starting diesel out of fuel

keh · Dec 18, 2009

A lot of us have had to do one of my least favorite jobs, getting a diesel going after running it out of fuel. I wonder how it its done on one of the new tractors with the common rail fuel injection system?

BTW, it's 35 degrees and raining here in SC and I have to go feed cows, thankfully in a cab tractor. Snowing in W NC mountains, 3-12 inches expected.

KEH

guido · Dec 18, 2009

Hello KEH,
First you need to fill all of the filters.
Then while the engine is crancking, bleed the air out of the rail/s.
If it does not start then, you can put 10 to 20 Lbs. air pressure to the fuel tank, while crancking the engine, and it should pick up the fuel then.
Filling the filters and bleeding the rail/s is all you need most of the time.
Make sure you have plenty of crancking speed, put a charger or jumper to the batteries if you think is not crancking fast enough!
Guido.

Flurette Farm · Dec 18, 2009

Or you could just do as the operators manual instructs.
Most newer tractors it isn't required the you bled the system.

MeanGene1 · Dec 18, 2009

Pray that it's not an old Detroit...

greenmachineman · Dec 18, 2009

common rails do not need to be bled

buickanddeere · Dec 18, 2009

Old Detroit two strokes were the easiest to prime and start after running out of fuel.

BCnT · Dec 18, 2009

try being on a crew boat...miles offshore...with a load of algae in filters and a waterspout headed your way.
you'd be amazed at how fast i got that boat runnin
3x 16/71 Detroits

Anonymous-0 · Dec 18, 2009

I agree with that. I knew a guy with a 6-53 in a track hoe. To change filters, he just took the old one of and put a new one full of fuel back on and it started right up and never had to be bled of any air at all. Not many engines are that easy. Dave

keh · Dec 18, 2009

Thanks for replies. I don't have that late a model tractor but I was curious.

KEH

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Dec 18, 2009

It depends on the type of common rail systems as to how easy they are to get them started again. The Ford Powerstroke engines are one of the easiest to prime. The high pressure oil injectors use an electric pump to charge the fuel rails. Cycling the key a few times to run the electric pump will refill the system. High pressure fuel systems usually require some work like on a Duramax. They have a primer pump to get fuel to the fuel pump. Once the fuel gets to the pump the engine normally will start and run.

schriffs · Dec 18, 2009

The newer (last 1-3 years) John Deere common rail engines have electric fuel pumps. Put new filters on empty, turn key on for a minute. Repeat if necessary. Start engine. Life is good. Older ones are a pain in the tailpipe. Pump hand primer 75-100 strokes. It often helps to loosen a fitting beyond the primer to let air out and tighten it when fuel is flowing that far, then loosen another one farther down the line. It also sometimes helps to pinch off the return line while pumping and have someone else try to start it once the primer starts to build pressure.

msb · Dec 19, 2009

Don't know of any that is harder than an old 2 cylinder Deere.They can be a REAL pain in the butt.

Sparktrician · Dec 19, 2009

Our hardest...JD 5400...would rather take a woopin...

Our easiest...JD 4440, rather forgiving,

2-180 white w/ 3298 cat isnt much fun either...

buickanddeere · Dec 19, 2009

The two cylinder diesels are about the easiest to re-prime. Three drain plugs to vent the air. Then roll her over a few times with the starting engine. They start right up.

starting diesel out of fuel

keh

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guido

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Flurette Farm

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MeanGene1

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greenmachineman

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buickanddeere

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BCnT

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Anonymous-0

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keh

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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schriffs

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msb

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Sparktrician

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buickanddeere

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