non running 1020

little diesel · Feb 15, 2011

I don't have a lot of money to spend so I'm looking for a project tractor. I have a opportunity to acquire a Massey 1020 that isn't running. I think I could pick it up for around 2000. It has around 2000 hrs on it and it looks like I can get parts easy. It is a manual. This is what he has posted "WAS TOLD THE UNIT HAD BEEN SETTING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. I TRIED TO GET IT
RUNNING BUT CAN NOT GET IT TO FIRE UP. UNIT WILL TURN OVER FINE AND SMOKE
COMES OUT OF THE STACK BUT WILL NOT RUN. I HAVE NOT A CLUE WHAT IS WRONG WITH
IT AND DO NOT HAVE TIME TO WORK ON IT.BATTERY IS BAD THAT IS IN IT
TRACTOR LOOKS TO BE IN GOOD OVERALL CONDITION NOTHING MISSING THAT I CAN SEE
OTHER THAN IT WILL NOT RUN..." This is all I know about this tractor. PLEASE give me your thoughts on this.

tx2310 · Feb 15, 2011

It may just be bad glow plugs. You did use the glow plugs to try to start it? Sounds like the pump is working since you are getting smoke. A quick check of the glow plugs is to see if there is not a open circuit from the post of the glow plug to ground using a OHM meter. After that check the relay for the glow plugs to see if it is sending power to the plugs.

Doug

PILOON · Feb 15, 2011

I have not tried it myself, but hear that using a heat gun or hair drier and blowing into the intake helps a lot.
In fact many tractors use heated intakes rather than glow plugs so it should work. Worth a try IMHO.

racerboy832 · Feb 23, 2011

Was this the one that was on Ebay? Did it end up selling?

lambs · Feb 23, 2011

Definitely check the GPs. I think you could use a multimeter to see if you're getting voltage to the GPs while cranking or while turning the ignition key to glow. You can also pull the GPs and check internal resistance. It should be .23 ohms. I actually took mine out, grounded them on a metal surface and hooked a battery charger up to the terminal on the top of them (attach negative cable to the metal surface, but not too close to the GP because of the heat). After about 12 seconds of 12v current, they should glow bright orange. If they won't, replace them. This is a likely culprit. My 1010 wants GP even on a warm day.

If you're not used to diesels, be certain you have cracked the throttle open before you start cranking. No fuel, no start. Open the throttle about half way and try it. But it sounds like you have fuel.

If it won't turn over very fast, you could have a dead cell on the battery...smoke will still come out, but not spinning the engine fast enough to make it start running. My 1010 had this problem, and it would sometimes still start even though the battery only put out about 9 volts. But it cranked very slowly. A fresh battery may be needed, but you could try to jump start the tractor and see if this makes any difference.

Whatever you do, don't try ether in the air intake. This will cause immediate problems if the glow plugs are actually working.

racerboy832 · Feb 24, 2011

If it doesn't crank fast and the battery is charged try putting 12v to the Solenoid little wire. Just found out my tractor was only getting 11v and the rest going to the glow plugs. I isolated the glow plugs so they only work when you turn it to the left now it fires right up. It used to put power to the plugs when you went left or start.

lambs · Feb 25, 2011

I put an $8.00 Radio Shack relay in the circuit from the clutch safety switch to the solenoid to send power directly from the hot terminal to the starter solenoid when the ignition was turned to start position. That cured my 1010 of starting issues. It spins plenty fast now, and I can get the GPs the way MF intended. It's amazing how much the voltage can drop in the circuit.