Small diesels - how much maintenance?

davesisk · May 19, 2005

Hi Folks:

I'm considering buying a small diesel CUT. I currently have an old Power-trac PT-1418, which has an 18hp Briggs and Stratton air-cooled gasoline engine. I'm fairly handy with mechanical stuff, but engines are probably my area of least knowledge. For instance, I'm pretty comfortable with hydraulics...I added a solenoid-operated selector valve to the PT to gain an auxillary hydraulic circuit...I fabricated a pretty rugged front-hoe attachment for it as well...just haven't tinkered with engines that much. I can generally troubleshoot simple stuff on the PT's gas engine (like troubleshooting ignition switch, bad ground, bad starter solenoid, etc., or taking the carb off and cleaning it, etc.), but I'm certainly not an expert with engines.

My question is this: what new skills will I need to learn to troubleshoot any minor diesel problems? (Or is there any such thing as a "minor" diesel problem?) I understand that keeping the air filter clean is crucial. I'm sure I can learn how to bleed the fuel lines, as I'd imagine that's necessary occasionally (have to bleed the PT's HST pump after a filter change, so I'd imagine it's similar in concept). Other than checking fluid levels, etc., what other types of maintenance and troubleshooting are necessary with these small 3-cylinder diesels? Any "diesel maintenance for dummies" books, etc., that you'd recommend? I'd like to be able to fix really simple stuff myself, but would haul it to a shop for an engine rebuild or anything major.

Also, just curious, some of these (mostly the older machines) are pretty loud. Can the muffler be changed out to something quieter without too much difficulty or expense?

Any advice appreciated!
Dave

Bob_Skurka · May 19, 2005

Dave, without getting into a lot of detail, let me just say that if I can do it, then any idiot with a few simple tools can do it. I'm proof of that!

davesisk · May 19, 2005

( Dave, without getting into a lot of detail, let me just say that if I can do it, then any idiot with a few simple tools can do it. I'm proof of that!

)

LOL...well then I'm definitely, unquestionably qualified! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Highbeam · May 19, 2005

That's the best part, you don't have to do any of those things. The engine is built and designed to require very little more than standard preventive maintenance not unlike what you would do with your truck. Keep clean air, fuel, and lube oil in it and the engine will repay you with long uninterupted service.

normde2001 · May 19, 2005

The only thing that might not be obvious is that most/if not all CUTs with 3ph have a hydraulic pickup screen in the rear differential that gets clogged and is usually the cause of hydraulic problems. Otherwise grease zerks that need grease, change dirty oil, and watch for water and dirt in fuel sediment bowl and change filter/clean bowl, and that all important air filter that you already mentioned. The muffler thing is totally up to you. What do those engineers know anyway?

Highbeam · May 19, 2005

I think you will be pleasantly surprized at how quiet the modern diesel tractor is when compared to your briggs powered one. I would still recommend hearing protection for long term high rpm use like mowing a big field.

Soundguy · May 19, 2005

A diesel is alot different than a gas.

On a gas engine.. there is quite a bit of hands-on tune up stuff. Points ( or e-ignition module ), plugs, wires, cap, rotor ( multi-cyl models ), etc. Perhaps you may have to fiddle with the carb if it sets ofr a while.. etc.

A diesel is more hands off. there are really no 'tune-up' items. prety much just maintenance stuff same as the gas engine. Air, oil, and fuel filters. Only difference I see is the diesel seems to suffer much more with bad air filtration than a gas engine.. and diesel fuel filters often have a water seperator you need to service daily.

Kind of a pay me know or pay me later issue. As the tune up items on a gas tractor nickle and dime you for years, whereas a diesel coasts along then one day, boom.. you rebuild the 12 year old injector pump for 1500$.. etc..

I consider a gas engine more tinkerable.. I can pop a head gasket on a gas engine and not sweat it.. a diesel ont he other hand.. if I'm having work done to it.. it's gonna be by a diesel mechanic..e tc.

Soundguy

Soundguy

davesisk · May 19, 2005

Thanks for all the posts folks! I'd imagine a common wear-related repair is probably clutch replacement on a gear tranny. I doubt this is more than a couple hundred dollars for most CUT's, right?

How about something more major like an engine overhaul or rebuild? What order of magnitude does that typically cost? Hundreds of dollars? Thousands of dollars? I honestly don't know these answers, which is why I'm asking. The absolute worst case for my PT now is buy a new engine, which would be around $1200. Rebuilds for it are pretty cheap, but some significant part of the work on it requires it being pulled out of the engine bay (not a task that I'd want to attempt myself...of course, the one time I had it at a shop, they left several hydraulic hoses loose, including the suction hose, so maybe I actually could do better myself!)

Yes, the B&S engine is fairly loud...I normally wear ear-plugs if I'm going to be using the thing more than 15-20 minutes. I'd imagine some of the newer diesels are much quieter...I've heard a mid-size Kubota before on a neighbor's property and it was very quiet...in fact, the hydraulic whine from the HST drive was actually louder than the engine! I've also heard some of the older grey-mark Yanmar 2-cylinder diesels, and they were VERY loud...even moreso than the B&S gas engine. But I gather than any modern CUT (like probably 95 or newer?) will probably be considerably quieter than my PT.

I'm thinking in terms of a used machine here. Any things I should look out for other than the engine starting easily and not smoking?

Thanks a bunch!
Dave

California · May 19, 2005

( some of these (mostly the older machines) are pretty loud. Can the muffler be changed out to something quieter without too much difficulty or expense?

Any advice appreciated!
Dave )

I learned that most of the racket coming from a screaming Briggs & Stratton, and from my Yanmar as well, isn't coming through the muffler. It is mechanical clatter radiated right out of the engine block. Listen to the sound file on my sig page. That racket is all mechanical clatter and fuel knock, not exhaust.

Muffler mods won't lower the noise level. It might help to put soundproofing under the hood.

KiotiJohn · May 19, 2005

( How about something more major like an engine overhaul or rebuild? What order of magnitude does that typically cost? Hundreds of dollars? Thousands of dollars? )
Most diesel engine rebuilds are probably more along the lines of thousands unless you're able to do it yourself. Even then, it's not cheap. A Kioti engineer friend says it's less expensive to purchase a new Daedong engine than a complete rebuild.
I had a friend to rebuild his large old Ford diesel engine, $5K.
He continued to have problems though as they didn't really do it well.
If a diesel engine starts up well, doesn't continue to smoke a lot upon warmup, doesn't blow BLACK smoke at startup, speeds up smoothly, it's probably just fine.
You have to ensure that all the oils don't have any milkiness that would indicate water infiltraction, a very bad sign.
Assure that all the hydraulics work smoothly, don't leak etc.
Some small leaks are livable, but others indicate major work needed. It pays to have someone with you who knows what to look for when buying used.
One great thing about the diesel is that if you let it sit for a long period of time, you're not going to have the same problems as with gas. No varnishing up needing a major clean out etc. Just put the juice to it, start it and go. John