New MF TO35 with Standard Diesel

[Cougsfan]

I have a TO35 with a standard diesel identical to yours. They do tend to be hard starting. It came as a 12 Volt by the way. The only electrics needed to start it is the starter motor and glow plugs. Check out your glow plugs. It won't start cold without them working.

There is a lever (push pull knob) right under the dash on the left side that is a fuel shut-off for shutting the engine down. Make sure that is pushed in (I don't know how many dozen times over the years I tried to start it and it wont start because forgot to push it in . Mine always starts easier using full throttle.

Your starting key should turn to both clockwise and counter clockwise. Always turn it clock wise as that energizes the glowplugs. Turn it partway clockwise and hold it for about 30 seconds to heat the glow plugs up, then turn it a bit further to energize the starter. You can check your glow plugs to make sure they are getting juice with a multimeter.

The advice about towing it to start it is the best advice you have received so far. The fuel system does loose its prime when it runs out of fuel and it takes forever of running the starter motor to re-prime it. Towing is easier and should have primed the fuel system. Also while towing make sure you develop oil pressure. if you don't, take care of that issue first. You can try starting with the starter after that towing has been done. I would loosen the fuel line at the injector and insure some fuel does come out of each injector. if it doesn't , your pump is shot. If it does, your fuel your injectors are possibly plugged. Then follow Agvg's advice and remove the injectors and see that they give out a mist on every other revolution. If they do, I'd start suspecting something like low compression (you can usually tell low compression just by how fast the starter motor turns over the engine, It it spins unusually fast you have low compression.

I would not try to rebuild the injection pump on your own. It requires skill and knowledge beyond the average competent backyard mechanic. Just removing it and reinstalling it requires skill as to get the timing correct.

If you need parts and/or expert service and expert advice, Donnie or Darel at DW's Motor Machine in Grandview Washington can provide any of those things. They provided the parts for a complete overhaul of my Standard diesel, and provided advice and support through the whole job. They know these old diesels like the back of their hand. (509 882 4362)

I see you have the stock generator, it would be worthwhile to change it out to an alternator down the road but that is not your current starting problem.

Hopefully some of the above helps.

 

[mllud]

I have a TO35 with a standard diesel identical to yours. They do tend to be hard starting. It came as a 12 Volt by the way. The only electrics needed to start it is the starter motor and glow plugs. Check out your glow plugs. It won't start cold without them working.

There is a lever (push pull knob) right under the dash on the left side that is a fuel shut-off for shutting the engine down. Make sure that is pushed in (I don't know how many dozen times over the years I tried to start it and it wont start because forgot to push it in . Mine always starts easier using full throttle.

Your starting key should turn to both clockwise and counter clockwise. Always turn it clock wise as that energizes the glowplugs. Turn it partway clockwise and hold it for about 30 seconds to heat the glow plugs up, then turn it a bit further to energize the starter. You can check your glow plugs to make sure they are getting juice with a multimeter.

The advice about towing it to start it is the best advice you have received so far. The fuel system does loose its prime when it runs out of fuel and it takes forever of running the starter motor to re-prime it. Towing is easier and should have primed the fuel system. Also while towing make sure you develop oil pressure. if you don't, take care of that issue first. You can try starting with the starter after that towing has been done. I would loosen the fuel line at the injector and insure some fuel does come out of each injector. if it doesn't , your pump is shot. If it does, your fuel your injectors are possibly plugged. Then follow Agvg's advice and remove the injectors and see that they give out a mist on every other revolution. If they do, I'd start suspecting something like low compression (you can usually tell low compression just by how fast the starter motor turns over the engine, It it spins unusually fast you have low compression.

I would not try to rebuild the injection pump on your own. It requires skill and knowledge beyond the average competent backyard mechanic. Just removing it and reinstalling it requires skill as to get the timing correct.

If you need parts and/or expert service and expert advice, Donnie or Darel at DW's Motor Machine in Grandview Washington can provide any of those things. They provided the parts for a complete overhaul of my Standard diesel, and provided advice and support through the whole job. They know these old diesels like the back of their hand. (509 882 4362)

I see you have the stock generator, it would be worthwhile to change it out to an alternator down the road but that is not your current starting problem.

