quick question concerning 3600

Hi all and thank you for stopping in.

I've searched here and I think I have an idea what my problem is but I wanted to ask a quick question to help me cement things.

My 3600 has no power. it puts out a little smoke that is blackish and greyish and it seems to have more power when first started but that might also be because I haven't started in gear yet.

I suspect its not getting enough fuel but here's my question: if it acts doggedly but then if I shoot a quick shot of starting fluid into the air it immediately growls to life.

(I know I should not do that so save the speeches on that)

but anyways does that mean the compression is fine and that it is likely a lack of fuel or can the compression still be bad?

* I also read about timing / couple other things which could also be the problem but I feel its likely one of the two choices I mentioned.

further info would be that it seems to idle okay its only as the gas is increased that it seems to struggle. I have checked the air filter, seem to be getting enough fuel at least when I pull the line up by the injectors.

There is one last thing I am going out now to fool with that being the return line for the fuel. I read where that could be a cause for problem in this area.

thanks again. I figured if you could tell me whether its the compression or not; that I would at least know whether I have to go buy another tractor or not because I don't know enough to even consider tackling a compression problem.

If you can afford another tractor, why don't you hire a good reliable tractor mechanic to
check the tractor out for you. 3600's are great little tractors,very reliable and don't
give many problems. It doesn't take but a couple of hours to check the fuel delivery,timing
and compression,oil pressure etc. and come with a good diagnosis of your problems,instead
of a bunch of maybes, mights and guesses. Then you can make a decision whether to fix or
sell. Good used Ford tractors are hard to come by and easy to sell in my area. I have been
offered unreal prices for the ones I have.As for the starting fluid, it's your tractor,use
it if you like,but Would you like to see my collection of busted pistons, from the over use
of it?

guess I will have to do just that. thanks for your reply.

If it has trouble starting... and a bit of either will fire it off...


COuld be...

low compression

too slow cranking speed

dirty/ bad injectors

weak head on injector pump, meaning it has to crank a while to get enough pressure to fire the injectors..Lots of pumps have the aluminum heads that wore quicker..

bad injector pump..

Fuel problem...

But if once finally started is runs well... not a fuel problem, probably compression..

If ran for a while and then it restarts ok, and the engine is warm, not a pump problem, its probably compression.

If it runs dirty exhaust till warmed up, probably compression.

If it fire quicker on a days above 80 degrees, its compression

if it fires quick after a 30 second thermostart cycle, its probably compression.

Do an oil change, use hd 15w40 diesel oil and lucus oil stabilizer. New hd oil will help clean up stuck rings, and lucus will help raise the compression a bit.

run a can of bg 244k diesel injector cleaner through it to clean injector nozzles.

make sure its got an oversized fresh and GOOD battery and really heavy cables with clean connections at all ends... remove all cables, and clean all connections and reinstall. Cranking good and fast...... is paramount to starting a weak diesel.

First off... does it have a gasoline or a diesel engine?????

Your questions seem to be from you finding threads on similar issues on diesel engines, but in your first post you say:

further info would be that it seems to idle okay its only as the gas is increased that it seems to struggle.

Click to expand...

Which leads me to believe that it is a gasoline engine, or did you just use the term "as the gas is increased" as a generic term to mean an increase in the throttle?