The continuing saga of "my tractor won't run for longer than 45 minutes...."
I have a 1977 British built 444 diesel. I bought it used early this summer. Since I have had it, it has been stalling after about 45 minutes of use. So far I have cleaned out the fuel tank (very dirty), changed out all the washers on the banjo bolts and flushed each line. I also changed the thermostat and coolant after a rad flush. I still need to get a new temperature gauge as the one on it isn't working.
It starts and runs well with lots of power, never skipping a beat, until about 45 minutes into running.
Yesterday it stalled again so I pulled the cover off of the lifter pump to find it packed with crud - filaments it seemed. I pulled the pump, cleaned it out and reassembled. By working the priming lever it pumped air so I reassembled it. When I put it back on the tractor and re-attached the fuel lines it wouldn't pump. I started to take it off. After a few twists of the bolts I tried the priming lever again and it worked. Tighten it up and it doesn't...... Loosen it and it pumps - I can hear air moving out of the fitting just before the fuel filters (loosened to prime).
I started the tractor with it loose. Ran like a top. I tightened the bolts and it stalled within 5 minutes. I don't know how long it would have ran with it loose as I believe it would have completely wrecked the pump with it loose.
Any thoughts? A neighbour thinks the pump is worn out. Everything seems tight to me when I had it off and in my hands. My simple, uneducated mind says I need to double or triple the gaskets between the pump and the block to get the arm out a bit......
Thanks in advance.
Scotty
I have a 1977 British built 444 diesel. I bought it used early this summer. Since I have had it, it has been stalling after about 45 minutes of use. So far I have cleaned out the fuel tank (very dirty), changed out all the washers on the banjo bolts and flushed each line. I also changed the thermostat and coolant after a rad flush. I still need to get a new temperature gauge as the one on it isn't working.
It starts and runs well with lots of power, never skipping a beat, until about 45 minutes into running.
Yesterday it stalled again so I pulled the cover off of the lifter pump to find it packed with crud - filaments it seemed. I pulled the pump, cleaned it out and reassembled. By working the priming lever it pumped air so I reassembled it. When I put it back on the tractor and re-attached the fuel lines it wouldn't pump. I started to take it off. After a few twists of the bolts I tried the priming lever again and it worked. Tighten it up and it doesn't...... Loosen it and it pumps - I can hear air moving out of the fitting just before the fuel filters (loosened to prime).
I started the tractor with it loose. Ran like a top. I tightened the bolts and it stalled within 5 minutes. I don't know how long it would have ran with it loose as I believe it would have completely wrecked the pump with it loose.
Any thoughts? A neighbour thinks the pump is worn out. Everything seems tight to me when I had it off and in my hands. My simple, uneducated mind says I need to double or triple the gaskets between the pump and the block to get the arm out a bit......
Thanks in advance.
Scotty