone got lodged in the front tire (rim) when it went over. It was still in 4WD and the tire spun picking up a little dirt. I deflated the tire a bit and got the stone out and re inflated




Enjoy, and again Thanks to All

Dave

 

[quicksandfarmer]

What a relief! I worry a lot about flipping. From the pictures it looks like the spot where you went over was pretty flat.

Does your 354 have compression release? That would have been my first thought to clear the cylinders. I don't know if it would work but I wouldn't have to take anything apart to try.

 

[TTTTTT]

What a relief! I worry a lot about flipping. From the pictures it looks like the spot where you went over was pretty flat.

Does your 354 have compression release? That would have been my first thought to clear the cylinders. I don't know if it would work but I wouldn't have to take anything apart to try.

Actually it is on more of an angle than it looks. I took a few minutes to think if I should have done it different. I guess I should have take 5. Could have easily taken a better approach angle. If the bucket was lower ,probably would have been ok, but was trying to get around something. In hindsight....could have been a lot worse.

No my DF does not have compression release, but with that much oil in the cylinders, I felt better getting it out through the GP ports rather than burning it through the engine although I don't think any serious damage would of occured, but did not want to take the chance.

Dave

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

Hi Dave, good to see all systems are GO !!

On a side note; when Dave contacted me about his tractor laying on it side I asked what side is was laying on. It's a million dollar question where and what to do first. A hydrostatic lock is my first fear. His was laying on the right side. Not knowing how much oil had leaked passed the rings, through the exhaust valve into the muffler was the reason to remove the muffler. Decompression release would not allow the engine oil to blow out even if the intake side had oil in it.


Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

 

[TTTTTT]

Hi Dave, good to see all systems are GO !!

On a side note; when Dave contacted me about his tractor laying on it side I asked what side is was laying on. It's a million dollar question where and what to do first. A hydrostatic lock is my first fear. His was laying on the right side. Not knowing how much oil had leaked passed the rings, through the exhaust valve into the muffler was the reason to remove the muffler. Decompression release would not allow the engine oil to blow out even if the intake side had oil in it.


Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

Thanks Ronald for the clarification. I'm sure this will help others if heaven for bid it happens to anyone.

Dave

 

[valley]

Dave, Just read this thread for the first time, went back and looked at the pictures you posted with your tractor on its side. Scray! I think about that when working the machine. The only flat ground I have here is where I have made it flat. Never thought of load shifting. You did well getting things back together. Richard

 

[bjr]

I used to work construction. Equipment got abused badly as long as there was no personal injury that had to get reported on the mechanics were expected to get that equipment producing again as fast as possible. That meant looking for busted castings or major broken misaligned parts, throttle linkages and such. Check all fluids including batteries hand bar over engine several revolvlutions then lit'r off and see what works. Dent's an' dings were dealt with later. Git yourself a change of underwear, jump back on it an' git goin', just don't do whatever caused to you to flip again, just be careful. bjr

 

[TTTTTT]

Dave, Just read this thread for the first time, went back and looked at the pictures you posted with your tractor on its side. Scray! I think about that when working the machine. The only flat ground I have here is where I have made it flat. Never thought of load shifting. You did well getting things back together. Richard

Thanks Richard,

used to work construction. Equipment got abused badly as long as there was no personal injury that had to get reported on the mechanics were expected to get that equipment producing again as fast as possible. That meant looking for busted castings or major broken misaligned parts, throttle linkages and such. Check all fluids including batteries hand bar over engine several revolvlutions then lit'r off and see what works. Dent's an' dings were dealt with later. Git yourself a change of underwear, jump back on it an' git goin', just don't do whatever caused to you to flip again, just be careful. bjr

Yup, that is basically what I did after got everything back together. After widening out the stance, got back to work.

Thanks,

Dave