New to me...JD 1250 been sitting...

[50acres]

hey everyone,
I have been lurking on here a while and finally decided to register when i bought an older JD 1250. It's an early 80's I believe, can't tell because the number plate was rusted off that was under the PTO. It has been sitting for the last 10yrs out in the weather in a field in the northeast. it hasn't been started the whole time and i bought it cheap from a family friend so couldn't pass on the deal. My question is, it has a diesel engine about 40 hp or so and a loader, its still sitting in the field and i probably won't get to it for a few weeks but am starting to research the best ways to try to get it going. I am planning on bringing up a new fuel filter, battery, all new fluids and fuel. I am going to drain the fuel lines/tank and refill with fresh fuel. What other things should I do before I try starting it? Should I "attempt" to take the injectors out and pour a little mystery oil in the cylinders? I don't know much about tractors and this is my first one, i don't even know if the thing will run at all but i figure i'll give it a shot, it has definately been neglected. sorry i don't have any pics now but hopefully will get some in a few weeks. Thanks for any help you can give me

 

[Van Wen]

I'm no expert, but check for critter nests upstream of the engine (air filter etc) and downstream (tailpipe). Also check wiring.

 

[JoelD]

Definately going to want to check if the motor is stuck, hopefully it is not.

Not sure best way to check on that type of machine, if you can get a breaker bar and socket on the crank to see if you can turn over that would be a good thing.

Would not want to see you possibly hurting the starter if the motor is stuck.

I've not dealt with that on a diesel, for a gas motor I'd put some marvel mystery oil into the spark plug holes to get a head start on freeing up. ( just reread your post and noted you considered this already )

There's many an expert on this forum regarding long time sitting diesels.

Can you winch onto a trailer and work on it somewhere other than in the field?

Good luck and send some pictures, particularly before pictures, would be interested to see.

Joel

 

[oliver28472]

Do you remember if the exhaust pipe is vertical? If so did it have a can or rain cap on it? If so, you might want to take an oil drain pan. Open the plug enough on the engine oil pan to see if water comes out. Water will be settled out on the bottom of the pan if you don't stir it trying to crank it first. I think checking for water like this should be your first step.

 

[JoelD]

Do you remember if the exhaust pipe is vertical? If so did it have a can or rain cap on it? If so, you might want to take an oil drain pan. Open the plug enough on the engine oil pan to see if water comes out. Water will be settled out on the bottom of the pan if you don't stir it trying to crank it first. I think checking for water like this should be your first step.

Excellent advice!!

Would be a good check regardless, see what you are dealing with, could even indicate cracked block or the like if water in there.

 

[Wis Bang]

That's a long time to sit out, even for a machine that is designed to handle the weather. Definately check the contents of the oil pan b/4 attempting to move/turn the engine. Make sure that the intake is not filled w/ critters; not just wasps, mice find those odd places to nest too!

You are facing more than contaminated fluids. Gear oil has completely drained to the bottom off any gearbox so the top half of any gearset could be rusted enough that driving this unit [if you are lucky enough to get it started] could do damage. I've seen this w/ a bunch of new road tractors that sat for two years after the company took delivery shortly b/4 going bankrupt. Every one had issues in the gearbox & power divider/ differentials.

Are all of the hydraulic cylinders retracted? Any that sat extended could have pinholes rusted thru, dad always made me keep the snowplow hoist retracted for that reason.

Diesel fuel contains parafin wax so any fuel lines could be soild as the lighter fractions would evaporate leaving the wax behind similar to gas becoming varnish in a carb. That's another reason to not try to start it in the field!

If this unit has a clutch, you can expect it to be rusted enough to be in-operable. That's another reason not to.....

Any shaft seals could be stuck fast as they have not been lubed by the turrning oil soaked shafts. That's wheel seals, differential seals, transmission seals, rear main engine oil seal; any rotating part with a seal keeping liquid in needs to be checked...

Finally the coolant has changed it's pH [green stuff is good for 24 months & the extended stuff for 60] so the entire coolant system could be a corroded mess. The water pump impeller could be siezed & the rad core could be plugged.

I've seen a 4 cly Willys jeep siezed fast. They poured a gal can of CRC 5-56 down the spark plug holes & two 'big' guys pried on the flywheel thru an inspection hole to break it loose. Ended up pulling the head and replacing the broken piston rings. I've seen lawn mowers broken free w/ antifreeze. What ever method you choose, let it soak a long time and remember antifreeze eats engine bearings so the CRC may be a better choice.

