Ford 1210 No Start - No Idea Why

[greedypebbles]

Hi

I have an old Ford 1210. A while back, for no real reason I can see, it just refused to start. It turns over, glow plugs heat up, it has fuel, it just wont fire up.

What really confuses me is that it worked one day (aside from a hydraulic issue which I trust is irrelevant) but then the next day it just refused to start. Nothing happened to it over night, it wasnt stood for a long time, I didnt mess with it, it just point blank now refuses to run.

I'm no mechanic, just a basic DIYer, but I always work on principle that if you have fuel and compression it will run. Well it has fuel and I see no reason why it wouldnt have compression.

Any ideas, anyone? Any suggestions for what to look into would be gratefully accepted, otherwise I'm going to have to resort to paying someone to look at it.

Thanks in advance

 

[dusty3030]

Does it have fuel?
When it turns over is there unburned fuel coming out of the exhaust? Should be white puffs and you should be able to smell it.

Just because there is fuel going to the pump doesn't mean the pump is sending fuel to the injectors.

 

[greedypebbles]

Hi Dusty and thanks for replying.

Yes, there is white smoke from the exhaust and you can smell the diesel coming through.

I have done a lot of googling around in recent days and come up with possible battery no good or starter not turning fast enough but it doesnt seem to be turning over any slower than it used to. I begrudge taking a chance on buying a new battery or spending on having the starter rebuilt if this isnt the problem. Would rather dismiss all other (free of cost) options first. Plus I tried jumping it off a good battery in my car and it didnt help in any way.

 

[Harry in Ky]

If you have smoke, then you must have fuel. I'd be looking hard at the glowplugs. You claim they seem to be working, but if they are, it should start. As we all know, it WON'T start without them. I'd be checking to see if they actually work not just have power applied

 

[Btown]

If you have smoke, then you must have fuel. I'd be looking hard at the glowplugs. You claim they seem to be working, but if they are, it should start. As we all know, it WON'T start without them. I'd be checking to see if they actually work not just have power applied

All my diesels start fine in warm weather with no glow plugs. But there may be some that don't if they are low compression diesels. Maybe try jumpstarting from another battery and see if that helps.

 

[greedypebbles]

Hello Harry and BTown, thanks for the replies

I have cheked out glow plugs and they heat up nicely.

Tried starting with lube oil spray in air box to help it start, but still nothing.

Took exhaust manifold off and noticed cylinders full of black, sludgy oil. Cleaned it out as best I could, sprayed lube into cylinders and turned over. Rebuilt, tried again, still no start and white smoke puff.

This black sludgy oil reminds me of the hydraulic issue I had that I originally wanted to fix but couldnt get it started. Is it even possible for the engine and the hydraulics to be an interconnected problem?

 

[greedypebbles]

Ok, I've tried again, jumped it off a big diesel engine so I know the power is there. Used cold start spray, lots of it. It felt like it was going to run, nearly got there but just wouldnt quite catch.

I appreciate any replies so far but would really, really appreciate any more thoughts anyone might have.

Thanks in advance

 

[jimmysisson]

Any way for you to take a compression test? All that smudge could be from the many times you tried starting. Still seems like it should fire with the ether (not recommended by most).
Jim

 

[greedypebbles]

Jim, thanks. It has to be a compression issue but I dont have a diesel comp tester. I am starting to think that whatever is wrong here, it aint gonna be a quick fix.

 

[Raw Dodge]

If I were you I'd make sure the oil level is adequate,then I'd pop start it ,pull it with another tractor or a truck ,put your tractor in high gear and pull it,if it's going to run this will get it lit off,you may. Have air in the file line,but if it's huffing smoke cranking you should have fuel,also it should lite off on ether...you should only need to be. Pulled 5-7 mph to get it lit off,I'd drag it a quarter mile or so,it's your best way to get it lit...