Modifying Dexta's

James Wright

New User
I spent the last week on and off, working on my Dexta.

I have found that the spring-loaded ball in the fuel Atomizer for the pre-heat starting system is indeed stuck and I havn't a clue on how to free it up.

The good news is that the tractor will start without ether if the pre-heat system is working.

I spoke with the local Perkins Diesel rep who was familiar with the 144/152 Perkins 3 cylinder Diesel engines. They no longer make them but they do make 3 cyl. diesels.

The new ones have an automated start cycle and you don't have to hold the button down for 40 seconds or so I gathered.

They pre-heater and the atomizer has also been combined into a single unit.

The rep gave me one of the pre-heater units from the new engine and I pulled the one from my Dexta and compared it to the new one.

The thread diameter and pitch is the same but the new one has a stainless steel sleeve around the heating element that prevents it from fully entering the manifold.

I have to pull the manifold soon, as the atomizer thread for the present system has been stripped out and I need to make a bushing so that the atomizer will fit up fightly & not leak.

At the same time, I will check the cavity for the present pre-Heater and see if I can modify the manifold to take the new system.

The perkins guy tells me that this will definitly/maybe/probably/might fix the difficult starting problem.

As I have been unable to find a new Pre-Heater Atomizer, I am debating on doing this.

Will this offend the Dexta perfectionists and what do people think of doing this modificatioin?

Thoughts?

Jim Wright
 
Jim,The quickest way to "offend" a "Dexta perfectionist" is to refer to the Dexta engine as a "Perkins" engine. While admittedly based on the Perkins P3,the block and head were cast in Dagenham by Ford, and the engine assembled to Fordson specification. While similar to the Perkins P3.144, and with a lot of parts in common, they are not identical and some major parts are not interchangeable, hence some people, with much better knowledge than me, suggest to refer to this engine as a "FORDSON", as Fordsons input into this engine design was much higher than most people give them credit for.TSG.
 
I don't think there are too many Dexta Perfectionist or purist in the USA. Rarely will you see a Dexta in a museum, in a show, or parade. They are a work tractor to most in the USA. Resales fall in two basic category in the US:
1. tractor is used up by an owner who did not do enough maintenance and is sold cheap.
2. tractor is sold by an owner who is on hard times or from an estate sale from a vendor.
Well maintain Dexta(s), whether modified or not, are used for their utility. It is a tractor that is of old hard metal vintage that has it all, except PS. Live PTO, diff lock, hi-low tranny and a fine engine. Most Dextas I see in the US have a after market seat with back and arm rest, a starter with a key solenoid and numerous other modifications like a alternator, lights etc.
Preheater is a practical mod. I do it on mine but I seldom have to use it. Here in VA, maybe two months a year, once a day. Not practical for me. It would be a lot more practical for me to install a block heater, but again not needed.
Most Dexta owners who renew their Dextas and paint them use them and won't part with them. Like me.

Wayne
 
Another problem with my Dexta has appeared.


I found a Youtube video that shows a Dexta being started.

In the Video, the operator reached down and pushed the starter lever down and the tractor began to turn over.

With mine, I have to push the starter lever down, hold it in place and the push a button on the dash taht puts juice to the starter and then the motor turn over.

I believe that there is something missing from mine.


I've taken a picture of the starter and there appears to be a bracket that is supposed to have something for the starter lever to engage.

I guess I'm looking for whatever it is that is missing. I haven't a clue as to what it should look like so Help please?

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I trashcanned that slow turning contakerous starter on my Dextas and put one of the key-turn to crank starters with a solenoid on them. Hard starting tired engine fires right up.
Against my better judgement, I posted Free starter, and I gave the last one away to a YTMAG guy. Although I will scrap metal it the next time cause I wound up paying for the shipping and giving away one of these used starters is like buying beer for teenager, continuing to run that dinasour starter isn't the best idea.
You already said you are not a purist, not a Dexta perfectionist, that the tractor is hard to start. Scrap that starter and put one on it that zings. The new starters are rated 2.5Kw and the cranking speed is noticeably faster.
Wayne
 
OK,

I need to know;

What starter can I put on this old girl to make it work?

