(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Bleeding the lines or Gasoline on the filter

D

dactura

Member
My MF30 ran out of diesel so I needed to bleed the lines to get it going. I saw a mechanic splash gasoline on the air filter, put the filter back in and start the tractor right up. I'm wondering: Does this method of starting a tractor do some damage to it?

That method certainly beats the other process of working the hand pump and loosening cocks on the filters.
 
Can it work yes. Does it work probably not as expected. it could over speed, or cause ring damage. It probably would not clear the air from anything. Bleed it
as described in the manual. Or burn up the starter, or wreck the engine. Jim
 
It's been suggested to me to do the same thing, but with diesel. Or ether.
I was in a jam last week and had to use a shot of ether to get things going. I did it with my lines just barely cracked, that's how the air gets purged. It'll run rough, as you tighten the lines it smooths out.
 
Depends on the engine and fuel system I suppose. I've got two Perkins that'll start right off by just bleeding the pump. The David Brown has to be bled all the way to the injectors. The Fiat,you'd better have another tractor,a chain and another driver.
 
I've never had it work.

Tried it many years ago on an Olds diesel conversion engine that had been run out of fuel. It did nothing until the injectors filled.

Tried it on a cold day, trying to get a truck started, did nothing I could tell. It finally started reluctantly.

Trying to short cut priming and purging is a sure way to get air in everything it doesn't belong in. Easy way to multiply problems.
 
(quoted from post at 12:32:40 01/30/19) Depends on the engine and fuel system I suppose. I've got two Perkins that'll start right off by just bleeding the pump. The David Brown has to be bled all the way to the injectors. The Fiat,you'd better have another tractor,a chain and another driver.
Click to expand...

How's that work rrlund? (Mine is a Perkin.) You just loosen the upper and lower vent plugs and just turn it over?
 
Hello dactura,

Crack the injector lines as someone crancks the engine. When
fuel starts spitting, tighten the nut and go to the next one.
Usually is all it's needed,
Priming it would not hurt, it will speed up the bleeding
process,
Guido.
 
Introducing gasoline in the intake is no different than using starting fluid, other than the risk of overspeeding the engine is greater. I do question giving the label "mechanic" to someone who uses gasoline or starting fluid rather than bleed the injector lines.
 
Gasoline is definitely different from starting fluid. It will not self-ignite from the compression of a diesel engine like starting fluid.

It might help if you're getting SOME diesel fuel to the injectors and it ignites, but if you're getting NO fuel to the injectors, it's just going to pass harmlessly through the engine.
 
Both of mine have hand pump levers on the lift pump. I just open the bleeders on the injector pump,pump the hand pump until the air is out,close them up and they start. Both of mine are 354 six cylinders. I don't know if yours has a hand pump or not?
 

I have replaced both fuel filters (primary and secondary) and gone through the process of bleeding the line from primary - lower and upper vent plugs of the injector - then the secondary filter by pumping the fuel pump handle.

I waited for fuel to squirt out the loosened bolts - walked around and tightened them up.

Last, I cranked the beast to start - at first there were feeble attempts to catch - then later nothing but a white smoke coming out of the stack.

I waited a day and cranked it again. Nothing at first, then the white smoke out of the stack. I'm thinking that the white smoke indicates something is getting in the cylinders - but it's not having any reaction.

Any ideas what's going on?
 

Gasoline vapor won't hurt anything but you still have to bleed the air out, and depending on the type of system it can take awhile. You are fortunate to have the primer pump. A lot of people think that gasoline is going to blow a motor up because it is flammable, but the opposite is more like what really happens. When a diesel gets gas put in the tank instead of fuel the main thing that is noticeable is lack of power. running too much gasoline through a diesel, however, can result in pump damage due to lack of lubrication.
 
(quoted from post at 11:25:15 02/08/19)
Gasoline vapor won't hurt anything but you still have to bleed the air out, and depending on the type of system it can take awhile. You are fortunate to have the primer pump. A lot of people think that gasoline is going to blow a motor up because it is flammable, but the opposite is more like what really happens. When a diesel gets gas put in the tank instead of fuel the main thing that is noticeable is lack of power. running too much gasoline through a diesel, however, can result in pump damage due to lack of lubrication.
Click to expand...

Ha! That's interesting. Never considered what would happen if one put gasoline in a diesel... but I didn't do that.

My hand pump seems to be working okay because I can "feel" a bit of resistance in that last 1/2" of "pump" when one of the ports are cracked for the air to go out.
 
(quoted from post at 11:18:50 01/30/19) My MF30 ran out of diesel so I needed to bleed the lines to get it going. I saw a mechanic splash gasoline on the air filter, put the filter back in and start the tractor right up. I'm wondering: Does this method of starting a tractor do some damage to it?

That method certainly beats the other process of working the hand pump and loosening cocks on the filters.
Click to expand...
Its been a few years since I had to bleed the Perkins on this Massey Super 90. We'd had the head off and injectors out so everything was empty. Seem to recall it was no easy job getting all the air out til it started. I make sure to never run it out of fuel as I don't want that job again.
 
Well, that's helpful. I can't figure out if it's just "not easy" or I'm doing something wrong. It's been years since the filters have been changed... and looked like at least 10 years since the primary filter was changed, so it seemed like a good idea.
 
I had the same issue when I ran my Deere out of fuel a couple weeks ago. I finally resorted to a small squirt of ether with the lines slightly cracked at the injectors. Fired right up, and just ran a little rough until I tightened the lines up. The ether (was also told diesel or gas on a rag would work) lets the engine run just enough to force the air out of the lines. I had tried for two days to get the thing fired and it just wouldn't crank enough to force the air out. It took one tiny squirt of ether and it was running.
 
Thanks MJ! You have no idea how depressed I've been about that tractor! I know it's something so easy to get going. I think my problem may be exactly "how much" gasoline/starter fluid/diesel to squirt into the intake to get her going. I started it before with gasoline... but for some reason it's not working this time. Maybe it's the weather. Been very rainy lately.
 
Have you followed the procedure in the Operators Manual? Bleed the filter using the manual primer then the lower bleed bolt then the upper bolt "then" crack an injector and see if you have flow, attempt to start then snug the injector when it starts. It gets pretty messy so have a drip pan in place unless you want diesel everywhere. If the engine is in decent shape it should fire off pretty quickly UNLESS you left a gasket laying in the top of a napa/wix style filter. This has been discussed several times in the MF forum. Good Luck, it sounds like you may be close to running.
BTW your message is showing up separated because the original has been moved to the archive. Still available by Search though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
John Deere 4020 Won't Run
Replies
10
Views
777
caseitman
C
Z
MF 265 No Fuel to Injectors
Replies
6
Views
291
zcronk
Z
N
3910 not running right
Replies
5
Views
329
NHbalerman
N
S
Odds and Ends on the 3000
Replies
10
Views
506
Hobo,NC
Hobo,NC
M
4710 fuel filter
Replies
4
Views
540
MoMoose
M
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top