Cold start for 1972 Ford 4000 (the Smurf)

[Alpagas]

Hello all

I bought my Ford 4000 and the previous owner said he had to use ether everytime it was below 35F or around 5C. And he never used it in the winter. I plan on putting a snowblower on it so it needs to start in very cold weather. Is there a block heater for that tractor? I put a "stick on" heating element on my lawn tractor last year and it worked great. Would that be a sollution for my Smurf?

Any good idea is welcome

Thanks

Dominique

 

[CharlieS]

The most effecient will be a heater that replaces a freeze plug, & in your climate i'd go with the highest wattage available. With the difference in size of the tractor block, and water capacity vs a lawn tractor block, I'd question the effectiveness of a stick on heater.

 

[Shadow99]

I prefer HOT-AIR, over ether, for cold-starting.
Although on really cold days I have a heater pad that I attached to the oil pan, that's tied into a light-timer (to cycle it on/off) to warm up the oil. Then I blow heated air into the air filter intake for a couple minutes, hit the key & she's off & running.
It could be a good option for you.

 

[Alpagas]

The most effecient will be a heater that replaces a freeze plug, & in your climate i'd go with the highest wattage available. With the difference in size of the tractor block, and water capacity vs a lawn tractor block, I'd question the effectiveness of a stick on heater.

I looked around and cant seem to find where that freeze plug is? Any diagram i could look at for help?

Thanks

 

[Shadow99]

How about a pic or two?

 

[RickB]

1-1/2" frostplog heater goes between starter and injection pump. Tractor may also have Thermostart which is a manifold heater controlled by the key switch. Look for a fuel line and wire connecting to a fixture at the front of the intake manifold.

 

[Alpagas]

Thanks a million RickB, I looked long and finally found the place where the frostplug was and guess what? the heater heater is there, its just missing the cord. Ill order it today and hopefully it will work,

Thanks again

 

[Texasmark]

Thanks a million RickB, I looked long and finally found the place where the frostplug was and guess what? the heater heater is there, its just missing the cord. Ill order it today and hopefully it will work,

Thanks again

I guess all the Thermostarts of that era work identically: After you install your how wire, remove the air input hose to the intake manifold. Get a helper. One of you look inside the IM at the TS and the other operate the key.

Turn the key to ON and the red oil and alt lights should illuminate. Slowly roll toward the start position but stop when the lights go out....that is the TS activation position. If your lights come back on, aka START position, you twisted the key too far. Hold in the "lights out" position.

Looking, while in this position, at the TS you should see it start to glow orange. After a few seconds of that you should notice fuel dripping from inside it....coming from the small tube that connects it to the fuel tank. After a few seconds, the coil will be hot enough to ignite the fuel and you will have "fire balls" of fuel dripping down inside the manifold. Rolling the key on over to START will suck these fireballs into the combustion chamber and ignite your diesel.

If that doesn't happen you have one or more of several problems:
No power to the TS module
No fuel to the TS module
Threaded portion of TS module not making good contact to intake manifold casting
Defective TS
Module defective

If your engine is worn out with low compression then don't expect anything but an overhaul to cure it. I bought my first Ford 3000 diesel with low compression, unbeknown to me at the time....much smarter today! In short, I tried everything to get it to start, spending a ton of money (wasn't wasted in the long run but didn't solve the problem) in the process and finally resolved myself to the fact that I needed an overhaul. When I popped the first piston, it was obvious why it wouldn't start.