FARMALL 55A PROBLEMS

[farmall 55a case]

Went out today to the tractor and tried to start it would not start right away! Always starts on the first crank, but today I had to crank it over for about thirty seconds? It runs fine but the it just died on me after it was running for over ten minutes. Not a slow spidering die either! Just like I turned the key off? When I went to start it back up had to crank it over for five seconds or so? Done it to me 6 times in four hours? Other than that it runs great and smooth and has all the power it normally has? Any input would be great! Air filter is clean and I put a new fuel filter on it after it died the second time didn't change a thing!? Thanks for reading and please help!

 

[farmall 55a case]

Believe I found the problem. Fuel shut off solenoid on the side of the injection pump.

 

[farmall 55a case]

Well that didn't fix it! Its a pita to try and fix something that dosent mess up all the time! How do you go about checking safety switches??

 

[farmall 55a case]

Any thoughts?

 

[pedalstomper78]

Intermittant probelams are always a bear to diagnose. With the safety switches, just go through and check for normally open or closed according to the wiring diagram. Unfortunately, ti's tedious, time consuming, and a pain. Best of luck to ya on this one!

 

[farmall 55a case]

Worked on it all day Saturday. When it dose die I loose power to my fuel shut off solenoid. Everything else still works! Its not blowing a fuse so I don't think its a short in the wires. I traced them all and the look good. Could it possible be a relay? When it dose die if I turn the key off and weight about ten seconds if fires right back up?

 

[pedalstomper78]

Could be anything from a relay to a short in wires to a bad safety switch. Unfortunately, it's narrowing it down as to which circuit is causing power to leave the solenoid and then which part, etc.....

 

[farmall 55a case]

Do relays reset there self or? What exactly is a relays job?

 

[pedalstomper78]

A relay is just a tiny solenoid of sorts. It is a magnetic switch.

You apply power on the low amperage side that engages a magnet to throw a switch that is a higher electrical current. For instance, that draw that most headlights have would melt most dashboard switches, so a relay is used so a low current switch can trigger something with a higher amperage draw.

There's tons of things about this on you tube also.

 

[pedalstomper78]

From ny experience, if a relay is bad, it's bad. It doesn't go bad intermittently. Not to say it can't happen.......lol

 

[farmall 55a case]

Thank you everything you have explained to me has been very helpful! Its just starting to get on my last nerve. I spent over 14 hrs on it sat.

 

[pedalstomper78]

Happy to help with whatever I can. I've got a big project on my own tractor going. Dealer says I'll probably need to split the tractor and the total job is usually around 13-16 hours for the dealer techs.....

I worked as an automotive mechanic for a number of years......but this is still going to be a long one

 

[farmall 55a case]

I wish you the best of luck! What type of tractor are you splitting? And what for?

 

[pedalstomper78]

DX33. If you look for the thread "shrapnel in gear case" you'll find what I've got going on

 

[farmall 55a case]

Still no luck I have checked everything and chased every wire! Done great for almost 20 hours then it died on me twice in less than a min. Used it for three hours after that and not a problem? After it dies its takes a min or so to get power back to the fuel shut off solenoid. Could a relay cause this? Frustrated and confused!

 

[murphy1244]

Still no luck I have checked everything and chased every wire! Done great for almost 20 hours then it died on me twice in less than a min. Used it for three hours after that and not a problem? After it dies its takes a min or so to get power back to the fuel shut off solenoid. Could a relay cause this? Frustrated and confused!

What are you doing when it dies?

 

[farmall 55a case]

Just driving it! It acts like I just reached down and turned the key off! No puttering out or any warning at all! It has even died on me wile it sitting there idling!

 

[pedalstomper78]

Unfortunately, intermittant problems really are tough to chase. I would start by seeing if power is vetting interrupted to the fuel cut off. Maybe wire in a light?

 

[dieseljay]

Does it quit only when you are driving or will it shut down when in neutral not moving, why I ask is I have found that the operator presence switch can be a problem sometimes on rough ground.

 

[farmall 55a case]

It will shut off if its in neutral also? It is very random it will run 10 hours plus and not die then some times it will die 3 or 4 times in a row in less than five minutes then run fine the next ten hours! Could a diode cause this? I've tested all my relays checked all my safety switches and traced all my wiring and have still yet to find the problem?