Task Master Tractor Help

[onelionhunter]

Hi all, new to the forum. I have had my tractor since 2000 or so, it is a 1998 Task master tm28 I believe, it has an NJ385 3 cylinder engine in it. Has always ran well for me, but have a knock now.

The knock started after the engine was starved for air, as a pack rat thought it would be fun to fill my air box with stuff. Started tractor, ran inside for a few to let it warm up(was going to move snow). Came out 2 or 3 minutes later and it was dragging down, and stalled before I could turn it off. Diagnosed the air box issue, started, now knocking. My best guess is I bent a push rod, at least I am hoping so.

My question is, I can't seem to find anything on the net about sourcing parts for these tractors anymore, the dealer in OR that I had bought parts from originally seems to have vanished. Any help on parts sourcing would be great.

Thanks, Tom

 

[Bob Rooks]

Hi Tom, welcome.

I'm curious as to what you refer to as an "airbox". I associate that term with two cycle diesel engines in which it serves two purposes: 1) Charge air, and 2) Scavenging.

 

[onelionhunter]

Sorry for the confusion on terminology, by box I meant the tube that my air filter sits in, has about a 2 inch opening going into a foot long by 5 inch diameter tube that holds the air filter cartridge. Out the end of that is a 3 inch tube delivering clean air to the intake, nothing fancy.

Thanks, Tom

 

[Diamondpilot]

Any of the dealers will be able to get you the stuff. Where are you located? Affordable is in Texas, Spring Valley is in the North West, and Ranch Hand has the East Coast covered. All good dealers who will help you or refer you to someone who can.

Chris

 

[greg_g]

They're made by DFAM. Anybody selling them as DF, DFAM, DongFeng, et cetera should be able to help. Or at least point you in the right direction

//greg//

 

[bluechip]

Task master name was applied to many tractors they sourced in China, this one is probably pre DFAM, some of the factories are long gone. If I recall correctly NJ385 was made by Feng Shou, which becam Jaingling, which becam Mahindra. A decendent of that engine is still used in Mahindras 2525 and Mahindra still sells some of the old FS designs, but not in USA.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Time to drop the oil sump and check con rod bearings - or coincidentally it could be combustion knock from a bad injector. Try just cracking the injector lines one at a time at slow idle and see if the knock goes away.

 

[onelionhunter]

Thanks for the leads and ideas everyone. i am in Belgrade MT, kind of middle of no where. Hoping to have time to tear into the tractor tomorrow and see what is going on in more detail.

Tom

 

[phil cheety]

The TaskMaster dealer sold out last year to a Canadian firm but is still in business in Cresswell Oregon as Bests Products Co
Phone 877-876-7895 or 541-895-2959.
Hope that helps
Phil Cheety
Elko Nevada

 

[robert421960]

my farm pro tractor was knocking last yr and i thought it was shot
someone told me to add some trans fluid to the fuel and it solved the problem
this may be worth a shot

 

[Rich Waugh]

What is the purpose of adding transmission fluid (I assume you mean ATF?) to the diesel fuel? What does that do?

Rich

 

[Diamondpilot]

What is the purpose of adding transmission fluid (I assume you mean ATF?) to the diesel fuel? What does that do?

Rich

Its a old trick to free up injectors and pumps. You are much better off running a good additive like Howse or Power Serve.

My guess is he had a stuck or dripping injector and the ATF worked to free it up and help lube everything.

Chris

 

[robert421960]

yea guys im sorry i didnt explain better
i didnt know for sure what it was for but knew it was to free an injector
i was just trying to add a suggestion that may help this guy

 

[greg_g]

Ah jeez, another one. That trick's not much different than putting bananas in a noisy rear differential before you sell the vehicle to some sucker. If there's a mechanical noise, track it down - diagnose it properly - and fix it correctly. Not doing so inevitably adds a multiplication factor to your long term mechanical woes.

//greg//

 

[Bob Rooks]

What is the purpose of adding transmission fluid (I assume you mean ATF?) to the diesel fuel? What does that do?

Rich

It actually does more harm than good (say ignorant). There are friction modifiers blended into ATF to provide "stiction" for the friction discs (wet clutches) in automatic transmissions, which would be the absolute LAST thing you would want to use as a lubricant in lap-fitted fuel components.
Use a fuel additive like Chris says. :thumbsup:

 

[Rich Waugh]

Thanks Chris and Bob, that's pretty much a confirmation of what I was thinking, especially the part about using the right stuff designed for the job and not some voodoo cure.

Rich

 

[Bob Rooks]

Yes Rich, sometimes old wife's tales die hard, but as education, knowledge, and the right experience is gained, tractors will lead a more productive life (and the tales will eventually die off).