Hopefully some of the above helps.

That push pull kill rod shuts off fuel as Cougsfan mentioned. Also it locks in the kill position. You have to push the knob down to release it from the keyhole shaped hole. There should be a spring to pull the rod in when its released. The spring may be gone. Follow the rod to the lever on the injector pump to verify the pushed forward position.

I have forgotten to push it in once or twice x five times myself and blamed the tractor for not starting.

 

[IdahoMan208]

@Cougsfan

I have a TO35 with a standard diesel identical to yours. They do tend to be hard starting. It came as a 12 Volt by the way. The only electrics needed to start it is the starter motor and glow plugs. Check out your glow plugs. It won't start cold without them working.

Can you tell me where the glow plugs are located on my tractor? Here is an image of a 23c with glow plugs. I pulled this from a screenshot of a YouTube video. To be clear, this is not my tractor.


Now, here is an image of my tractor. They certainly don't seem to be any glow plugs. Are you sure our tractors are identical? Where should I be looking?

 

[IdahoMan208]

@Cougsfan

I have a TO35 with a standard diesel identical to yours. They do tend to be hard starting. It came as a 12 Volt by the way. The only electrics needed to start it is the starter motor and glow plugs. Check out your glow plugs. It won't start cold without them working.

Can you tell me where the glow plugs are located on my tractor? Here is an image of a 23c with glow plugs. I pulled this from a screenshot of a YouTube video. To be clear, this is not my tractor.
View attachment 662329

Now, here is an image of my tractor. They certainly don't seem to be any glow plugs. Are you sure our tractors are identical? Where should I be looking?
View attachment 662330

 

[Agvg]

Not all had glow plugs, I do believe they came on the later revisions of the engine to address this engines poor starting in cold climate. They are very sensitive for wear on the camshaft chain and drive wheels that alters the injection timing.

 

[Cougsfan]

You are right IdahoMan! The glow plugs in the top picture are those things with the black wires and yellow terminals. And I don't see any, or a place for any on yours. My tractor is like the top picture. I didn't know they made any without glow plugs! I do know mine would never start cold using the starter motor, even in the summertime, without them. It would start by towing it though without the glow plugs. I'd suggest you give Darel a call and get his take on what to do.

Mllud, my shut off has never had a return spring since I got the tractor several decades ago, but now that you mention it... it makes sense it should have one.

 

[Cougsfan]

One trick I saw my Father-in-law do years ago on an old JD diesel that wouldn't start when the engine was cold; He took a Butane torch and heated up the intake manifold prior to starting it. Worked like a champ. I wouldn't suggest a torch with an open flame on your TO35 as the intake manifold is directly below the fuel tank. But a heat gun would probably be safe to try. I've located a work light on an extension cord up against my intake on cold winter days to aid in starting. It takes a few hours to warm things up but helps immensely.

 

[mllud]

You are right IdahoMan! The glow plugs in the top picture are those things with the black wires and yellow terminals. And I don't see any, or a place for any on yours. My tractor is like the top picture. I didn't know they made any without glow plugs! I do know mine would never start cold using the starter motor, even in the summertime, without them. It would start by towing it though without the glow plugs. I'd suggest you give Darel a call and get his take on what to do.

Agvg, My shut off has never had a return spring since I got the tractor several decades ago, but now that you mention it... it makes sense it should have one.

That was me that some of the return spring. It may have came later. My 203 shows one. Probably not a must have but could stop my forgetting to push it in.
Looking at idahomans photo he has the fuel shutoff in the correct position. On
I feel your pain Idahoman.
The old pony motor on my D2 cat ran the exhaust through the intake of the diesel to warm it up to assist starting. Im wondering if directing a heat gun into the intake for about five minutes could help it out.
If its timing chain related as Agvd says it could be it may need repairs. Pulling it to eliminate a hard priming issue could give more direction. Then injection pump, injectors or timing chains.

 

[mllud]

If you have chainged injector nozzles or made any changes to the injectors at all ,it can change the pop off pressure and when fuel releases. They would need to be set by a shop. My first post on this forum was me being hard headed not listening to advise. I had the injectors set by a thepumpguysc and my engine ran great.