fliiped tractor

[ugabulldog]

I am okay, except for pride... tractor sat on left side for about 30 min at most before I got it flipped back over, and it has sat for 24 hrs without trying to start. I have read it is a good idea to remove glow/plug/or injector and turn by hand before trying to start with key in case there is oil in the cylinders. According to my shop manual I have to remove cylinder head cover to remove glow plugs or injectors and it looks like I have to remove fuel tank first. Also, to turn by hand do I need to remove radiator and fan to access , or can I just try to turn belt? There is not much access to tractor as it have FEL frame attached. Also, I am not very mechanically inclined. Should I try to start with key first to see what happens?

 

[mddorange]

I don't know about your MF but when I turned my tractor over on it's side, I started mine with the key after it set without doing anything else. That was over 3 years ago and it didn't cause any problems. When I talked to my dealer, he said that it should be fine to go ahead and start it and he was right.

 

[ugabulldog]

I tried to start with key, I can hear fuel pump running, lights are on, and battery has 12v but engine won't turn over at all, or even click? Does this sound like hydro lock? If so, do I need to pull gas tank to get to head cover and remove glow plugs? And do I need to replace head gasket when installing back? Also, do I need to remove radiator and/or fan to turn by hand? I am hoping there is an easier solution.

 

[oosik]

Neighbor had his big 'ol 42' wide rotary cutter drag his BIG IH Case down a pretty steep slope and finally it - the tractor - went over on its side. Understandably - there was little he could do during this entire scenario - lest he become entangled and get mauled or mashed. Within an hour - he had the rotary cutter disconnected and the Case upright. Apparently - none the worse - he said it fired right up - short burst of blue/grey smoke and back to work.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Curious how this happened? In any case, glad you're okay.

 

[CalG]

If you did want to turn it over by hand, you might use the pto.

Some have over running clutches in the power train. I don't know about yours. You should be able to rock the engine from the pto at any rate.

 

[oosik]

I've never "gone over" with my tractor. With my first tractor I came within a hairs width of doing it. Down in the driveway valley where there is a ten foot drop off, off the side of the driveway. Lifting a full bucket of wet sand - the rear tires came up SO FAST and the tractor began to pivot on the front axle pivot pin. I hit the lever - tractor went down so fast and hard - bounced on the rear tires. Knees so weak - almost fell getting off the tractor. Sat there a good 15 minutes - regaining my composure. That particular incident is hard wired into my memory.

Every once in a while - eat too many hot peppers at dinner - I have a weird dream. I get pinned under my new heavy duty rear blade on my tractor. God only knows how I could get in that position - there is only about two feet clearance between rear blade and ground. Anyhow - last thought - here come the coyotes and they are gonna eat me - I wake up.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^
Yikes! That's your subconscious mind reminding you to be careful.

To the Op; glad that you didn't get hurt. Hopefully you didn't damage your tractor, but to quote one TBN member's signature, "a serious accident is one that money can't fix."

 

[Diggin It]

I tried to start with key, I can hear fuel pump running, lights are on, and battery has 12v but engine won't turn over at all, or even click? Does this sound like hydro lock? If so, do I need to pull gas tank to get to head cover and remove glow plugs? And do I need to replace head gasket when installing back? Also, do I need to remove radiator and/or fan to turn by hand? I am hoping there is an easier solution.

If this was a gasoline engine, I'd suggest pulling the plugs and see if it will crank. But I don't know nuthin' 'bout no diesels.

 

[sandman2234]

^^^
Yikes! That's your subconscious mind reminding you to be careful.

To the Op; glad that you didn't get hurt. Hopefully you didn't damage your tractor, but to quote one TBN member's signature, "a serious accident is one that money can't fix."

That quote sounds vaguely familiar, glad it has made an impression enough to be repeated.
I would let the tractor set for 24, then turn it over by hand, ie the fan belt, even if hydro locks, I would think it would eventually go thru a full turn of the engine because the liquid will eventually bleed past the rings if slow even pressure is kept on it. Once it does rotate, I would rotate it several times by hand before using the Key. However, be VERY CAREFUL when rotating the engine by hand, some will start up once conditions are correct for running. Don't want to loose a hand or worse in the blade or spinning pulleys. Before I started it, I would also check the oil and smell it to make sure there is no diesel fuel in the oil. Wouldn't hurt to change it now, but most people would want to get the tractor running before they spent the money on an oil change. If it cranks, don't touch the throttle till the smoke clears up, and then shut it off and change the fluids.
David from jax

 

[Diggin It]

However, be VERY CAREFUL when rotating the engine by hand, some will start up once conditions are correct for running.

Disconnecting the battery should prevent that, right?

