Oil & Fuel Massey Fuel Problem?

Massy Confusion · Sep 28, 2009

I have a 1979 Massey 245 with an AD 3.152 Diesel engine. I bought this tractor from a paving company who used it as a broom tractor so I know it was exposed to a lot of dust. My son and I cleaned it up in the shop last winter and painted it. When I brought it in it smoked a white smoke that smelled like diesel fuel. When I cleaned it up I cleaned out the fuel tank (which had a lot of build up around the screen) and replaced all the filters and etc... I has never run just right, smoked excessively when cold and it had a big power loss this summer when I was mowing with it. I replaced the injectors which helped. I also replaced the lift pump thinking that could be the problem but that changed nothing it still does not run like it should. I have considered replacing the injector pump and or checking the compression. I am just not sure where what I should be focusing on now to get running like it should.

Any advice???

DJ54 · Sep 28, 2009

I'm thinking a major overhaul. I've seen those things disappear in clouds of dust on road projects, mainly when doing the stone berm, after paving...

The bad news is.... I'm guessing the white smoke is probably unburned fuel, from lack of compression... That would be my first test...

The good news is, Perkins diesels are in comparison to others, are relatively less expensive to rebuild.. At least what sleeve kits I've seen, in comparison.

DJ54 · Sep 28, 2009

Here is a link to a supplier for the premium kit. Dosn't say where it's made, or by who... But will give you an idea..

Massey Ferguson 3.152 Diesel (Perkins Direct Injection) Engine Rebuild Kit

I have a tendency to let the shop that grinds the crank, supply the bearings... No pointing fingers at the kit supplier, if things go wrong. Although he may buy through the same supplier. But then it is up to that shop to make it right, not the owner in the middle...

Massy Confusion · Sep 28, 2009

I was hoping that I would not have to tear into it but I knew that was a possibility. Thanks for the link. That is the least expensive kit that I have seen on line.
Thank you for confirming what I thought but did not want to admit.

Texas Blues · Sep 28, 2009

That is a pretty good price on the kit. The kit for my AG152 (gas model perkins 3cyl) was more than that at tisco. My kit did not come with wrist pin bushings and had to buy and have them pressed in at a perkins shop. Gasket sets are reasonable as well. I would certainly do a compression check first as mentioned by DJ. If that thing was breathing dust all day for a good part of its life, than yea, it could be wore out. Mine had a huge amount of piston slop, and smoked so bad (oil smoke) you couldnt see when using it. I would think that if your sleeves/piston/rings were shot you would also be burning lots of oil. It could still just be an over amount of fuel being dumped in. Do you have excessive blow by? Good Luck TB

Massy Confusion · Sep 28, 2009

I ran a few cans of sea foam through it hoping that would help but it did not seem to have any effect. I have run 5 or 6 tanks of fuel through it this summer and have not added any oil since I changed it this spring but it is down on the dip stick but not to the fill level yet. I did notice that I had fresh oil by on the front of the engine near the breathing tube the day that it lost so much power. I assume it was coming from the breathing tube. It carries good oil pressure even at operating temperatures. It seems to have more power when it is cold and it also seems to run more like it should when the engine is bogged down at low rpms.
It appears that the injector pump has been replaced at some time because when I got the tractor it was painted black and not the original engine color.
I suppose if I get it re-built I should have no worries for several years to come. I only gave 2600 dollars for it so I should still not have too much money into it, especially if I can find a buyer for the broom attachment.
Thanks for all your help and advice.