Saving A Ford 3910

[RickB]

Over 20 years of dealership parts and service experience and a lifetime of servicing and maintaining equipment of my own. I have spent a lot of my own money and even more of other people’s money on needed repairs. I still learn every day. You can put several hundred dollars into that cylinder head and gain absolutely nothing, or it will improve things a slight bit. It does not and will not be smoke free at startup in cooler weather. The tractor ran well without smoke when the weather was warm and the tractor was at operating temperature. If that doesn’t tell you anything and you want to ignore any advise that does not align with your preconceived notions about what you need to do I will leave you to do as you wish. Your tractor, your money. I hope you find that real diesel mechanic that tells you what you want to hear.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I suppose if you don't have anything to offer that would be a good response. I think I will ask a real diesel mechanic to rebuild my engine head, valve train, guides, and seals, and resurface the head, and I might even do new rings.

Maybe I am a real diesel mechanic, maybe I have owned that model tractor for 13 years and have observed its starting characteristics in all types of temperatures, maybe I have studied repairs and upgrades to said engine, maybe I have already deemed that it is not wore out and is common for such an engine, maybe I have asked among other Ford 3910 owners and they've all experience the same thing.

Or quite possibly you have it in your mind that if you don't get people congratulating you for being right when you ask a question you find it neccessary to start a new inquiry hoping to find someone to tell you yes you need a rebuild. So enlighten us by taking the head off, taking it to an engine rebuilder, posting up before and after pictures and a full synopsis of what they tell you, posting up the final bill and then maybe us non real diesel mechanics can get a better description of if the repair will be worth doing on our tractors.

 

[ovrszd]

Maybe I am a real diesel mechanic, maybe I have owned that model tractor for 13 years and have observed its starting characteristics in all types of temperatures, maybe I have studied repairs and upgrades to said engine, maybe I have already deemed that it is not wore out and is common for such an engine, maybe I have asked among other Ford 3910 owners and they've all experience the same thing.

Or quite possibly you have it in your mind that if you don't get people congratulating you for being right when you ask a question you find it neccessary to start a new inquiry hoping to find someone to tell you yes you need a rebuild. So enlighten us by taking the head off, taking it to an engine rebuilder, posting up before and after pictures and a full synopsis of what they tell you, posting up the final bill and then maybe us non real diesel mechanics can get a better description of if the repair will be worth doing on our tractors.

I will certainly be anxious to see/hear that report!!!!

 

[PM Wells]

Are all of you trying to tell me that a cloud of blue grey smoke for at least 5 minutes is normal on a Ford 3 cyl diesel tractor?
Sure the smoke cleared up somewhat when I was starting the engine every day in warmer weather, even more reason to believe it needs valve guide seals at least. I understand these diesel will smoke more in colder weather because fuel not burning as good.
Let me ask any of you that has a similar tractor, does your tractor blow out clouds of blue,grey smoke all the time for 5 minutes on startup in any kind of weather, and if so is that normal?

 

[RickB]

That is more like it, I want to fix this tractor if I can without doing a major overhaul, that is what I am driving at, so if running is what it needs that is what I will do , And I am not afraid to put it in a strain and see what happens.

I have been working the 3910 some, and it seems to be helping. I poured a can of Sea Foam into the fuel tank about a week ago, not for the injectors which are new, but was thinking it might help with carbon build up inside the combustion chamber. I put a six ft box blade behind it and graded with it for about 3 hours a few days ago, and didn't run it again until today. There was very little smoke that cleared away very quick. Thanks to all who made suggestions on this old tractor, it seems to be doing a lot better than I first thought it would.

Are all of you trying to tell me that a cloud of blue grey smoke for at least 5 minutes is normal on a Ford 3 cyl diesel tractor?
Sure the smoke cleared up somewhat when I was starting the engine every day in warmer weather, even more reason to believe it needs valve guide seals at least. I understand these diesel will smoke more in colder weather because fuel not burning as good.
Let me ask any of you that has a similar tractor, does your tractor blow out clouds of blue,grey smoke all the time for 5 minutes on startup in any kind of weather, and if so is that normal?

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

 

[PM Wells]

Maybe I am a real diesel mechanic, maybe I have owned that model tractor for 13 years and have observed its starting characteristics in all types of temperatures, maybe I have studied repairs and upgrades to said engine, maybe I have already deemed that it is not wore out and is common for such an engine, maybe I have asked among other Ford 3910 owners and they've all experience the same thing.

Or quite possibly you have it in your mind that if you don't get people congratulating you for being right when you ask a question you find it neccessary to start a new inquiry hoping to find someone to tell you yes you need a rebuild. So enlighten us by taking the head off, taking it to an engine rebuilder, posting up before and after pictures and a full synopsis of what they tell you, posting up the final bill and then maybe us non real diesel mechanics can get a better description of if the repair will be worth doing on our tractors.

