I picked up an MF35 with the Perkins 3 cylinder. Its a nice tractor with a couple faults like they all have. The main issue I want to address is the blue smoke. Fires up and runs nicely. It just smokes. Smokes at idle, smokes at higher RPM, just always smokes. I haven't had it warmed up yet but I don't believe that would help. There doesn't seem to be anything coming out of the crank vent tube at the front of the engine which makes me think its not a rings and blowby issue. So my question is: could I have a bad valve stem seal thats just letting oil into the engine? When I rev it up you see the puff of black smoke among the blue smoke...but sometimes you hear some popping in the exhaust and I would guess thats from the oil issue. My thought is the head needs to be rebuilt but today I noticed it has this diesel fuel fired manifold heater. I have no used that yet but it got me wondering if any engine oil could dribble into the intake from that heater? Is there a common source that causes smoke on these Perkins 3 cylinders (I believe it is the A3 152).
MF 35 Perkins White Smoke
- Thread starter NoPaint
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gary49
Silver Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2012
- Messages
- 188
- Location
- free union, va
- Tractor
- Fordson Super Dexta, John Deere 2240, MF 1240, 2003 Simplicity Conquest
I have a similar Perkins in my Fordson Super Dexta. Also experience with larger Perkins 6-354 in a boat Perkins are on the smoky side, especially when cold. What helped my tractor's smoke habit was Power Service diesel fuel conditioner. The start aid uses diesel fuel and an electrical coil to make a small blowtorch in the manifold. The marine engine had a broken one, so I've never used one, but it's only connected to diesel,so I don't see how it could drip engine oil into the engine. I'd add conditioner and use the tractor for a while before I did any repairs if I were you. That'll give you some idea of how much oil it's using. They're tough engines,I doubt you'll do it any harm. BTW, there's 2 quarts between add and full on the dipstick.
thepumpguysc
Elite Member
Like Gary stated, they ARE a smokey engine when cold.. & again as stated, the intake heater runs off of FUEL.. no chance of oil being introduced..
Its likely u need some head work..valve guides{very common} & your not doing it any favors not getting it warm.. or up to operating temp.. THEY LIKE TO WORK..
Its likely u need some head work..valve guides{very common} & your not doing it any favors not getting it warm.. or up to operating temp.. THEY LIKE TO WORK..
Sounds good and thanks. I'll get some fresh diesel in it, some fresh fuel filters, and get her warmed up. That should tell me more.
Regarding the starting aid. I would like to get it operating if it is not. If you know of any tips on diagnosis please let me know. I am guessing that it would make some noise if I fire the heater with the engine off?
Regarding the starting aid. I would like to get it operating if it is not. If you know of any tips on diagnosis please let me know. I am guessing that it would make some noise if I fire the heater with the engine off?
gary49
Silver Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2012
- Messages
- 188
- Location
- free union, va
- Tractor
- Fordson Super Dexta, John Deere 2240, MF 1240, 2003 Simplicity Conquest
I think the start aid uses the lift pump to supply fuel to an electrical coil which lights the fuel as it runs into the intake manifold. So you turn on a valve to allow fuel pump pressure to push fuel in and push a button to activate the electrical coil while you crank the engine. Somebody's got to have a MF with the start aid and can fill you in on proper procedure,I'm just surmising on the basis of having looked at one that was on our big Perkins. It's been recently rebuilt and starts readily down to freezing temps without it, so we didn't bother with fixing it (coil is broken, so nothing to light off the fuel). We don't use the boat in weather that's much below freezing. There are some tricks with starting the Perkins in my Fordson, which I've owned for over 25 years and was on the tired side when I got it. I use it mainly to maintain about a third of a mile of driveway and to plow snow with the road blade. It starts pretty easily down to the mid 40's, and with some help, down near freezing. One trick is to crank it with the stop button pulled out, so that no fuel is injected, and then crank it again with the stop button in. The fuel cools the combustion chamber, cranking it without fuel warms things up. Another thing I do when it's cold is to heat the intake manifold with a propane torch. Anyway, maybe you don't really need the start aid, it's pretty Rube Goldberg,hope somebody chimes in who has one and has used it.
Mine looks to take a fuel line right off the main tank - is there is a sub-tank inside the main tank for the heater?
Johnnybgoode
New member
The preheat circuit uses return fuel from the IP. It fills up the small canister while the tractor runs and the excess bypasses right back into the fuel tank. The preheat setting on the ignition heats up the glowplug and the heat also opens a thermal circuit that allows the diesel from the canister to flow thru the hot glowplug, thereby igniting it and allowing it to pass into the tractor's intake. It makes a big difference in ease of starting if it is working properly.
No engine oil involved.
No engine oil involved.
goeduck
Super Member
I have a Perkins 3 cyl in my Massey 245 with 6000 hours. The only time it smokes is on the first start of the spring. I attribute it to leakage and do not worry about it. How long had yours been sitting when you started it?