I'm more than willing to make a modificatioin to it so I can put it to work.

The present starting system is a bit clumsey (to say the least) so, what starter should I be looking for to make the change to a better deal?

I can install a key starter switch like a car has in it but what starter do I use? This Will also make it harder to steal, not impossible just harder.

Jim Wright
 
From THIS SITE:
Starter, 12V - Replacement starter for Dexta & Super Dexta. This starter is new and does NOT look like the original . This starter mounts differently and you must rewire. A push button type starter switch is available for the wiring modification (pn 189158M91). Specify in 'COMMENTS' when ordering, if needed. (Part No: S.60360) $149.00

As I posted earlier, these starters turn the engine over faster. Rated at 2.5Kw. The only difference in wiring is installing a key switch, or using a push button switch (like the glow switch [you already indicated you are thinking of installing the perkins all-in-one glow plug-atomizer]).
Wayne
 
What did you replace the old ones with?

Where did you get it and what mods were necessary to put it on the tractor?

Help appreciated.

Jim Wright
 
Today I modified my dexta to take the new-type, all-in-one preheater and atomizer from a perkins 3/144 diesel. gotta tell you it isnt the same therad. The original is a british 3/8 taper pipe thread and the new one is a 7/8-14 Nat. Not a real problem since I own a machine shop. It took about 15 minutes to take the manifold off, jig it up on the mill and re-tap the manifold for a 7/8-14.
Another 15 minutes to re-install the manifold and it took me a few minutes to get the hang of the new one.

You have to wait till it's hot before you squirt the juice to it but when you do, IMMEDIATELY hit the crank and away it goes, I hit the starter and Bang, bob's yer uncle, away it went!!!!!.

No ether, no run down battery and the starter did the job.

Am I happy? Bet yer a-- I am.

Now, it should really go when I install the new starter.


Jim Wright
 
Well, I did this, bought and installed the recommended starter.

I rigged it with a push-button. It has a key on the main so not needed on the starter.

I gave it a little throttle and hit the pre-heat, then the pre-heat injector. I hit the starter button and it had snort. Whoo-Hah.

Now this old girl starts, if not as well as new at least I don't need a jumper batter and a charger with start cycle on hand everytime I need to start it up.


I have the original starter for sale to someone who wants to restore as original.

As for me, I'm glad to have it up-dated to something that works BETTER than new.
 
(quoted from post at 05:25:32 07/08/11) From THIS SITE:
Starter, 12V - Replacement starter for Dexta & Super Dexta. This starter is new and does NOT look like the original . This starter mounts differently and you must rewire. A push button type starter switch is available for the wiring modification (pn 189158M91). Specify in 'COMMENTS' when ordering, if needed. (Part No: S.60360) $149.00

As I posted earlier, these starters turn the engine over faster. Rated at 2.5Kw. The only difference in wiring is installing a key switch, or using a push button switch (like the glow switch [you already indicated you are thinking of installing the perkins all-in-one glow plug-atomizer]).
Wayne

Know that these post/replies are bit dated, but having issues with a Super Dexta that I agreed to look into a cooling problem . Got that rectified, now I m having an issue with what I thought was a problem in getting the starter bendix to full engage with the Flywheel. Now I m not sure if it s a problem within the starter, or just the wrong starter for this tractor. Tractor was upgraded years ago for an alternator, so I assume that that was when the starter was changed out too..?

My question is does anyone here know what the distance from the starter mounting flange face to the end of the bendix travel is? I measured the distance from the tractor s mounting surface to the face of the flywheel, then scribed that onto the starter s mounting housing and it really seems to fall way short of what would be needed to allow total teeth engagement.
 

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