FE-35 23C Engine - starts for 30sec then dies

Alan Gallant · Jan 4, 2016

Hello Massey Wizards
I have a 35 standard diesel (Tony's Nemisis) that starts great. Runs for 30 seconds then dies. I have to crack the injector lines to bleed then after a bunch of cranking it will start and run fine.

I have added methyl hydrate to the fuel. When I check the fuel filters the primary seems full but the secondary has air at the top. Should there be air in that filter ? I checked both through the top bolt for bleeding.

Any ideas are always appreciated !

Thanks
Alan

Dieseltech · Jan 4, 2016

If I remember right my 23C has a constant bleed fitting on top of one of the filter bases like the Perkins tractors also use. May be a banjo bolt or a straight bleed fitting, going back to the tank return. It's job is to keep all air out of the injection pump by allowing some fuel and any air to go back to the tank. If the small orifice gets plugged THEN the air will go to the injection pump, killing the engine. Bleeding the system will start again for awhile, then kill the engine again. Make sure the orifice is open, sometimes water/rust in fuel will plug it. There should be no air in top of the filter base with that fitting working correctly..

Alan Gallant · Jan 5, 2016

(reply to post at 07:28:08 01/05/16)

hanks Dieseltech. I thought there should be no air in that filter. I'll check it tomorrow when the temp gets up to -1° C. Not into tractor maintenance at -13° C.

ciao
Alan

Alan Gallant · Jan 5, 2016

Thanks Dieseltech. I thought there should be no air in that filter. I'll check it tomorrow when the temp gets up to -1° C. Not into tractor maintenance at -13° C.

ciao
Alan[/quote]

Alan Gallant · Jan 5, 2016

Hello Dieseltech

I checked the return line from the secondary filter, the one with air in it, to the tank and it's clear. I bled the the sytem and started the tractor. I usually have just cracked the injectors to bleed but this time I thought I'd try the bleed nuts on the injection pump. The fuel streamed out the lower bleed nut but not the top, but the tractor still started ! ?

I think maybe I'll put in new filters and drain the tank.. maybe icing up ! ?

Any further suggestions ?

Thanks
Alan

Dieseltech · Jan 5, 2016

The pump top bleed screw can be bled after engine is running, it's just to get the air out of the cover to help prevent the internal linkage from rusting. The lower bleed screw is the most important, must be NO air there. Also make sure the feed pump is in good working condition, if one of the check valves is bad the injection pump can't work correctly.

fdt860 · Jan 5, 2016

On a CAV pump, there is a fine filter under the injection pump inlet. Could it be plugged up?

Dieseltech · Jan 5, 2016

If it's plugged it would not run fine on the second try. Filters will plug long before the safety screen will, as it's not as fine as the filters. It's more of a rock screen.. It can plug with biodiesel fuel though, but then again after the filters plug first.

Alan Gallant · Jan 10, 2016

Thanks for the information Dieseltech. I drained off 3-4 litres of fuel. Bled the system and it started reasonably well. The real test will be when the temperature drops again. It seemed to do the trick the next day when I started it.

You guys area wealth of information so keep up the good work.

Ciao
Alan

Alan Gallant · Jan 25, 2016

Hello All

Not really sure what it was in the end. I did several things. I bled off several litres of fuel thinking maybe water. I also noted that the fuel pump fitting was loose. I tightened that so maybe it was getting air there. In the end, it starting first try again, which is good at -10 degrees C. In the end I suspect air was getting into the system.

Thanks for all the help
Alan

FE-35 23C Engine - starts for 30sec then dies

Alan Gallant

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