Diesel Super Major Barely Turns Over Slowly / Won't Start

hobo13

New User
My Diesel Fordson Super Major TBH won't start. Here's what I think I know.

What it does: Turns slowly for maybe one turn of the fan, sometimes less than one turn. Then it stops, and when you stop it rolls back slightly.

Tractor was shut down normally after having run it for maybe an hour that day. Did not notice anything unusual the last time it was running (other than power steering fluid was very low -- filled reservoir.) Came back next day, tractor would not start.

What I've done so far:

1. Replaced battery recently. Last one made it 10 years, new one is a month old. Tractor was running and starting fine since battery was replaced. Battery voltage is 12.9 V before starting. It's a big battery, commercial scale from Autozone.

2. Replaced starter. Same effect.

3. Removed hydraulic pump on the front of the crankshaft. Just to make sure it's not froze up. No difference in starting.

4. Removed power steering pump to make sure it's not froze up. Not much difference, maybe turns just a bit easier, hard to say?

5. Tried jumping it from another battery, just in case. No difference.

6. Tractor has decompression lever. It is in the down position. I raised it and put it back (to verify it's not froze or anything), but didn't try starting it with lever up. Have never used it, only recently learned what it is for.

7. Pulling the tractor is not really an option. Has loader on it that is down, and hoe is down too. Plus, I don't have much space.


In conclusion, the crankshaft rotates so the engine does not seemed to be seized. But it's really hard to rotate it, either by hand or by the starter.

What should I do next? Thanks in advance for your help. Really appreciate it. I've her for about 2.5 years, so I'm definitely still learning.
 
Have you checked earth/ground connection or I
remember similar problem when I had major and I
replaced solenoid and problem was solved but
perhaps you should check solenoid for good earth
or ground as you call it across the pond
 
As an update:

I read a little more about the decompression lever, and decided to give that a try.

I had my wife crank it over while I raised the lever. That got it spinning. Then I lowered the lever while it was still cranking, and it started.

I stopped at that point to celebrate some success!

Now I need to get back to see if it will start normally again. It has been suggested that the extra drag on the starter could be coming from fouled injectors. So may need to look into that.
 
On those tractors the decompression lever was only used to turn the engine
to break an oil-lock in extreme cold and only when the engine is being
slowly turned by hand. If you use it to start the tractor serious damage can
occur in the valve gear. That is the instruction in the tractor handbook and
I have worked on many engines where this was not observed.

Make sure all your terminals and connections between the battery and starter
are clean and tight. Remove the band around the starter and check for brush
wear or sticking brushes, give it a clean out and see if there are any burnt
spots on the commutator.
 
(quoted from post at 00:46:25 04/10/20) On those tractors the decompression lever was only used to turn the engine
to break an oil-lock in extreme cold and only when the engine is being
slowly turned by hand. If you use it to start the tractor serious damage can
occur in the valve gear. That is the instruction in the tractor handbook and
I have worked on many engines where this was not observed.

Make sure all your terminals and connections between the battery and starter
are clean and tight. Remove the band around the starter and check for brush
wear or sticking brushes, give it a clean out and see if there are any burnt
spots on the commutator.

Thanks.

As you can see in Step 2 above, I already replaced the starter. Same issue.
 
I had the same issue with mine and replaced the items items. I eventually just kept cranking it a little at a time and then it fired. I wasnt aware that there was a lever because mine was missing until a day at the tractor grave yard. The man told me that sometimes they vapor lock especially in the winter and to have someone hold while you crank it a few seconds then release and try. I just replaced all the hoses on the hoe and had to buy special fitting to convert to standard fittings. let me know if you need the number thanks Mike
 

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