Starting 3020 diesel that has set 5 years

CharlesTx

Member
Location
Central Texas

Need info. / tips of items to check before attempting to start a 3020 diesel that has been setting for about 5 years. My experience is with gas tractors. Items I need help with are, what needs to happen to diesel in tank?, will the injectors need service?, will the injector pump need service? The tractor is still on 24 volt system and had new batteries installed before being parked. I'm going to see if they will take a charge off the tractor. I do know the tractor ran before being parked so that narrows some issues. Thanks
 

Dino diesel fuel doesn't deteriorate similar to bio-diesel or gasoline. I'd suggest to check all fluids,install new fuel filters,install 2 good 12v batteries,bleed air out of fuel system & attempt to start engine. If after air is bleed out of fuel system if engine still hadn't started I'd probably drain fuel tank & install new diesel. It's possible after 5 yrs of not running metering valve in inj pump will not function.
 
Loosen all four injector line inlet bolts 1/2 turn so they can leak. With the throttle set to start see if there's fuel at each bolt when engine cranks. If so injection pump is working. I'd be surprised if it does as pump will usually have internal parts stuck after setting that long with staled fuel. Have a Ford pump on the stand now that had stuck plungers and valve after setting only ten months..
 
All I have ever done was check fluids and batterys. Never had to bled them. I change filters after I have run the old fuel out and have new fuel added.
 
Should loosen both engine and trans drain and remove water that would have settle at the bottom before it get mixed in.
 
My thoughts are like Dieseltech below. See if you can get fuel out of the pump but most likely you won't. You will end up needing to have the pump redone. Tom
 
Only 5 years ? I'd do it differently than the others. Remove fuel cap and see how much is in the tank and how bad it smells ? Only 5 yrs. it is likely still ok. Check oil levels and look for water contamination and check anti freeze level. Make sure engine is not locked up install good batteries and give it a try !
No way would I remove fuel filters and get air in there right from the get go. Some of the worst starting diesels I ever ran into were right after changing the filters.
I have started several 2 cyl. diesel that had to of sat longer than that and they fired right up.
 
I bought an R from North Dakota that sat for at least 13 years, maybe a few more. It started right up on one cylinder with the second cylinder catching hold a few seconds later. It had the old fuel in. Compared to a 3020 i’m comparing apples to oranges though.
 
My 4620 sat for 13 yr's too, but treated the fuel with Howes, Anti gel, when parked, new battery's and new fuel filter, took right off, run like a dream yet.
 
And if it does pump fuel with the injector lines loose, put the throttle at the shut-off position to make sure fuel stops pumping. Occasionally the meter valve will be stuck at full throttle, then if the tractor starts, there is no way to prevent a run-away. A man's son was killed several years ago when he started a tractor that hadn't been run for a few years, engine overreved, the flywheel cam apart,dead son!! Always make sure you can stop an engine you are unfamiliar with before you crank it up.
 
Diesel fuel can last quite a while.I only started two 4020D that had sit in sheds and luckily they both started right up[we pulled them], and we changed all the fluids and also anti freeze and batteries and they both were fine.Not a diesel but we had a fellow that was a compulsive buyer at sales and also would buy new vehicles and drive them home to never be driven again.He passed a couple years ago and place was full of everything including 15 school buses he had bought to store things in and his wife wanted her yard back.There was a 1977 Ford pickup with 31 miles and 1979 Ford grain truck with new box laying on bed with around 100 miles.I know who bought truck and gas in tank was worse than syrup and they just replaced tank and it was quite a project.She gave most of lower houred tractors to nephews and they were fine just mice had been into many things and not aLL were shedded so they weren't nice.Junk dealers worked for two years cutting up iron and today the place is all cleaned up.I bought some 5020 front weights,new duals and a few things before they junked the rest.It was unbelievable and could have been a story on Hoarders or American pickers.
 

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