Trouble going uphill

[hayden73]

I have a Mitsubishi Mt750 that is having trouble going uphill. The engine seems to be running fine, but In order to get up even a small incline, it has to be put in low gear. I am in the process of cleaning the fuel system and air intake. Any other suggestions? Engine doesn't seem to be sputtering or having a hard time, just can't climb. Engine is an Isuzu 3 cyl diesel.

 

[Deere Dude]

Is it in to high of a gear. I have a 45 HP tractor and I find myself having to downshift at times going up a hill on the road. It is steeper than a small incline but these tractors don't behave like cars do where all you do is just more foot into it.

Have you had the tractor for a time so you know how it is running normally and now it is different?

 

[Sysop]

Most tractors I have ever seen needed to be in low range to climb much of a hill. You're talking about something with a power to weight ratio that is only about 20% of the average automobile. Tractors use gearing to create the power they need. Low gears provide the torque needed for the low power engine to move the hulk of steel up a grade. The highest gear on a tractor is generally lower ratio than the low gear of an automobile.

 

[mvwwld4u]

If the engine isn't straining or lacking the power to pull the hill in a higher gear but it still won't pull the hill, the clutch needs adjusting or replacing. If it's been out of adjustment for a long period of time, then it's probably shot and needs replacing.

 

[DLTTrekkers]

airfilter ?

 

[teg]

...Engine doesn't seem to be sputtering or having a hard time...

I don't think this is it... but long time ago, someone thought his 4x4 was broken since his tires were not spinning while the back tires were spinning.

His rims were spinning around his front tires... something odd to check for. :confused3:

(Measure tire pressure)

 

[Texasmark]

Looks to me like you have a lot of weight to pull up a hill with the FEL and digger. Put it on a solid surface level straight away. With the throttle a little above idle, say getting 1500 rpms, in the gear where you are having a slight hill climbing problem, floorboard it....black smoke? Sluggish performance? Cleaned your injectors lately with "snake oil" additives? Pull your air cleaner off and do it again. Any change? When is the last time you replaced your fuel filter?

 

[Xfaxman]

Is it HST or a gear transmission?

 

[RNeumann]

My Mitsubishi manual (Mahindra 1538) says you change the fuel filter when you experience a lack of power. I'd start there before you convince yourself it is a major issue.

 

[Texasmark]

My Mitsubishi manual (Mahindra 1538) says you change the fuel filter when you experience a lack of power. I'd start there before you convince yourself it is a major issue.

I bought an OTR tractor once that had been sitting for a long time. Came with 2 100 gal saddle tanks. Full of crud.....guy I bought it from (owned a diesel repair shop and this was a rebuild of his) gave me a case of fuel filters. (The engine was a 800 cu in, Big Cam Cummins and it self primed on a filter change.) He said run her till she starts getting weak on you....won't pull, won't take throttle, starts slowing down....... Pull over and change the fuel filter. Run her till it repeats and change again. Before you get through this case of filters your tanks will be squeaky clean and they were.

So, I'll second the fuel filter change Mr. Neumann brought up before you get too worried now that I think about it.

 

[hayden73]

Thank so for the advice. It is not in too high of a gear. The hill I'm talking about is a very low grade up my driveway. Tractor used to fly up it in high, but now it has to be in low 1. Engine doesn't seem to be struggling. I got a new fuel filter today and am about to put it on. If that doesn't work, figure I will check the clutch.

 

[RNeumann]

If the filter doesn't work verify fuel lines etc. It's common to have a little chunk of debris in the fuel tank block the flow of fuel into the fuel line.
If it was a clutch you would know it. Between the smell, smoke and sound it would be obvious. No disrespect but as I stated before this is an easy fix 99% of the time. Be methodical in your approach and start with the basics. A clutch is about 50th on the list.

 

[hayden73]

I changed the filter and it did nothing. It's acting like it lost every bit of torque that it has. It can't even go over a small bump. If it were fuel, wouldn't I hear the engine spittering? The engine runs fine, it just has no power under even the smallest load.

 

[hayden73]

Any advice would be appreciated. This is my first tractor and also my first Diesel engine, so it may be something small I am overlooking

 

[RNeumann]

Your goal now is to isolate this to either low power in the motor or a drivetrain issue. Do you have a PTO Implement that could crudely test engine power- rotary cutter, roto tiller etc.

Is it manual or HST?

How do the fuel lines and tank look? Typically a diesel that is starved of fuel will idle fine but won't handle any load (like the incline).

Can you raise the back end off the ground to see if the brakes or a brake is dragging?

Air filter?


Those are some of the easy ones.

 

[arrow]

Any advice would be appreciated. This is my first tractor and also my first Diesel engine, so it may be something small I am overlooking

Does the engine rev freely w/o a load? If not you may have an air bubble. May be wise to bleed the entire fuel system. If it's a clutch slipping, then put in 4th on a level service. If the engine responds freely to fuel pedal input but the tractor isn't moving much, you know it's a clutch.

 

[Kernopelli]

Pretty sure the MT750 is the same tractor a a Satoh S750 so it is a gear drive and not a hydrostat. It sounds like a clutch issue to me. You can try the clutch pedal adjustment and see if you get more engagement. You may try putting the tractor under a load ( maybe push slowly against an immovable object like a tree) and see if the tractor stalls or spins the tires or if it bogs slightly and simply wont push with full power. If the latter is the case, it's very likely the clutch.

 

[hayden73]

It was the clutch. I bit the bullet and broke the tractor apart. The clutch disk was worn down to metal. Luckily it shares a disk with a John Deere so the part was easy to find. Tractor is back together and running like new. Thanks everyone.

 

[PILOON]

We thank you for following up with results as so many posters simply fade away.