How are you getting along with doing your compression tests by turning the engine over with a hand crank?

 

[ptsg]

How are you getting along with doing your compression tests by turning the engine over with a hand crank?

What's wrong with using the starter?

 

[Birdhunter1]

How are you getting along with doing your compression tests by turning the engine over with a hand crank?

Why would I do a compression test when it (A) has great power (B) is not using oil (C) isn't dumping diesel fuel into the engine oil (D) isn't using anti freeze or dumping in into the engine oil (E) starts just fine and runs great (F) doesn't make excessive noise.
You've not said your tractor doesn't do any of these things you simply go on and on about smoke.

By all means take it to someone, pay them, and let them fix it. For what its worth haul it to me and I'll fix it.

 

[aczlan]

IMO, running it for pulling a back blade probably isn't a consistent enough load.
Put a bushhog, finish mower, tiller or moldboard plow on it and run hard/fast enough that the governor is maxing out and the engine is bogging down, then drop down a gear, then keep it there for 30-60 minutes.

Aaron Z

 

[PM Wells]

IMO, running it for pulling a back blade probably isn't a consistent enough load.
Put a bushhog, finish mower, tiller or moldboard plow on it and run hard/fast enough that the governor is maxing out and the engine is bogging down, then drop down a gear, then keep it there for 30-60 minutes.

Aaron Z

Yes , I agree that I have not had to opportunity to work it hard, just don't have a place that I can plough up right now. Hard work may seat everything back in and burn off carbon. One thing I know, that much smoke after it sits for a few weeks can not be normal, even though some may think it is.

 

[PM Wells]

Why would I do a compression test when it (A) has great power (B) is not using oil (C) isn't dumping diesel fuel into the engine oil (D) isn't using anti freeze or dumping in into the engine oil (E) starts just fine and runs great (F) doesn't make excessive noise.
You've not said your tractor doesn't do any of these things you simply go on and on about smoke.

By all means take it to someone, pay them, and let them fix it. For what its worth haul it to me and I'll fix it.

You are the one that tried to tell me to turn the engine by hand to do a compression test, would you like me to post your comment?

 

[aczlan]

Yes , I agree that I have not had to opportunity to work it hard, just don't have a place that I can plough up right now. Hard work may seat everything back in and burn off carbon. One thing I know, that much smoke after it sits for a few weeks can not be normal, even though some may think it is.

I wouldn't even think of taking ANYTHING apart until I had a chance to run it hard for at least an hour. No sense in wasting the time and money for no reason.
As for the smoke, as long as the oil and water are separate and the engine isn't venting the cylinders through the head gasket, I wouldn't worry about smoke until you have had a chance to run it hard.

Aaron 5

 

[RickB]

I wouldn't even think of taking ANYTHING apart until I had a chance to run it hard for at least an hour. No sense in wasting the time and money for no reason.
As for the smoke, as long as the oil and water are separate and the engine isn't venting the cylinders through the head gasket, I wouldn't worry about smoke until you have had a chance to run it hard.

Aaron 5

You are about 8 pages behind, Aaron. He has been told exactly that about a dozen times.

 

[PM Wells]

Maybe I just like to give you armchair quarterbacks something to do.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Lol.. I think we've beat'n this horse to death.. just say'n..

 

[Birdhunter1]

You are the one that tried to tell me to turn the engine by hand to do a compression test, would you like me to post your comment?

Put a socket on the front of the crank and a long enough ratchet and it will turn.
I’ve not done it on my 3910 but I have done it on just about any engine I’ve ever had to turn.

 

[ovrszd]

Following this thread I have not saw much armchair quarterbacking. Some very logical and qualified men have offered advice to a straightforward situation and question.

I'm with the quarterbacks. Do whatever you are gonna do.

I agree with pumpguy, whom I consider very knowledgeable and logical, dead horse.

 

[PM Wells]

Following this thread I have not saw much armchair quarterbacking. Some very logical and qualified men have offered advice to a straightforward situation and question.

I'm with the quarterbacks. Do whatever you are gonna do.

I agree with pumpguy, whom I consider very knowledgeable and logical, dead horse.

Just can't help yourself when it comes to taking one more whack at that dead horse can you?

 

[PM Wells]

Put a socket on the front of the crank and a long enough ratchet and it will turn.
I’ve not done it on my 3910 but I have done it on just about any engine I’ve ever had to turn.

Oh sure you can turn the engine over with a power bar and socket, just not fast enough to do a compression test, unless you eat a can of spinach.

 

[ptsg]

Just can't help yourself when it comes to taking one more whack at that dead horse can you?

Well, the horse is still smoking...

Just joking, just joking.