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John: First, if you do not have a block heater or lower radiator hose heater; I would suggest consideration of that to ease cold weather starting of the Fordson diesel. The decompression lever fitted at the front of the valve cover/head assembly should be in the 'UP' position for decompression. This is intended for lowering the compression of the cylinders when using the handcrank. Over the years and generations later, this has practically become an obsolete option to most operators. The starter motor may be used to turn the engine over in the decompression mode....SPARINGLY. The original intent of the decompression lever was to turn the engine over with the crank to lubricate the system and ease the strain on the starter motor. Your Simms injection pump should have a small "excess fuel button" commonly referred to among Fordson enthusiasts as the "easy start button" Push this button "IN" when cold starting. The button is located at the rear of the injection pump near the fuel shut off lever cable mechanism. In summary, if you have a block or lower radiator hose heater, you'll have no need to use the decompression lever. Push in the excess fuel button, be sure the tractor is out of gear and the clutch pushed in to reduce engine drag, engage the starter motor lever with the key on and your Power Major should spring to life. As a footnote, I have known some Major owners who have had their tractor for years, and were not aware of the excess fuel button for cold starting. Keep us posted how things go!
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