Vista Diesel engine question

F-MM

Member
We have a Vista diesel (last one built in 68) that we use often for heavy PTO work etc. The exhaust doesn't sound clear or crisp like those engines should. Sort of sputters or flutters as the RPMs get over 1200 or so. At high idle it's not smooth sounding at all. A little history, we've owned it a long time. It sat for a few years because the back seal leaked too badly to use it for anything and it almost stuck from sitting, I suppose from condensation in the cylinders but a few years back I overhauled it. Had the heads completely worked over, new valves and seats and I honed the cylinders down and put new rings on the 30,000 over pistons that we had installed when it had been bored years ago. I had to have the pump worked on to replace that plastic retainer that goes bad when they sit. I didn't do anything to the injectors then. It fired right up and sounded pretty good too but lately it's getting worse sounding. I just pulled the injectors out and took them to Midland Diesel in Fargo and they rebuilt them. Installed them today and no change. Pulled valve covers off to check valve lash, none were tight, a few a little loose so adjusted them and all that did was make a little less tappet noise but still sputters. Could the pump be doing this? There Is next to no blow by, you can pull the dipstick and nothing comes out while running. I suppose I need to make sure by checking compression but not sure how to do that on these type of injectors. How about the energy cells, can they cause these problems? I know it's nearly impossible to remove some after years and years of use. Any ideas would be surely appreciated. Thanks.
 
Sounds like injection pump timing is late at higher speed. If I recall that pump has the speed advance, if so have it checked on engine to see if it's working right. If the pump is fixed phase, meaning no advance then try advancing the static timing some and see if that helps. Had to do that on the MF 97 I had years ago..
 
I don't believe there is any advance on it. I re-timed it to 4 degrees like it said on the engine plate before I got the injectors back from the shop. It was off a little but that was probably from me trying to advance and retard it a little when it was running on the grain vac. I will try doing it again to see if it helps now that I know the injectors are new. The guy that worked on them said one was stuck open and some others needed work so he replaced all the parts. It really didn't sound any different now than when I pulled them out before.I know that one of our later Vistas calls for 2 degrees if I remember. I don't know why the difference, that one says high idle is 1950 where this one is 2000. Thanks for your suggestion.
 
I think it should have a advance in pump. Does pump have a cross ways round thing with a adjustment bolt. If not bump up timing to 12 to 14.
 

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