L3300DT Trouble Need advice

mustangmanic73 · Aug 13, 2012

I have a L3300DT that I have been working with. It was brought to me to look into by a friend. It has set up for a few years. I cleaned the tank and put in new fuel. I cant get it to start. I have done the usual. Loosen the injector lines until they start squirting out. It acts like it tries to hit on One cylinder. So I took off the head after seeing evidence of it running with water only in the cooling system. I found a freeze plug pushed up. So I took the head to have it magnafluxed. No cracks and new valve job done. After putting it all back together and adjusting the valves. Still the same thing. I am thinking it has a timing issue. I have taken the exhaust manifold off and am getting a slight suction after each exhaust push of the piston. Is this normal? I thought it might be since the intake is starting to open? I also have smoke/exhaust coming up from the push rod openings in the head. Any thoughts?

rbargeron · Aug 14, 2012

smoke/exhaust coming around the pushrods is usually piston blow-by. Cracked ring or piston maybe. How many hours on it? Why did it sit unused? A compression check should tell whether the problem is with one cylinder or more than one. Does it sound consistent when it turns over? A relative compression check can be done without a gauge by jacking up one rear wheel in 2wd high gear (engine off, fuel off) - turn the lifted wheel and feel the resistance as each cylinder comes to the top. A weak one may reveal itself.

mustangmanic73 · Aug 17, 2012

3333 hrs are showing on it. The shop that did the valve job said it was running hot by looking at the valve seals. Here is the story as I was told. The tractor had set up for years without the hood on it. When my friend bought it it did not have a radiator on it and the thermostat housing was busted. The water pump had JB weld on it. It looks like someone was working on it and then left it. The tractor came from a guy that bought some land and this tractor was on the property. I have some new glow plugs coming for it and if that does not work. I will probably take the injectors and pump off and send them out to be checked/rebuilt. When I took the glow plugs out I can turn it over and all cylinders seem to be blowing out very hard through the glow plug hole.

rbargeron · Aug 18, 2012

Maybe try a little starting fluid? If it runs you'll know the timing isn't too far off. Spray it into the air intake - don't spray longer than about 1/2 second - the engine should fire and either keep going on its diesel fuel or quit. Try it maybe two or three times but no more. Too much starting fluid can do damage. If it doesn't fire get a compression test with an actual diesel compression tester. (not one for spark plug holes)

mustangmanic73 · Aug 18, 2012

rbargeron said:
Maybe try a little starting fluid? If it runs you'll know the timing isn't too far off. Spray it into the air intake - don't spray longer than about 1/2 second - the engine should fire and either keep going on its diesel fuel or quit. Try it maybe two or three times but no more. Too much starting fluid can do damage. If it doesn't fire get a compression test with an actual diesel compression tester. (not one for spark plug holes)

I have tried to use a little starting fluid, instead of firing it acts like it wants to lock up. I have a diesel compression tester kit on order.

DK35vince · Aug 18, 2012

mustangmanic73 said:
I have tried to use a little starting fluid, instead of firing it acts like it wants to lock up. I have a diesel compression tester kit on order.

If it is trying to lock up you are using to much starting fluid (ether lock).
Starting fluid shouldn't be used in engines with glow plugs.

mustangmanic73 · Aug 24, 2012

#1 500 psi ,#2 340 psi ,#3 220 psi I think it needs rings by looking at this. I got the compression tester that pumps up higher with each compression stroke. it turns over and builds more with each stroke until it stops climbing. It reaches these numbers after about 4-8 compression strokes. this is my first diesel after many gas engines. I am still learning. Is 370psi the lower limit for compression. This is what I have heard.

mustangmanic73 · Aug 28, 2012

I need to pull the front drive shaft to get the oil pan off. Is there an easy way to pull It? I was looking at the parts book and it looks like there is 2 couplings with roll pins to pull out? What do you think?

Kenonf · Aug 28, 2012

Remove the two bolts holding the drive shaft together, then push out the roll pins out of each end and you should be able to drop the front axel. The roll pins just go thorough the couplers not the shaft. Not too complicated a set up
Ken