Hi guys, new to the forum. I have a 1978 Iron Mule with a Ford 3 cylinder diesel. I believe the older mules had a Massey Ferguson tractor front end on them (correct me if I'm wrong). The problem that I'm having is a no start in cold conditions. I don't believe the older Ford diesels had glow plugs on them, which make things worse. Any ideas on how to start this thing? Thanks!!
No Start
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beenthere
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Welcome to the forum.
Could be a number of different things. Fuel, worn engine, glo plugs as you mention.....
But adding heat would/might be the best solution.
Maybe keep it inside, and leave a vehicle outside that will start.
Or put a heating element on it somewhere that will heat the engine.
My Deere wouldn't start this morning. Dropped the filter bowl off, dumped the contents out, wiped it out (didn't have a new filter to put back in
), put it back on and fired right up. Cold temp was about 10 degree F in the shed. Negative 5 degree outside. Have glo plugs, but rarely swithch them on.
Could be a number of different things. Fuel, worn engine, glo plugs as you mention.....
But adding heat would/might be the best solution.
Maybe keep it inside, and leave a vehicle outside that will start.
Or put a heating element on it somewhere that will heat the engine.
My Deere wouldn't start this morning. Dropped the filter bowl off, dumped the contents out, wiped it out (didn't have a new filter to put back in
), put it back on and fired right up. Cold temp was about 10 degree F in the shed. Negative 5 degree outside. Have glo plugs, but rarely swithch them on.
kenstrac
Platinum Member, RIP
Ford engines had thermostart it has a plug in the manifold with a wire and small fuel line going to it,if yours does not have one then the only other solution would be a block heater.
brin
Super Member
My John Deere never starts in the cold so I put my battery charger on one of the batteries and put it on quick start and it always fires right up.
There are several ways to heat a diesel to make it start easier and faster.
Add a lower radiator hose heater, you can buy one at NAPA. Make sure you have a good location for it though...my MF 1010 didn't. The radiator hose had no good place to put one in.
Remove a freeze plug and replace it with a block heater. These seem to be the best thing going if you really want to warm it up.
Or do what I did and fab up a DIY engine heater with a heat lamp bulb (Ace hardware, about $5.00) in a metal fixture that you can slide under the oil pan. Put it on a lamp timer so it comes on a couple hours before you want to start the engine. This works best in a garage of course, so it's not affected by the wind. But it works very well.
Good luck.
Add a lower radiator hose heater, you can buy one at NAPA. Make sure you have a good location for it though...my MF 1010 didn't. The radiator hose had no good place to put one in.
Remove a freeze plug and replace it with a block heater. These seem to be the best thing going if you really want to warm it up.
Or do what I did and fab up a DIY engine heater with a heat lamp bulb (Ace hardware, about $5.00) in a metal fixture that you can slide under the oil pan. Put it on a lamp timer so it comes on a couple hours before you want to start the engine. This works best in a garage of course, so it's not affected by the wind. But it works very well.
Good luck.