Need help with Ford 4000 diesel - no fuel flow

[Michael Ma]

This is an old Ford, around 68 I think. 201 Diesel. Ran very well when I bought it, and has been nearly trouble free. Had a leaking O ring on top of the injector pump, and fixed it successfully - that was last summer.

No leaks, and no problems until about six weeks ago. I let it sit while working on other problems, and when I tried to start it last week, no joy. No fuel to the injectors.

I added fuel in case it was low, but it was not. I changed the fuel filter, after blowing out the line from the tank. It had good flow before and after.

I bled the filter housing and removed the bleeder screw on the side of the pump. Good flow without air at both.

I have no fuel at the injectors.

I tried ether, and right now would happily risk blowing the tractor up.

This afternoon my wife hooked the truck to it, and we tried pulling it off. Maybe a half mile or more. No joy. No smoke. Still no fuel at the injectors. I did have enough compression to hold the truck back in lower than 7th gear.

This is on a tractor that has been consistently easy to start hot or cold, and has run exceptionally well, and was running well when it was shut off about a month back.

Any suggestions? Any help is much appreciated.

Michael, not a fan of diesel

 

[Jerry/MT]

Me thinks you've had a failure in the pump.

 

[Michael Ma]

Jerry,

Thanks for the quick response. It is not what I want to hear, but at this point, I can't see another answer either. I'll post here when I get this resolved.

Michael

 

[Tx Jim]

Have you checked to be sure fuel cutoff is in the "on position" on inj pump IE cable not restricting lever movement? Loosen bolt(parts key #57) as see if fuel will come out of fitting or if engine will run?

 

[Michael Ma]

Jim,

Thank you for the suggestions. I did check the fuel shutoff to be sure it was properly connected and moving freely. Cutoff under tank is on, and fuel shutoff is in the position to allow flow. It acts exactly as if the fuel shutoff is stopping flow.

Thanks for providing the diagram. I'll check the return line to be sure it is not blocked; I had not considered that.

I did realize last night that pulling the tractor off might hot help without the lines cracked at the injectors. I'll try it again that way before pricing a pump. A slow decline would make it easier to accept pump failure, but this one went from running great to dead in the water.

I'll post what I find out. Again, thank you.

Michael

 

[Midniteoyl]

So what was the other problems? Anything you might have done accidentally to cause this?

 

[Ken]

Jim,

Thank you for the suggestions. I did check the fuel shutoff to be sure it was properly connected and moving freely. Cutoff under tank is on, and fuel shutoff is in the position to allow flow. It acts exactly as if the fuel shutoff is stopping flow.

Thanks for providing the diagram. I'll check the return line to be sure it is not blocked; I had not considered that.

I did realize last night that pulling the tractor off might hot help without the lines cracked at the injectors. I'll try it again that way before pricing a pump. A slow decline would make it easier to accept pump failure, but this one went from running great to dead in the water.

I'll post what I find out. Again, thank you.

Michael

I will describe a problem my neighbor had with his ford diesel . had some water in fuel filter so changed filter and the engine would not run. after several hours asked me to come by and help with the problem

took filter off and fuel would flow from tank. put cover on filter and no fuel would flow to diesel pump. carefully look at where the fuel exits the filter to injector pump and if there is a double seal "O ring" it will block the fuel line. My not be your problem so just a suggestion of possibilitys.
ken

 

[Michael Ma]

Ken,

I think I know exactly what you describe - I did it Tuesday when I replaced the fuel filter. No flow, so I checked and saw why, and corrected that. But I am glad for any thought or suggestions; I'm in above my head.

Midnite,

Tractor has shown no problems for more than a year, and the only problem since I bought is was a leaking O ring on top of the pump. I fixed that more than a year ago, and then managed to bleed it and start it with little trouble. The tractor seems strong to me, and would start on any day above freezing, with ony a couple of seconds on the starter. I was using it to mix cement about six weeks ago, and had no trouble. After I got the mixer off, I parked it. Needed to get it ready to dig holes for fruit trees that should arrive in about a week, and it would not light off. Will spin fine, but no fuel to the injectors. I did add five gallons of fresh diesel, just in case.

Will be glad for any thoughts. I'm at a dead end.

Thanks to both of you.

Michael

 

[Midniteoyl]

Pull the filter and check it again.. could be clogged up. I once received a 'new' filter that had algae growing it it.. turned out it was a return..

 

[redman135]

Have you cracked the injectors when you where trying to get fuel through?
If you have then is the injector pump working? A sudden stop may indicate drive -to -injector pump failure as opossed to an actual injector pump failure .
If no joy then a proffessional DIESEL mechanic would be a cost efective option.

 

[sd455dan]

was a return..

