Ford 1700 was running great, and just died

ken128 · Nov 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!
While plowing the 15" of snow that fell in New England last night, the Ford 1700 died quickly with no notice and no load. I thought it may be fuel, but after review, that was fine. Some quick history, in the past month the glow plug indicator, glow plugs, battery, and the 770 bucket control valve have been replaced. The tractor seemed to be stronger than ever.

As of now, I have tried just moving wire bundles, securing the new glow plug connections, which were tight, and put fuel in. The engine turns over very strong, but just will not start again leading me to think electrical issue.
Any thoughts would be great!

Thank You,
Ken

bigdeano · Nov 27, 2014

Does that engine have an electric fuel shutoff solenoid? If so it could be not getting power or burned out.

ken128 · Nov 28, 2014

I don't think so. It has a petcock valve and no wires lead in that direction other than the glow plug wire. I did try priming the fuel system, and it all appears fine.
Thanksl

Jerry/MT · Nov 28, 2014

Is it possible you ran it out of fuel? Either a clogged tank screen or filter, jelled fuel( if you are running with summer fuel, it can jell at 28°F) or an empty tank. Your glow plugs are only used for starting and once a diesel is started, you stop it by a cutting off the fuel. Most likely your 1700 has a mechanical fuel cut of rather than a solenoid, so electrics are unlikely to be your problem. If the engine didn't turn over you'd expect the electrical system.
make sure you have adequate flow from the tank to the filter to the injector pump. If you ran it out of fuel because of a fuel obstruction( gelled fuel ot blocked filter or empty tank) you'll have to bleed the fuel system. here's a general method to do that:

Bleeding a Diesel Fuel System

Start at the fuel outlet of the tank (inlet to the filter). Shut the tank valve, remove the line at the filter inlet and holding a suitable container to catch the diesel fuel, open the valve. You should have a CONTINUOUS rush/flow of fuel out of the line. If it dribbles or is intermittent, check the fuel cap for a blockage of the fuel vent or the strainer upstream of the valve for clogging. The strainer/screen is attached to the shut-off valve, and is positioned up inside the tank. You will have to drain the tank and pull the valve to clean the screen.
If you have good fuel flow at that point, reconnect the line and open the bleeder screw at the top of the filter. Turn on the tank valve and wait till you have a steady flow of fuel with no bubbles at the top of the filter, then close the bleeder screw.
Your pump may have a bleeder screw. If so, open that until fuel streams out with no bubbles, then close it. If you cannot identify the bleeder screw, loosen the inlet connection at the pump and purge air at that point.
Go back and make sure ALL the fittings in the fuel delivery system are tight so they cannot suck air.
Make sure the battery is fully charged. Loosen the fuel fittings at the injectors, either one at a time or all at once. Crank the engine till you see all fuel at the injector fittings and then tighten the fittings. If you do indvidual fittings, the engine will usually start before you get to the last fitting.
Alternatively, you can "tow-start" it to save wear and tear on your starter. Leave the injector lines cracked open at the injectors at first to purge the lines. Then tighten them up and she should start.
Your injection pump puts out a very small amount of fuel (high pressure/low volume). BE PATIENT. If the lines are totally empty, it takes a lot of cranking to fill them up.
sixbales & Jerry/MT

skyhook · Nov 29, 2014

Take a look at this thread....

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/new-holland-owning-operating/273519-pics-my-new-me-1700-a-5.html

ken128 · Nov 29, 2014

Update:
While I don't think I ran it "out" of fuel, I must have ran it low enough to suck some air.
I spoke with Jim at Jim's Tractor Works in New Hampton, NH, I told him what it was doing, and once I gave him the key symptom of "no puffing smoke while cranking" he knew exactly what the problem was, as all of you that responded did. it was the the fuel system. I thought surly it was electrical since it stopped so suddenly. He was very informative and walked me through the same procedure you did Jerry. He also reiterated the "patience" part of bleeding that system.
Armed with that info, I bled the system (about 30 minutes) and was surprised when I cracked the fitting to the injectors, lots of bubbles, and signs of puffing smoke, and to your point Jerry, It almost started.
Once bled, a bit of cranking and it fired up. I did drain the battery so that spent the night on the charger.
This morning it started right up, ran great, and we are all cleaned up now.
Thanks to every one helping me out on this. You were all spot on with the fuel system. Thanks for the link to the wiring diagram as well.
I hope this thread can help someone else some day!

Thanks again,
Ken

Jerry/MT · Nov 29, 2014

ken128 said:
Update:
While I don't think I ran it "out" of fuel, I must have ran it low enough to suck some air.
I spoke with Jim at Jim's Tractor Works in New Hampton, NH, I told him what it was doing, and once I gave him the key symptom of "no puffing smoke while cranking" he knew exactly what the problem was, as all of you that responded did. it was the the fuel system. I thought surly it was electrical since it stopped so suddenly. He was very informative and walked me through the same procedure you did Jerry. He also reiterated the "patience" part of bleeding that system.
Armed with that info, I bled the system (about 30 minutes) and was surprised when I cracked the fitting to the injectors, lots of bubbles, and signs of puffing smoke, and to your point Jerry, It almost started.
Once bled, a bit of cranking and it fired up. I did drain the battery so that spent the night on the charger.
This morning it started right up, ran great, and we are all cleaned up now.
Thanks to every one helping me out on this. You were all spot on with the fuel system. Thanks for the link to the wiring diagram as well.
I hope this thread can help someone else some day!

Thanks again,
Ken