65 diesel electrical fire

Gents-
I'm looking for some advice. I bought a 65 diesel with an MF 85 loader that had caught fire. Owner said he went in for lunch and came back to find a smokestack. I'll post pictures later but to my eye it doesn't look that bad. I've taken off the sheet metal and fuel tank. Hoses and wires are melted (lower radiator hose is fine); gauges are melted, paint is flaking off the fuel tank and the hood is slightly discolored. My question is, should I try to get it running now with a tiny fuel tank just to verify the engine runs? Then do the complete re-wire and repair? Your advice please. Thanks!! Tim
 
I own a MF50 gas, that had a pretty heavy fire in the front. Burned off the tires, melted the seams in the radiator, burned off all the paint on the hood and front sheetmetal.

They stripped it down, added a small gas tank and fired it up. Ran it a couple minutes, (no radiator) to see if the engine was OK. It was.

Cleaned and relined the fuel tank, new radiator, new wires, new alternator, new paint.

10 years later, I use it every week and daily for mowing and raking in the summer.
 
You 'bought?' So you already paid for it? Don't matter. I suppose if you get it running fair enough as is, you can guess how far to tear down and inspect- but I would have my doubts about anything plastic or rubber, nylon, up to a couple inches deep.
When our 9N burned in a barn, someone who I thought was nuts gave me almost as much as a running 9n was worth, but, within a few months he had it going again.
Gassers burn often enough. but diesels seem to have a way of spontaneously combusting... all by themselves eh? With so little wiring, it has to be leaked fuel and hayseed pudding stuck near the exhaust? or what? It seems to pay to keep diesel engines pressure washed- good luck!
 
I have it stripped to the steering pedestal now. Gonna send the radiator out for cleaning and start cleaning the sheet metal. Ready to bleed the fuel system (with a nurse tank) and see if it makes fire. I bought it for the cost of the loader but I really want the tractor operational. Love the Masseys!
 
I just bought a MF-65 diesel that had a wiring fire while running. I also just about burned up my MF-33 (gas). In both cases, the cause was the generator regulator coming loose (Those little rubber mounting strips for the reg get tired (rot) and let the regulator drop down and short out against metal. A word to the wise! These tractors are getting old, and rubber parts age, too.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top