Re: 400 Diesel - Take it or leave it?

Posted by David in UT on September 29, 2003 at 19:32:59 from (63.187.17.210):

In Reply to: 400 Diesel - Take it or leave it? posted by Big Joe on September 27, 2003 at 15:17:12:

Big Joe,

I bought a '56 400D a couple of years ago that my family uses for launching boats into a lake. After an initial ignition problem that turned out to be just a bad condenser, it's run very reliably. (In fact, I'm afraid it's more reliable than a '96 runabout with a modern Chevy engine and Volvo outdrive. How can a boat with less than 400 hours on it not work as well as a fifty year old tractor?!! Do I sound frustrated? Ah, but I digress...)

This was my first tractor project, and I was a little nervous about the complexity of the gas/diesel setup. It does take quite a few steps to start up and shut down the tractor, but now that I've got the process down, it's not hard at all. And besides, throwing that compression lever forward while giving it the throttle is a real hoot -- that big 'ol diesel fires up, belches out some smoke, and everyone nearby knows you're driving some red power!

The fuel delivery systems are pretty straightforward. On the gas side, you've got a very simple carburator. So simple, in fact, that it will only idle the engine...it has no throttle control...just a choke. The diesel side does have a couple of fuel filters and a sediment bowl...all of which need to have good gaskets on 'em or they'll leak. I don't think my injector pump has been touched for years, and it seems to be good order, even though the fuel pressure gauge doesn't register.

Feel free to email me with specific questions. Have fun!

- David

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