Ford 4000 just cranks, no start

patrick66

New User
My '64 4000 Diesel tractor absolutely refuses to start. It'll crank over strongly, and the compression is there, but no start at all. I've checked the glow plugs, and have tried to start it both with and w/o the glow plugs "on" (it usually starts [i:dd57082549]without [/i:dd57082549]power to them, when the outside temp is above 35*F!). There is fuel in the tank, plenty of amperage available at the battery, the cables are clean, and there is power to the gauges and lights.

The top end has 42.5 hours on it after it was gone through four years ago. It's a leaky critter, though, as I have a couple of fluid leaks around the tractor.

What say you guys???
 
Need more info, white smoke while cranking? Ambient
temperature? Summer fuel / winter fuel? Any conditioner or
anti- gel? You say you have compression, how many psi? You
need at least 350 psi to fire a diesel, just because you have
power to the glow plugs do not mean they work, could be
burned out.
 
If it has been a while since you have started it could be just to cold. You might try some starter fluid but do so sparingly
 
Anything coming out of the exhaust stack when you try a start? If not, you may not be getting fuel. It"s not uncommon for the crud to clog the tank strainer. Filter could be clogged. make sure you have fuel delivery to the injector pump.
 
I get whitish smoke as the starter turns the engine.

It has Summer fuel, but it's 51*F out, plus Winter is not available where I am, anyway. No fuel conditioner or additives.

The actual compression is unknown, but the tractor sounds exactly as it has in the past when starting.

I'll have to check the fuel strainer next, as well as try some starting fluid. Thanks for the ideas!
 

A stuck (in the closed position) metering valve is not uncommon in the RoosaMaster (Stanadyne) pump. Do you leave the throttle lever in the Off position after the engine shuts down? I always pull mine down about 1/4 of its travel after the engine dies. It seems to prevent a stuck metering valve and it's happened to me a couple of times.
 
OK, making smoke means it is getting some fuel.

If it is a 4-5 speed, get a pull start, if it will run, that will get it the
fastest, vs putting am heat gun to the intake, jucing the fuel and
warming the block, etc, etc.

If she won't pull start, you have other issues as well, post back
either way
 
@Texas! - Once I shut the tractor off, I usually leave the fuel lever like you mention. The only time I turn it completely off is at engine shut-down.

@Soundguy - I did have to pull-start it once last Summer, and it fired right up. In the morning, I'm going to disconnect the glow plugs and apply some ether, to see if it'll start that way.

@David G - No change in cranking speed from last Fall, last time it ran.

To all - I did notice a fuel leak coming from near the pump...perhaps I need to bleed the injectors?
 
Loosen all the fuel injector lines at the
injectors and crank the engine with the throttle
fully open till you get a good squirt of fuel at
all injectors.
If it is leaking at the pump it probably has lost
it's prime. Diesels will not pump any air.

Zane
 
I would thus suspect you have a fuel leak and it has air in the system. my 6610 had a fuel leak on the inlet and did not idle smooth.
 

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