Have you checked the filters are staying full, have seen a couple times where a slight leak occured at the filter gasket and also resulted in NO JOY

Is this the CAV set up or the Simms, have had more problems bleeding the CAV setup The Simms has a priming lever on the injector pump, The last Cav I worked on was primed by a lever on the seperate fuel pump -but it was a Leyland tractor

If it is the Simms (in line pump) you could try the cold start enrichment basically open the throttle up wide open push the pivot pin in that is connected to the throttle -It SHOULD click and stay in , reduce the throttle setting to 1/2 and try to start it... If it does start the pin should immediately pop back out reduce the throttle... good luck and hope this helps

 

[Michael Ma]

Midnite,

I did check for fuel flow by removing the line out to the injector pump. Good flow there.

Redman,

I have spun with one and with all three injector lines loose. No joy. If the rains stop, I'll check the return line back to the tank; I didn't know it could cause a problem. I replace it when I repaired a leak more than a year ago, and don't think I'll have a problem, but I need to rule it out. I'll make one more pull with the injector lines cracked. Thanks for mentioning the drive. I have the FSM, and will study that a little and check.

I appreciate the help.

Michael

 

[Tx Jim]

Micheal
Several yrs ago I owned a 3000 with a non working fuel gauge that my employee got his "kicks" by running it out of fuel. I could bleed that thing forever and it wouldn't start. Pull it 5-10 ft and it would fire up. I'd advise to definitely try pull starting again. It will prove to be a "good bonding time" between your wife & you.:confused3:

 

[Soundguy]

double check the filter for extra plastic wrap.. seen t hat before..

 

[AGRIMAN]

Micheal
Several yrs ago I owned a 3000 with a non working fuel gauge that my employee got his "kicks" by running it out of fuel. I could bleed that thing forever and it wouldn't start. Pull it 5-10 ft and it would fire up. I'd advise to definitely try pull starting again. It will prove to be a "good bonding time" between your wife & you.:confused3:

I agree, try pulling it again. I would also loosen the fuel lines at the injectors a little. Rotor pumps are just harder to bleed than inline pumps. I have also learned that the more fuel you have in the tank the easier it is to bleed. More fuel in the tank means more pressure pushing the fuel through the pump. I've also had the one's that refuse to pick up the fuel. If pulling is not an option (and I have the time), I will filled the tank and let them stay overnight (or a few hours). Most of the time it will pick the fuel right up when you return.

I have also blown compressed air into the tank and forced the fuel through the pump, but the results are mixed. It's works good for filling the filter, but sometimes it helps prime the pump and other time it doesn't seem to help. Just be careful and use a rag around the fill neck or it will blow back on you. Been there and done that.

 

[Michael Ma]

Jim,

I'm not entirely sure that I didn't run the tank empty, though it showed about 1/4. I did add five gallons of fresh diesel, and I did check with a stick, out of curiosity. It seemed to be close to half full after the added fuel. Regarding bonding - lots if it in nearly 38 years. She has helped me remove and drag fenders and doors out of the junkyards - old MOPAR fan. She can bleed brakes as well as anybody you'll find. We'll pull the tractor around some more with the injector lines loose.

Soundguy,

I did have to remove the filter to reposition the upper gasket, and was sure then that I'd have it running. Fuel flows very well through the filter, but not past the pump, so far.

Agriman,

I will be pulling again, with the injector lines loose this time. It is good to know that others have had some of this difficulty. I'm pretty new to tractors (though I did plow with a mule as a kid), and new to diesels. I'd be ready to give up it if didn't do so well otherwise.

Thank you all for the help.

Michael

 

[Soundguy]

check the cutoff again....

 

[Michael Ma]

All,

Had a good afternoon to work. Double checked everything, had let the injector lines sit loosened all night, so went for a ride, hanging on for dear life as my wife looked for ruts and ditches to cross - again for about a half mile. Tractor sounded almost like it was running, but no smoke, and dead silence as soon as I hit the clutch. Never a drop of diesel. Either the pump has failed, or the drive has failed. Will be on the trailer shortly. Still debating between the local Ford tractor guru and the new scrap metal place in town.

If it runs again, I'll pass that along.

I do appreciate the suggestions.

Michael

 

[Midniteoyl]

I'd give you scrap value if you were closer

Seriously though, it should be that hard or expensive to fix..

 

[Michael Ma]

Midnite,

Don't tempt me.... There is an excellent tractor man nearby; not cheap but with a great reputation over a few decades. Will see if it's better to replace or rebuild, and let him do it start to finish. Too expensive to have him correct my mistakes later.

For now, I'll have to concentrate on an older 2000 gas burner.

Thanks again.

Michael