MASSEY 135 DELUXE 1969 turning over not starting

I replaced my solenoid on the Massey 135 and engine is turning over fine but not cranking.
The diesel fuel in it is old and it last ran great a year ago, but I do not use much. I'm wanting to use more and now having starting issues. See questions below from this novice

1) I have been reading forums on here and people are mentioning the fuel shut off lever. Where is this located?
2) Do I need to do anything with the primer lever? I have never used it before, but I do see it there on side of motor?.
3) What can I check on the "kill knob" you pull to kill engine ?
4) Last time I ran I noticed the acceleration lever started out running smooth and then engine ramped up and I had to back off. Maybe this is issue?

Sorry if I'm calling all these parts wrong name , but I'm new to this and wanting to learn

Thanks for all you help.,
Clint

(quoted from post at 09:28:57 05/27/20) I replaced my solenoid on the Massey 135 and engine is turning over fine but not cranking.
The diesel fuel in it is old and it last ran great a year ago, but I do not use much. I'm wanting to use more and now having starting issues. See questions below from this novice

1) I have been reading forums on here and people are mentioning the fuel shut off lever. Where is this located?
2) Do I need to do anything with the primer lever? I have never used it before, but I do see it there on side of motor?.
3) What can I check on the "kill knob" you pull to kill engine ?
4) Last time I ran I noticed the acceleration lever started out running smooth and then engine ramped up and I had to back off. Maybe this is issue?

Sorry if I'm calling all these parts wrong name , but I'm new to this and wanting to learn

Thanks for all you help.,
Clint

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What you call the "kill Knob is what I call the fuel shut off. It shuts the fuel off in the pump to stop the engine. The rod on the knob moves a lever on the pump, be sure the lever is traveling full back to the on position when the knob is pushed in.

Thanks Jim I will definitely look at that. Does the primer lever on the other side of engine do you ever use this for starting?

(quoted from post at 09:31:49 05/28/20) Thanks Jim I will definitely look at that. Does the primer lever on the other side of engine do you ever use this for starting?

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I think you are talking about the small hand lever, on the fuel transfer pump, normally used to fill the fuel filters after a fuel filter change or running the tractor out of fuel. You use that to pump fuel through the filters and to the injection pump as you bleed the air out of those. That would be it relationship to starting, its not something you should need to pump to aid starting.

The bleeding step, after you have fuel to the injection pump, is to loosen the high pressure lines from the injection pump up at the injectors. Crank the engine over with the lines loose until fuel comes out of them, then tighten the nuts back up. Never put a body part over one of those lines to try to stop fuel. The pressure can inject fuel under the skin which is serious and can be fatal.

You say it turns over but won't crank. To clarify your terms, most call turning over (using the starter,or a hand crank on tractors without starters) cranking over. I, and I think most other people, would say yours is cranking over but not starting and running.

How long have you had this tractor? Have you changed the fuel filter(s)? They could be gunked up if your fuel is bad. If you just changed them what brand and part number are they? If a WIX 33166 or NAPA 3166 was used there may be a gasket out of place blocking fuel flow.





If you don't have an Operator's Manual there is one you can see, and save a copy of, at
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/984086/Massey-Ferguson-Mf-135.html. I think this site sells hard copies of this manual as well as the service manual for it.

Yes it is cranking over but not starting and running. I have never changed the fuel filter, but after I look at the fuel cutoff like you mentioned if it does not fix I may look at that. Do you have to bleed lines if you change fuel filter? Mine has a glass container type I believe. As you can tell I don't know a lot about tractors, but I bought it and did not use and let sit and now trying to learn about and use. I had always heard they are good tractors and at the time the price was good as well.

(quoted from post at 11:56:29 05/29/20) Yes it is cranking over but not starting and running. I have never changed the fuel filter, but after I look at the fuel cutoff like you mentioned if it does not fix I may look at that. Do you have to bleed lines if you change fuel filter? Mine has a glass container type I believe. As you can tell I don't know a lot about tractors, but I bought it and did not use and let sit and now trying to learn about and use. I had always heard they are good tractors and at the time the price was good as well.

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Yes, you have to bleed it after changing the fuel filter.

I can't see your filter but I expect the glass bowl is mounted below an element like the one in the photo I posted. It is a multi-piece filter assembly.

Use the link I posted, download and print a copy of the operator's manual. It has a lot of info that will help you get started maintaining your tractor. After a bit, follow up by purchasing a service manual.

Try loosening the nuts on the lines from the injector pump at each injector. Try cranking it over with the fuel shut off knob in the on position. Crank it over in 5 or 6 tries of about 15 seconds each. Wait a minute or so between tries to cool the starter. If you can't get fuel to the injectors there may be problems in the injector pump from setting.