Help on thermo starts, block heaters, and Perkins 4 cylinder engines please

[diesel lover]

Hey guys. Need some help. I have a 56' Massey MF 25 and from what it sounds like the thermostart/ fire lit intake manifold heater that runs off diesel fuel does not always ignite. I was going to look further into it down the road. Tractor is in Michigan and I'm in Indiana. Sometimes it does not ignite from what it sounds like. I was going to check wiring to it/ clean connections/ rewire but how hard is it to unscrew the element from the manifold and replace it in one piece as preventive maintenance as these where out just like a glow plug. I was thinking soak it and soak it in pub blaster and it should come right out. Should not be hard to service/ repair.

*How long should the key be held? I was thinking 20 or 25 seconds . Turn over engine for 20 seconds and relight the manifold heater to give time for starter to cool. This is how I usually do it and tractor starts right up in +20 deg weather.

* block heaters did not fully come around till 1940 from what I read. Does anyone know if this engine has a easy to get to freeze plug? Otherwise I will install the highest watt radiator hose element. As a truck mechanic I have experience with block heaters just did not know if my engine had an easy access freeze plug. I didn't find one over a year ago.

*This tractor has a 107 cubic inch 4 cylinder Perkins engine. Does this mean this engine model is a 4.107 found in forklifts and other equipment? Mine has a rotary fuel injection pump.

* what is the fastest "killer" of block heaters? They do break and have to be replaced. Does it hurt one to start an engine while its plugged in and coolant is circulating on the HOT element? I have read that putting one in a space too close to cylinder walls etc will cook them as they overheat. Have a freeze plug block heater in my 97 f150 and it works swell!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nthWkCxnnEQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Test of a thermo start

 

[diesel lover]

Is my engine a 4.107? I'm finding parts for those easily. Very common.
Perkins 4.107 Glowplug (Thermostart) - £12.80 : Parts4Engines: Perkins Diesel Engine Overhaul Kits and Spares

 

[rockinmywaypa]

I understood it's not a great idea to use something that heats the oil since the viscosity of the oil prevents fast heat transfer and the heater surface can cook and burn the oil. There shouldn't be any such problem with a coolant heater and it's not going to hurt either to start the engine with it plugged in. It will hurt if you forget to unplug it and drive away.

 

[diesel lover]

Thanks for the reply! I agree and have no plans to use a magnetic heater as they do not circulate the oil. There is a lot of space between the oil pan and the combustion chambers. My experience as a truck mechanic coolant heaters always help a lot no matter the type!

 

[TomSeller]

Is my engine a 4.107? I'm finding parts for those easily. Very common.
Perkins 4.107 Glowplug (Thermostart) - £12.80 : Parts4Engines: Perkins Diesel Engine Overhaul Kits and Spares

I think the engine model is A4.107

 

[diesel lover]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XIORB_qUp8&feature=youtube_gdata_player


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwesdqCBgZU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here is the tractor itself. According to a book on eBay, my engine is the A4.107 Perkins.

 

[diesel lover]

I think the engine model is A4.107

Thank you! I'm finding its easier to look up that engine model and get parts than to look up mf25 and try to find parts. Its very tough by the tractor model

 

[Jerry/MT]

Hey guys. Need some help. I have a 56' Massey MF 25 and from what it sounds like the thermostart/ fire lit intake manifold heater that runs off diesel fuel does not always ignite. I was going to look further into it down the road. Tractor is in Michigan and I'm in Indiana. Sometimes it does not ignite from what it sounds like. I was going to check wiring to it/ clean connections/ rewire but how hard is it to unscrew the element from the manifold and replace it in one piece as preventive maintenance as these where out just like a glow plug. I was thinking soak it and soak it in pub blaster and it should come right out. Should not be hard to service/ repair.

*How long should the key be held? I was thinking 20 or 25 seconds . Turn over engine for 20 seconds and relight the manifold heater to give time










































for starter to cool. This is how I usually do it and tractor starts right up in +20 deg weather.

* block heaters did not fully come around till 1940 from what I read. Does anyone know if this engine has a easy to get to freeze plug? Otherwise I will install the highest watt radiator hose element. As a truck mechanic I have experience with block heaters just did not know if my engine had an easy access freeze plug. I didn't find one over a year ago.

*This tractor has a 107 cubic inch 4 cylinder Perkins engine. Does this mean this engine model is a 4.107 found in forklifts and other equipment? Mine has a rotary fuel injection pump.

* what is the fastest "killer" of block heaters? They do break and have to be replaced. Does it hurt one to start an engine while its plugged in and coolant is circulating on the HOT element? I have read that putting one in a space too close to cylinder walls etc will cook them as they overheat. Have a freeze plug block heater in my 97 f150 and it works swell!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nthWkCxnnEQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Test of a thermo start

* what is the fastest "killer" of block heaters? They do break and have to be replaced. Does it hurt one to start an engine while its plugged in and coolant is circulating on the HOT element? I have read that putting one in a space too close to cylinder walls etc will cook them as they overheat. Have a freeze plug block heater in my 97 f150 and it works swell!
I have never had one fail but most manufacturers recomend that you not have them plugged in when the engine is running. I believe that's because the elements are cylindrical and any coolant velocity around the element will cause a flow separation that will cause the local heat transfer to be significantly reduced and cause the element to burn out.

 

[TomSeller]

They definitely don't want them plugged in without coolant surrounding the element. You must fill the engine with coolant and circulate to remove any trapped air before plugging them in. Otherwise you could overheat the element.