New MF TO35 with Standard Diesel

[mllud]

I followed some of the wires from under the dashboard and found that one of them led to this. It doesn't look great with all that corrosion. I don't know what this is. Can one of you tell me?

View attachment 661600

View attachment 661599

Voltage regulator won't keep it from starting

 

[mllud]

Does your tractor shut off with a linkage rod going to the injector pump or is it electric.
Make sure its not in rhe kill or stop position. Sitting in the seat you pull the knob to stop the engine. It has to be pushed back in or It will not run.

 

[raftgyde]

I just ran across this thread, and I have no experience with MF 35s with diesels. Just the gas versions. But when attempting the pull-start, did you ever crack the throttle lever open? Look like it was closed to me. Since this is a first try at priming and starting, maybe that would help.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I just picked up this 1958 MF TO35.

View attachment 660746

The story is that it sat for a lot of years and didn't do much work during its life. Allegedly was running just two years ago.

I have some questions about the diesel and getting it to start. Here are the steps I've taken so far.

• I took the top off the diesel injection pump and shot it with carb cleaner and made sure it was free to move and operate.
• I replaced the two fuel filters.
• I drained the diesel from the fuel tank and refilled it with new diesel and half a can of seafoam.
• I bled the system to the first fuel filter, then the second fuel filter, then to the fuel injection pump, and then to the injectors.
• I've ordered new nozzles for the injectors. They arrive this week.

Now for my questions, since I can't get it to fire up.

Do I need starting fluid every time to get it to start? Assuming I have good compression and fuel to the cylinders, how difficult are these old diesels to start?
When I bled the fuel lines to the injectors I was only getting a little tiny bit of fuel coming out. Is that normal? How much volume should they have?
Will the new nozzles be enough or should I have ordered all new injectors?

That's all for now. I'm new to the forum and not a diesel mechanic, so any and all advice is appreciated! Also, I'm in Idaho, obviously. Anyone in the Boise area that wants to come have a look let me know.

These engines are notoriously hard to start when cold but that's not your problem this time of year. If you are not seeing and smelling diesel after cranking or towing, you are not getting fuel into and out the injectors. If the tractor sat for many years it could be a stuck metering valve in the injector pump(IP), assuming you have the shutdown lever in the run position, or a cruded up IP. Disconnect the fuel line at the IP inlet and make sure the diesel runs out like a cow peein' on a flat rock.

If it doesn't, you have a fuel restriction between the tank and the fuel connection at the IP. I'd start at the tank discharge. A tractor that sat is likely to have bacterial sludge in the tank that restricts fuel flow at the tank strainer or in the lines between the tank and the filters, and/or within the filter heads themselves. Make sure the flow path is clear.

If you have good flow at the fuel line connection to the IP, then the problem is at the IP or the injectors. I'd check the injectors first. Take them to a diesel shop and have them cleaned and inspected and pressure tested. That's the cheapest next step.

Re-install them, bleed the system to the injectors and make sure you have good fuel flow at the injectors with no air bubbles. (Make sure the battery is well charged and only crank the starter in 30 second bursts and then let the starter cool a bit.) Also remove the air filter and make sure it's clear. You also need air in the engine.

If the engine has good compression and fuel it should start. When you have adequate fuel to the cylinder, you should smell diesel and even see some fuel mist at the exhaust. If it still doesn't start, the IP has problems.

 

[IdahoMan208]

Disconnect the fuel line at the IP inlet and make sure the diesel runs out like a cow peein' on a flat rock.

Jerry, I had disconnected the line and fuel came out, but not like a cow peein'. More like a little tiny sputter. Looks like I'm going to have to do a full rebuild on the injector pump. Any suggestions on a rebuild kit?

 

[Agvg]

It's not any volume to speak of on the high pressure side, it's just a tiny amount of diesel for every injection. But on the low pressure side you should have good flow.

 

[IdahoMan208]

The inlet side of the injector pump runs freely. Plenty of fuel there. The high pressure side doesn't do nearly as much. If it is high pressure, shouldn't it squirt pretty good?

 

[Agvg]

No, it's pressure, not volume and if the injectors are not attached you dont build any pressure, it's just a few milliliter pr injection.

 

[Agvg]

Jerry, I had disconnected the line and fuel came out, but not like a cow peein'. More like a little tiny sputter. Looks like I'm going to have to do a full rebuild on the injector pump. Any suggestions on a rebuild kit?

Both the injection pump and injectors are not easy to rebuild, injectors must be adjusted with a pressure pump to adjust the opening pressure.

The pump is a lot worse and need to be rebuild and tested with a lot of very specific tools including a test bench.

 

[Agvg]

But have you attached the injectors to the pump and seen how its opening and sprays? It should be a mist of diesel.