Oil & Fuel Massey 165 won't stay running

rustyk4 · Mar 31, 2012

165 Massey diesel throttles up & down by it'self, now it won't stay running. I Changed fuel filters and it ran for a while, but now it won't catch & keep running. I now have drained the fuel tank and I'm thinking of adding fresh fuel. Would that work? Or do I have more problems.
It's a 1965 tractor and I've never had a problem with it before, except last summer it began to throttled funny. I added some Staybil Diesel to it then. I only use it for mowing. Rusty

Dieseltech · Mar 31, 2012

What # and brand fuel filters did you use? If they are 3166 NAPA make sure there is 1 large o ring in upper base groove only. Filter inlet is just inside upper sealing lip, if extra O ring is installed next to lip filter inlet groove will be blocked, fuel flow will be very slow or even shut off. If filters are OK check final filter base air bleed fitting, if plugged air can't get out of base as it should and will go to pump inlet and cause shutdown, CAV DPA pumps can't handle air well.

rustyk4 · Mar 31, 2012

I used the filters from the dealership and they are installed correctly, I think

I'll double check em though.
It started throttling funny last summer and seemed to get steadly worse. Then this spring it wouldn't start without either, even when it was 80* out a couple weeks ago. Now, it will start with either and run but it won't throttle up very well, and when I throttle it down it dies.
I cleaned the fuel tank out and put in fresh fuel, but I think it's the fuel pump or injector pump.??? Also, when I changed the filters, they had april 2005 scratched on them

and the sediment bowls had some thick crud in them. I cleaned them real well but perhaps too late?

DieselMonk · Mar 31, 2012

does she still have power or did she lose all of it? Maybe you get air into the injector pump or there there is a blockage in the fuel line somewere and she is starving on fuel?

rustyk4 · Mar 31, 2012

It seems like the throttle arm is very loose. When I pull it down it's very loose and the engine does not power up very fast at all. Then it will catch up and run pretty well,,, I let it run for 5 or 10 minutes,,, but then when I throttle it down, it dies. Then I have to use either to get it to start again.
There's fuel leaks (small) around the injectors, but it's been that way for years. I haven't farmed with it for years. I only use it pull 2 Swisher mowers on my driving range the last couple years. 5 or 6 times a summer.
Someone told me unhook the fuel pump line to see if it was shooting out fuel, but I don't see where that might be, at the front end of the sediment bowl?

rustyk4 · Mar 31, 2012

Dieseltech said:
What # and brand fuel filters did you use? If they are 3166 NAPA make sure there is 1 large o ring in upper base groove only. Filter inlet is just inside upper sealing lip, if extra O ring is installed next to lip filter inlet groove will be blocked, fuel flow will be very slow or even shut off. If filters are OK check final filter base air bleed fitting, if plugged air can't get out of base as it should and will go to pump inlet and cause shutdown, CAV DPA pumps can't handle air well.

It was doing it before and after we changed the new filters. I will look into your idea though, tomorrow. I'm kinda wondering if it's sucking air somewhere... Thank you very much.

gengine · Mar 31, 2012

I'm going off memory here, so bear with me. You have a lifter pump on the right side of the motor with a hand pump lever on the bottom. On my 165, it goes to a filter also on the right side with a metal sediment bowl. Then the fuel lines run behind the motor to another filter with a glass sediment bowl. Is that full? On that filter housing there are three lines, one fuel in, and two fuel out. One fuel out is an over flow, and I don't remember if it flows back to the first filter or to the tank. The other fuel out goes to the injector pump. Loosen the fitting at the injector pump, then go around and use the hand pump until you have fuel coming out. It's better with two people., so one can pump and one can watch for the fuel. If it bubbles, pump until there is a great reduction in air bubbles. If I remember, there is another line leaving the pump towards the front. It is an "overflow" and returns to the front of the tank. Loosen that one and use the hand pump again until you have a pretty steady flow of fuel with minimal air. That should hopefully get you running. Your throttle linkage is easy to tighten up, and self explanatory. There is also a screen in the tank that removes with the fuel shut off. You'll want to remove the tank and drain it before removing and cleaning the screen, if bleeding the pump didn't get you started.

rustyk4 · Mar 31, 2012

Yes! You are right about everything you said concerning my engine!
I did clean out the tank and clean the screen. My question is which line do I remove to check if the fuel pump is shooting out? If I prime the pump a few times it starts so I'm wondering if it's the fuel pump.

Dieseltech · Mar 31, 2012

Have you ever had trouble with water in fuel, can cause metering valve on injection pump to stick. Just repaired brothers MF 1130 pump with same trouble, complete tear down, clean and reseal took care of his, I found traces of water in fuel on pump disassembly.

rustyk4 · Mar 31, 2012

No. I always keep the tank full, and the last couple years I added some Stabil diesel treatment to the tank. That's one reason I drained the tank today, I thought it might be getting gunky in there

They make a diesel dry gas treatment I saw at Tractor Supply today, would that help?
I've never had any problems with this tractor. It always started and ran, everytime, even after sitting for 2 or 3 years. My dad bought it new in 1965. He died in 1979 so he can no longer help me