Engine suddenly died

[Mac2411]

Thought I would see what the internet thinks. I own a Massey Ferguson 1742 without about 70 hours. I was flail mowing a trail today over mostly level ground and pretty short grass (I maintain the trail as a fire break so I keep it well mowed). I'd been mowing for about 30-45 minutes when I just suddenly lost power. The engine completely shut off. Thought maybe I bounced in the seat and the safety switch lost contact so I tried to restart-the tractor would crank but wouldn't turn over. There's about 1/4 tank of fuel in the tractor. Any ideas of what might be going on folks?

 

[crazyal]

If I had to guess I would say that you have a safety switch or maybe a wire going to a switch that is damaged. Did you look underneath to see if you picked up a stick or something? Also, not knowing your tractor, but does it have safety switches to shut off the engine if the oil gets low?

 

[zzvyb6]

crank means turnover. Crank: won't fire, or clack but doesn't turnover. Lost the fuel solenoid or lost injection, or lost fuel pressure. Or, lost battery and not enough watts to do anything. If fuel solenoid pulls in, then see if you can push start it.

If you lost the seat safety, then bouncing back on the seat would keep the motor running.

 

[Mac2411]

Thanks for the quick answer crazyal. Safety switch was my first guess too but I didn't see anything out of the ordinary and if the seat switch is offf the tractor won't even crank. The tractor will crank but won't start. As for oil, I checked the oil before I started today and about twenty minutes or so after it died and it showed full on the dipstick. I looked underneath briefly and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. The area I was in when it died was just relatively short grass and clover-no brush.

 

[Mac2411]

You're correct zzvyb6, but terminology aside the engine won't start. Fuel system issue is what I'm leaning toward-maybe bad solenoid.

 

[DB Pilot]

How about the PTO lever? I have stalled in tall grass and forgotten to turn it off before restarting.

 

[Mac2411]

The grass shouldn't have been tall enough to stall anything, but regardless I shut off the PTO before I tried restarting the tractor so no dice on that one. Good thought though.

 

[zzvyb6]

OK, so it cranks but won't fire. So, you can maually push in the fuel shutoff (best to get some help on the seat. It takes two to tango). Or, fuel filter or a water slug has gotten you. Do you have a water separator tank ? Loosen an injector and crank it to see if fuel is spurting. If not we have a winner. Fuel pump, hose or tank pickup issue. If you have fuel spurting, that's more serious. Black smoke or white ? Black = some combustion, white = not high enough compression to light it off. If there is fuel flowing and you have gears, push it down a hill to roll it over much faster than a starter can.

 

[zzvyb6]

By some chance, if the oxidation catalyst is inop or soot filter is plugged, will it prevent the motor from starting ?

 

[MHarryE]

Did you try changing the fuel filter? Have too many experiences with that - plugged filter, lose power & die - replace filter & go. Only our largest tractor has a fuel filter light. If it comes on, you have about 30 minutes before you're walking.