1974 Ford 3000 Deisel starting problems

Ford3000n00b · May 13, 2014

I have a "new to me" 1974 Ford 3000 Diesel that I can not get started. It ran well and always fired up when I first got it. I had it about a month and was driving it when it shut down. I later found that I had not turned on the fuel, so I guess it just ran out of fuel in the line. It has not started since. After reading about starting problems here I have done the following:

1. Replaced the battery with a new 4DLT so it turns over quicker. The one that was in it was about shot.
2. Replaced the fuel filter.
3. Tried to get the air out of the fuel lines. (Opened the air bleed on top of fuel filter. Opened the bleed on side of diesel pump. Tried to pump diesel at the injectors. That did not work as I was turning over the motor with the starter, but had the motor stop pulled out. I assume that stops the diesel pump from working. I did not want it to fire up with me under the hood!! I even tried to put some air pressure in the fuel tank and tried to bleed everything again)
4. Put new diesel fuel in the tank.
5. I did shoot a little WD40 into the air intake, it and it seemed to try to fire, but did not start.

One thing I noticed after trying to start the motor 2 or 3 times for about 30 seconds each the connections on the solenoid would get very hot to the touch. Is that normal and would that be something that would keep the motor from starting.

I should probably call the guy I bought it from as he may have the secret to starting it. He has been very nice, but I sure hate to bother him about this so I wanted to check everything first.

Bigfoot62 · May 13, 2014

Don't give up! A diesel engine that has been run out of fuel is hard to start again.

3. Bleed the air out at the filter. Then, bleed at the pump. Lastly, loosen the fuel line at one of the injectors and bleed. You can leave it loose until it starts, then tighten it back down.
You're not doing any good if the engine stop is pulled out. That shuts off the fuel.

Easiest way to start is to pull it with another tractor. That will prevent burning up your starter. (that solenoid is getting hot, and so it the starter)

Soundguy · May 13, 2014

trying to bleed it with the fuel stop pulled is pretty pointless.

i agree with bigfoot62 pull starting one once you ran it dry is the easiest way to start them... much better for the starter.

as for the hot connections. that's a big battery and that starter takes plenty of juice. I imagine trying to bleed it witht he fuel stop out for a while surely made some stuff hot!

as long as the connections are not loose or coroded.. overlook it for now.

pull start it... and don't have the fuel stop pulled!

ps.. starting one hanging over the engine isn't a big deal. I start tractors hanging over or beside them daily...

Ultradog MN · May 13, 2014

Just hook it to another vehicle and drag it around in gear for a while.
It'll start.

Ford3000n00b · May 14, 2014

Thank you guys for the quick answers. I really do not have anything to drag my tractor around with. My only other vehicle is a Kia mini van, it probably has enough power, but no tow bar. Plus they build autos with such thin metal today that I would probably bend something important if I just chose a connection point under the van.

After doing some reading it seems to be a big NO on using starting fluid. That might give it a chance to start. What do you guys think?

I also read that you can put a little air pressure in the diesel tank and it will push the diesel up to the injectors....that would save the wear and tear on the starter/solenoid. What do you guys think?

Thank you again for the quick advice, I do appreciate the input.

Ray

whis · May 14, 2014

soak a rag with gas and hold over breather instead of starting fluid

Soundguy · May 15, 2014

pressurized fuel tank will not / should not push fuel out of the injectors.

I have mixed 80/20 diesel and gas into a hand pump squirt bottle.. the kind with the adjustable nozzle that you can make a fine mist and not a stream.. and started a diesel that way.. puffing atomized fuel into the intake... be carefull.. your pumping IS the throttle.. diesels run open intake.

DLTTrekkers · May 15, 2014

Fill your fueltank with diesel to higher than the filterhead and open the bleedscrew ontop of the filterhead . Gravity will sort your ploblem . tThen open than little screw on the injectorpump with a 8mm wrench . Then crank the engine a bit .Now close than little screw and loosen no 1 and no 2 inj pipes . Crank again til diesel starts spilling from that loose pipes . Fasten it again and crank again . Tihis shud do it .

Soundguy · May 15, 2014

he's already tried to bleed it once with the fuel stop closed.

Ford3000n00b · May 19, 2014

!! SUCCESS !!

After all of the good advice and some thinking my Ford 3000 diesel is back and running! It may be running even better with the new fuel filter on it, or maybe I imagine it. After looking at the shop manual and seeing what the motor shut off did (shut off the fuel), I quit using it to bleed the air from the system. Hey it was my first mistake this year

well not really! I also got a quick response here when I mentioned what I was doing

!

I was happy to avoid pulling the tractor or using any starting fluid. I just bleed the fuel lines as advised and it started on the first try!

One thing I might mention that could help others that are tractor challenged as I am, is the shop manuals. I got a set of Ford 2000 to 5000 operators manuals and shop manuals on a CD on Ebay. Reasonable price and a great source of information.

Thanks again guys for saving me big bucks getting my Ford 3000 up and running.

Ray