If it was REAL cheap and you have the time and the place this could be a real 'find'. I'd get it pulled out on a rollback or landall and brought to a shop & methodically go thru it and check everything. It may make the difference between a reliable machine and a garage queen.

Spend the money now and enjoy the results; otherwise you may just spend alot more $5.00 and $10.00 at a time and be miserable.

 

[50acres]

So it sounds like the best thing to do would be to get it on a trailer and get it home before I even try turning it over. I'll have to see if i can borrow a friends trailer and look into doing it that way. it seems like it will definately be a lot of work to get it going if I even can. I do have some past diesel experience but that was a while ago, if worst comes to worst i feel confident i could relearn changing out cylinder sleeves, pistons and all that good stuff.

I got this with the idea that it would be a good winter project to work on but seeing that time is always valuable, and there is a potential for a tremendous amount of work on this beauty, it may take a little longer than that!

I don't mind doing the work and I feel like it could be a good learning experience for me, i know it will take me much longer to do than a lot of the projects I've seen on here, but i'll have fun trying....

when i get it back home i'll start off with the suggestions so far...
-before I even try turning it over...check for water in oil
-possibly pour a bit of mystery oil or similar, into cyclinders and let sit
-check all seals (if I remember right, all hydraulic cyclinders were retracted)
-drain all diesel, try to check for clear lines and change filters (replacing all the fittings and lines i break taking off the old stuff, haha)
-drain all coolant, gear oil, trans fluid and the like...and change
-check all intake and exhaust is clear

i imagine there is quite a bit of rust on the inside of this thing, it did have a vertical exhaust which actually looked to be in good shape other than surface rust, but unfortunately no cover over it it was at least the angled type so vertical rain couldn't get in, but im sure plenty of wind blown rain has drained down there over the years....this could make a project!

if i do find the engine able to turn over using a breaker bar or similar, and i drain all the fuel and all that good stuff, do you think it would hurt the engine to try to turn it over using the starter? assuming it even worked?
If i could get it running, would be good to let it run, try to depress all the pedals lightly and loosen things up a bit, and just let the fluids circulate?

I wouldn't try driving it until i check the condition of the gearbox and everything, also the front gearbox could have issues as well.

my wife is gonna kill me when she sees this beauty! i think im gonna have to come up with a name....
thanks for your advice so far and hopefully i'll get some more opinions as well, i'll be shocked if i ever see the day that this thing even starts, let alone move...

 

[50acres]

Wis Bang....(or anyone else)
you mentioned that there is a good chance the gearsets could be rusted up and i could do damage trying to drive it, that is good advice that i didn't think of. when i get a trailer to take it home, i will have to winch it on the trailer, do you think i could do damage to the gears with it in nuetral and winching it 20 or 30 feet? otherwise i have no idea how to get it on the trailer.

 

[irwin]

Wis Bang....(or anyone else)
you mentioned that there is a good chance the gearsets could be rusted up and i could do damage trying to drive it, that is good advice that i didn't think of. when i get a trailer to take it home, i will have to winch it on the trailer, do you think i could do damage to the gears with it in nuetral and winching it 20 or 30 feet? otherwise i have no idea how to get it on the trailer.

You might find the wheel bearings are siezed..we all hope you'll find this thing weathered the weather just fine...but be cautious when rolling it the first few inches..some things are better off with clean fluid and light operation for a while..others, well step by step check it out. but yes' roll it up on the trailer in neutral..(with finger crossed that it'll roll....)

 

[ScottAR]

All good suggestions so far... what they said.

Check the gear shifter boots. If it's cracked the trans/hyd. is likely full of water.

(looks at wixfilters.com/) Take the fuel filter with you to the store if possible.
Air inner: 42632
Air outer: 42631
Fuel to SN 4208 33391
Fuel SN 4209 on 33390
Hyd. 51229
oil 51243

Wet clutch so you should be ok there unless water got it.

Likely the throttle linkage is froze up or at least very stiff. PB blaster or an equal will work to free it up.
Just so happens I have a 50 series brochure in my hands...

fuel tank 17.2 gal.
cooling 8.4 qt.
crankcase 11.2qt
hyd/trans/clutch 33.3 qt

Good luck...