MF165 Starting/Engine Problems

stinkybeard

New User
My problems started with a smoking starter motor.

While replacing the starter motor, I found that the bell housing on the end of the starter broke in two. I retrieved all the pieces and put the new starter on. Worked great for about 10 starts then the new starter started smoking. The copper bar turned glowing red. It sounded like the motor was trying to turn over but the starter didn't have enough power. I ended up completely draining the battery so bought a charger and got the battery recharged.

I got it started but now there is a horrible clanging in the middle/bottom of the motor. I was able to drive it back to the barn but it was having major issues running on the short trip.

This is a lot of white smoke coming out under the belt pulley in the front of the tractor.

I checked the oil and coolant and both look good.

Where should I start trying to figure this out?
 
So rehashing this I realized something.

When I said I got "all" broken bell housing out, I actually did not. I just ran down to the barn, in the middle of the night, and put the pieces back together. It looks like there is still a quarter sized piece of that casting inside the tractor.

That would explain the inability to start the tractor. But what about the banging, knocking, and smoke?

How do I get it out of there? Drop the oil pan?

In the midst of all this I messed around with the fuel filter thinking that was why it was hard to start. I really just drained the aglomometer and then bled the fuel lines all the way to the backside of the injector pump.
 
if there is still a piece still in there it
will be in the bell housing not in the oil pan
it could be anywhere in the
it could be in the cluck but from your account
of the noise it is probably getting hit by the
flywheel and jamming that up as you are trying
to start the motor
not sure if there are any openings into this
area but i would look real hard for them even
if it's only through the starter hole and try
to fish out that piece or pieses
if not then i think the only fix will be to
split the tractor a bit to get it out but you
might need to split it completly
try using threaded rod on the trans to motor
flanges and you can open it part way to retrive
this piece and hopfully bolt it back up with
out completly spiting your tractor
don't forget to check things out closly for
other damage that might have happened as well
as for other wear like cluch seals and throwout
bearing if you have to spilt the troctor
completly you may as well address them then as
you will already be right there
 
I pulled the starter back off and that piece is no where to be found. The bad news is that I can't see 90% of the bell housing through the starter hole. Guess this means I'll have to split the tractor - which is terrifying.

On a scale of 1-10 how difficult is this job?

Does anyone have an idea of what an engine rebuild would cost? This engine has nearly 4000 hours on it.

I'm faced with rebuilding this one or buying another tractor as I need a loader. This engine repair combined with a loader is almost another tractor.
 
There should be a cover on the bottom of the bell housing that's held on with 4 bolts so the clutch can be adjusted, if there is anything in the bottom of the bell housing you should be able to get at it (having someone with small hands/arms to feel around in there would help).
 
Hi
Others have covered Most of what we can tell you, might be wrong. one thing nobody has asked Is. Did you fill this motor with a can of ether starting fluid trying to get it to run.
if so that might cause internal motor damage.
if the starter has got red hot and it's not due to the bit you can't find. Chances are this tractor had motor issues before you got it or
was going wrong if you had it a while. From previous experience with tractor motors A part Seized crank bearing or bearings can also be a thing that makes starters struggle .

Have you removed the oil pan plug and drained the oil to check for bits of white metal or filings in the oil or pan bottom, also remove and check the oil filter . if you find a quantity of anything metalic you have crank shaft / bearing problems.
Regards Robert
 
Opened up the cover on the bottom of the bell housing. The clutch is in the way and couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. Back to splitting the tractor I guess.

I didn't use any starting fluid to get it started. Just old and broken I guess. Has nearly 4000 hours on it.
 

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