1550 Diesel Problem

Well went and picked up what was going to be a parts 1550 diesel with a 1610 loader today.The owner runs a huge farm with lots of newer equipment so this Oliver was way down his list of priorities.
I was under the impression that the engine was shot but after I get there he says they had some work done on the engine and never could get it to start right I can see the head has been cooked tractor has 3800 or so hrs on the tach and its working when I crank it over.The engine does sound odd when cranking and doesn't crank very hard.I'm thinking about trying to jump start it by pulling it.Any other ideas to try?He said they parked it a 'few' years ago BTW.

The 1550 diesels don't crank very fast but it will start it. One of the problems with the 1550s is its a gravity feed system and if its low of fuel it makes it that much harder to start. Bleed the filters good and check the flow out of the final filter and if its good it should have enough fuel to start it. Check on top of the pump on the return fuel line there is a fitting that will have a wiggle wire or a glass ball in it and could be plugged up witch will cause it not to start or run right. The wire or glass ball can be removed easy enough and will run without ether one or the other. Crack the injector lines at the injectors and crank it over and bleed it good. I don't know if they had the pump off or not but you might check the linkage to the fuel shut off on the pump to make sure it all the way off and not partly on. Just pull the pin on the yoke on the rod to check its all the way off.

One thing I can tell you for sure is both my 1550 diesels will not start without either the first time of the day. After the first time they will start the rest of the day without it. I never had problems getting one to start with the starter and not much luck trying to pull start them. If you have fuel to the pump and to the injectors and still wont start and sounds funny take the valve cover off and check the valve springs (for broke springs or keepers) and the push rods to see if there bent or not, If they are you will need to check to see if the valves are stuck too. PB Blaster will brake them loose and a small hammer to peck on the valves to get them loose. I have seen broke valve springs and keepers on the valves and the rocker tower broke to and will cause lots of problems getting one running. Good luck and let us know what you find or if you need more help. Bandit

I worked on it some this morning,getting fuel to injectors and thru the return surprised at how clean everything was, puffing some smoke but not hitting even with some starting fluid.Took off the valve cover everything is clean and looks to be in good shape and working right.Am getting right much blowby so I guess its low compression why it won't hit.Anyway as soon as I can find a driver for the pull tractor I'm going to give it a try.If I get desperate I'll dig out the wife's driving hat
she can handle the D19 Allis pretty good as it has a clutch makes it easier on take offs(LOL)

Got my tractor driver started pulling it and a couple cylinders were hitting then 4 then at about 100ft she fired up just fine lots of smoke for a minute or two then smoothed out real nice drove it around no smoke no blowby.Looks like its going to run and be fine.Went back and fired it up a couple hrs later and it fired right up.Looks like a good deal now.

Glad to hear she fired up and is running good. Just keep an eye on her for awhile so nothing goes wrong on her and hopefully it keeps running good for you. I sure like mine. Bandit