not a mitubishi but the engine is and hard starting

[dieselade]

this is an international 254 tractor. 3cyl diesel mitsu engine. hard to start every time even just half hour turned off. the owner says he bleeds the fuel system and eventually starts and runs perfect. where is this tractor losing the prime? If you want, i can put this in the case IH forum, but i put here because of the engine.

 

[atsah]

Could be a any number of things, sucking air through a hose, a clamp, a restriction in the tank, fuel filter housing leak, a shutoff solenoid that’s not staying in, lots of things can cause hard starting.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

Any time the fuel supply is lower than the injection pump this sinister issue can rear its ugly head. I'm always relieved when I get a piece of equipment with the fuel tank above the pump to gravity feed. Then the worst thing you have to deal with is a leak out of the system which is obvious vs. the air leaking into the system. I know that doesn't help you much but if you just want to get by without this problem for a while rig up a small tank above the pump and fill it occasionally from the main tank using the transfer pump. Then when you get time to re-seal the pump and lines you can restore the original design.

That's, of course, if it truly is only air in the system. You could have other problems that the words "eventually starts" fixes like lack of compression where enough cranking will cause it to start after the cranking process builds up enough heat.

 

[PILOON]

My tractor IS a Mitsubishi and it wants glow plug heat most times even hot summer days, Seems to be a common trait of Mitsubishi.
Might just be what you are experiencing as well rather than air problems.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

Glow plugs are typically required at ambient temps for swirl chamber type engines. My Kubota requires them too even though it's a much "tighter" engine. Direct injection engines get by without pre-heat on warmer days due to better atomization and lesser engine block and head surface area robbing away the heat on startup.

 

[atsah]

My Massey likes glow plugs to be cycling through out the year.

 

[100 td]

First up, if this is a 35 year old tractor with fuel problems, replace ALL flexible fuel lines from tank all the way to the injector pump. Flexible lines get hard and leak on barbs and allow air to be sucked into the lines. Replace fuel filter and orings on both ends of filter housing if it has them.
Ensure free fuel flow to and from fuel filter.
Does it have a mechanical diaphragm pump as well? If it does there it's another possible air entry point.
Is it possible to get the owner to write up about it as sometimes secondhand info loses a little bit of substance or accuracy along the way? Also when a Q is asked, the owner can answer instead of you going to them for an answer.

 

[PILOON]

First up, if this is a 35 year old tractor with fuel problems, replace ALL flexible fuel lines from tank all the way to the injector pump. Flexible lines get hard and leak on barbs and allow air to be sucked into the lines. Replace fuel filter and orings on both ends of filter housing if it has them.
Ensure free fuel flow to and from fuel filter.
Does it have a mechanical diaphragm pump as well? If it does there it's another possible air entry point.
Is it possible to get the owner to write up about it as sometimes secondhand info loses a little bit of substance or accuracy along the way? Also when a Q is asked, the owner can answer instead of you going to them for an answer.

Since I own a Mitsu I have to agree about rubber lines as possible culprit, that and any leakage at the banjo fittings near the injector pump.
Again there is a gasket where the fuel filter bowl mates with the filter housing.

But then I'll add that even on hot summer days some glow plug heat is generally needed even tho my Mitsu compression is up to par, seems to be a Mitsu trait.