Massey Ferguson 1740M Hydro: LOSS OF POWER when hot!

[ning]

hello everyone, about 3 weeks ago I found out that my tractor was still under warranty so I took it to a dealer shop here in Georgia. They called me today to let me know 1 injector was bad but they ended up replacing all 3 injectors and injector lines. All I have to pay is about $600 for new fuel filters and labor for replacing the filters, everything else is covered by the warranty. For those that don’t know the warranty of the tractors is transferable and is for 5 years, I am the second owner of my tractor and I didn’t know the warranty until I called the dealer. I hope you found this information helpful.

Seems like anyone potentially affected should take their tractor in for a pre-warranty-expiration checkup *ahem* a "my tractor seems down on power can you check the injectors please"

 

[Highwayman64]

Hello, New to the party here! I just seen all of the threads on this loss of power thing going on and I have been experiencing the same issue too. I have a 2016 MF 1740 M with the shuttle shift and 500 hours. I service my tractor very meticulously with all service done as it should be. I never had one issue with my gem until this summer brush hogging and it was a very hot and humid day.
I have not took it back to dealer yet as I have been using it pretty regularly especially this winter blowing snow here in WNY. I will note that I have not had the issue since summer and have really been pushing it hard clearing snow so I agree it's a summer issue while hot. All the symptoms align with your fellow posters here in this thread. I have tried loosening the fuel cap, changing fuel and all filters too. Thanks everyone for the info shared here, I really appreciate it and will be following along here for any updates.

 

[TopSpeed1]

I can push snow all day long, no issues. Change to July heat and mowing for an entirely different story. Told repeatedly above.

Sad it's been this long with no real answer.

 

[JWR]

So did you ever eliminate the injectors as the source of the problem?

 

[TopSpeed1]

So did you ever eliminate the injectors as the source of the problem?

So at this point and time and as much as this has been baffling (to not only myself), I would not eliminate injectors. I can order a set of 3 for about 4G, and if I knew this was definitely going to solve the problem, I would do so. But what a waste if it did not fix the issue and I have 3 injectors (that once installed) cannot be returned. A few have returned blasé posts that this did solve the issue, a few have said it was the turbo.

 

[TopSpeed1]

I should report to the public, I have been in extensive contact (messaging) with a few members of this and other tractor forums. This info in reality should of been posted (instead of private messaging) as some may have learned from this banter.

In a nutshell...
-- I tested the possible fuel tank air-lock and surface wise this was posted. Ruled; This is not the problem.
-- Re-installed new upper and lower fuel filters now 3x within 41 hrs.
-- Changed entire Hydro oil and filter system (shuttle shift owners have also reported this power loss issue) so this was done mainly maintenance wise.
-- I used a laser temp gun and shot extensive heat temps on the diesel fuel and the poly tank. Almost 3 weeks of hard usage in hot temps. The theory was possibly the diesel (fuel) getting too hot to getting compressed inefficiently. BTW, my reads were all 78F-92F ambient temp days- I got 150-160F on the fuel readings; shooting downward in the tank fill hole (cup strainer removed). The outside of the poly fuel tank was quite hot to the touch but read ~140-150F. I did not think this was extravagant, of course I could be wrong as always!
-- I shot temps on the engine block in varying areas including the rail pump, the highest I could get was ~220F. The tractors LCD gauge reads normal 3 bars. The turbo (since this has been noted as to the problem) read on the hot (exhaust) side mostly high 300's, I saw 400F on a few shoots immediately stopping and on the 95F days.
-- I can't find my (field) paper note on the bottom of the oil crankcase. I can remember it as close to the block temps, nothing stood out so I may have just crumpled up that note, sorry.

Anything else I will be happy to test (within my scope). Being a still newish tractor, I'm not willing to rip apart complex parts, I apologize for that, but I also have a life besides a tractor. Peace out and I want to thank everyone so far for all the input and possible theories.

-KJ

 

[JWR]

So at this point and time and as much as this has been baffling (to not only myself), I would not eliminate injectors. I can order a set of 3 for about 4G, and if I knew this was definitely going to solve the problem, I would do so. But what a waste if it did not fix the issue and I have 3 injectors (that once installed) cannot be returned. A few have returned blasé posts that this did solve the issue, a few have said it was the turbo.

Has to be incredibly frustrating! I have not priced injectors but no matter what they do, $4000 for 3 is beyond absurd. I'd think some one has the ability to test the injectors. I'm skeptical that the turbo is at fault given your overall description of the symptoms -- like running the AC in the cab shortens the time to when loss of power occurs. That can't be the turbo. Re-reading your comments it seems that the name of the issue "Loss of power after long run-time" more so than it is heating... as everyone has said, very strange. I'm not so sure that a repair shop/dealer having a dyno would get to the root of the problem (as you have sometimes thought it would.) What makes this one so tough is that it takes so long to produce the symptoms.

I may have said this before (and am too lazy to hunt through 176 posted comments) but I have yet to see a serious issue with a MF tractor that AGCO would not get to the bottom of...I've had a bunch a few years back. The regional service rep is/should be a huge help. And he works for someone to whom the problem can be appealed. In your shoes I'd make myself a permanent nuisance in the AGCO chain demanding that they be involved and find the cause. You have a world of documentation and evidence that you have done far more than due diligence up to this point.

 

[TopSpeed1]

Since this is and has been so puzzling, I would not rule out the turbo, although I do favor injector(s) as my current finger pointer. This is not just a lengthy (time to occur) situation, it is heat related. So as to not cruise through many posts; it does not happen when on the tractor is in the middle of winter when plowing heavy snow, no matter what time or working period. July however is another story, then with a working load, time kicks in this fault as to the related "how soon the power-loss kicks in").

So a turbo being the hottest working part of the tractor, theoretically should not be ruled out. Heat creates friction and metal expansion/contraction so for this part, I will keep it as a possible cause. I agree it's not likely however.

 

[LouNY]

I don't recall has any one relocated or added a fan to cool the ECU.

 

[TopSpeed1]

So Lou, you're thinking the ECU is heating up and possibly kicking in a "limp mode" ?

Does this series tractor even have a limp mode?