Ford 1510 won't start after fuel line replacement

[MikeA57]

Used my tractor a couple of weeks ago and parked it and last week I went out on that side of the shop and found a large wet spot. The fuel line was leaking as it went into the fuel filter. I had known that the fuel lines needed to be changed so I went to Auto Zone and got the line and had to go to O'Reilly for the filter. Replaced everything and tried to start the tractor. It ran for about 3 seconds, then died. I killed the battery trying to get it to start so it's now on charge. It tried several times to catch but just wouldn't. Is there something else I need to do after doing this? My Son-in-law mentioned something a few months ago about needing to prime the injectors if they lose fuel or get air in them and I'm wondering if that is my issue. He's out of town this week though and I can't ask him.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[CCWKen]

Yep, any time you introduce air into the fuel line (or run out of fuel) you'll need to bleed/prime the injectors. Don't ask how I know. Charge the battery first. There should be an air bleed plug on the pump and on the filter assembly. With the fuel valve open, loosen the filter bleed until you get diesel. On the pump, remove the plug until you get diesel with no bubbles coming out. Replace and tighten. Loosen the line at each injector, one at a time, and crank the engine until you don't see bubbles. Tighten the line and go to the next injector. Repeat the process for all three injectors.

 

[whis]

Try holding a rag soaked with gas over air breather intake and see if it will start on the fumes

 

[Creamer]

On the back of the pump (end of the pump toward the rear of the tractor) is a small screw that does not look like it is anywhere near the fuel business end of the pump. This screw is the bleeder and you need to loosen it and let the fuel run out and then tighten it. Then you should have no problem starting it. It is so non-obvious that one time I could not get my tractor re-started after a guy ran it out of fuel and the dealer's mechanic told me "it's the pump" meaning I needed to rebuild it. Another friend came over and we both agreed that the pump could not have gone out just like that. We pulled the tractor - it would not start. We loosened all the lines from the pump to the injectors and no fuel. Finally we said what is it going to hurt and so we loosened this screw and let some fuel out. it started right up.

needless to say i have not gone back to that dealer!

 

[MikeA57]

Got her going and she purrs like a dream! Had no idea that she had been starving for fuel like she must have been. After reading CCWKen's comments I went home and got out the manual which outlined the procedure of priming the injectors. I started at the pump and bled the air out of it and turned the key. It kept chugging and trying to start so I went to the first injector next (closest to the radiator). Opened it up a bit and tried starting it and after a few cranks it finally started and ran smooth as silk! Tightened it back down and restarted it and it started on the first crank. As it was running I noticed a small bubbling action out of the bottom of the injector where it screwed into the engine. Got a bigger wrench and gave it a slight turn and it stopped bubbling so I fixed that as well.

The return fuel line from the injectors feeding back into the fuel tank was so soft it felt like a shoelace. The others were in about the same shape too.

Thanks everybody for your input!

Mike