 

[3930dave]

I tried to start with key, I can hear fuel pump running, lights are on, and battery has 12v but engine won't turn over at all, or even click? Does this sound like hydro lock? If so, do I need to pull gas tank to get to head cover and remove glow plugs? And do I need to replace head gasket when installing back? Also, do I need to remove radiator and/or fan to turn by hand? I am hoping there is an easier solution.

Make sure you understand exactly why things went wrong with this flip - Lady Luck was with you on this one, but don't count on her next time.... a quick trip to the Safety forum will show fatalities listed.

If you know roughly where the engine oil was on the dipstick before rolling, how does it compare now ? If you are not mechanically inclined, don't pull the head off yourself would be my recommendation.

Check the electrolyte level in the battery - if enough has drained out, a meter may show 12 volts with no load on the battery, but there may not be enough capacity to spin the starter.

When you turn the key to Start (may need 2 people to test) does the starter actually get 12volts on it's main terminal ? Use a meter or 12volt test light. (Relay or wiring may have jostled loose).

6/12V Circuit Tester with 5 ft. Lead

Rgds, D.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I tried to start with key, I can hear fuel pump running, lights are on, and battery has 12v but engine won't turn over at all, or even click? Does this sound like hydro lock? If so, do I need to pull gas tank to get to head cover and remove glow plugs? And do I need to replace head gasket when installing back? Also, do I need to remove radiator and/or fan to turn by hand? I am hoping there is an easier solution.

Is the tractor in neutral? Are you pushing the clutch in while cranking? The tractor might also have a rollover switch that needs resetting before you can turn it over. You'd need to call the dealer on that one unless someone can chime in and say.

You should be able to turn the engine over with the fan belt. Either put a wrench on the alternator pulley or turn it with the fan blades. You might also need to hold the belt tighter on the slack side with your fingers. Please do this with the key out of the ignition.

If you crank don't hold the key steady in the start position. Just lightly bump the starter a few times till you know that the engine is going to turn over without any internal obstructions.

 

[Snaker]

I get the impression that you didn't take anything apart before your try. Best plan would be to bump the starter for a few revolutions . Hopefully the crank wouldn't power through any obstruction.
For me Priority 1 would be to check out the battery. Has it leaked acid on stuff? Is it dead?
I would check the fluids for level, look and smell.
Several folks mentioned to have the key off before sticking your hands in place's. Good call but understand that a diesel can still fire without the key on.
I would inspect the air cleaner for oil and fuel saturation. Don't know if your rig has a wide open or restricted air intake so I would have a large rag handy to suffocate the air intake on a runaway.

 

[ugabulldog]

UPDATE: pto was engaged is reason it did not turn over. I started with key and a puff of black smoke came out and it ran fine. I ran for awhile before reading replies. Should I change oil to be safe? thanks for all the help. I'll have to tell my wife about the serious accident quote, that's a good one.

 

[3930dave]

Disconnecting the battery should prevent that, right?

Gotta be really careful with all engines.... that said, diesels have elevated risk.

Fire Syringe - YouTube

Air+Fuel+High_Compression = combustion

If you are going to turn a diesel over by hand, do it S L O W L Y.... using the other precautions stated.

(I get that diesels aren't easy to turn over , but somebody reading this may have arms like stove-pipes....)

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

UPDATE: pto was engaged is reason it did not turn over. A puff of black smoke came out and it ran fine. thanks for the help

Congratulations.

An accident like that presents more learning potential than many classes I've taken.

Rgds, D.

 

[Diggin It]

Gotta be really careful with all engines.... that said, diesels have elevated risk.

Air+Fuel+High_Compression = combustion

If you are going to turn a diesel over by hand, do it S L O W L Y.... using the other precautions stated.

(I get that diesels aren't easy to turn over , but somebody reading this may have arms like stove-pipes....)

Rgds, D.

We all start one cylinder gasoline engines all the time without batteries which is why we have to pull the plug wire during testing. But I'm not sure if one person can spin a diesel fast enough to get to that point of self starting. Or if it can be done without things like fuel pumps and injectors getting power from a battery. I still have to learn diesels from scratch if I end up buying one.

 

[3930dave]

UPDATE: pto was engaged is reason it did not turn over. I started with key and a puff of black smoke came out and it ran fine. I ran for awhile before reading replies. Should I change oil to be safe? thanks for all the help

With no water immersion described, plenty of folk would just put that tractor back to work.

I'd sleep better with the oil changed (and filter), but I'm pickier than many....

DO - check ALL fluid levels now though, including the battery.

Rgds, D.

 

[MickeyDBC]

Check the fluids and clean your seat and it will be fine. I would go around and shake everything to make sure that no brackets or bolts were knocked loose.