4000 Shuts down while driving

[Jobbie King]

I have a 74 4000 Ford 3 cyl diesel. It has set up for a couple of years. I got it started and it runs fine. The problem is when I start driving it, it starts chocking itself down until it finally stops. I can then immediately restart it and it will do the same thing in a couple of minutes. I have drained the tank and changed the fuel filter.
 

[Dieseltech]

Start at the tank outlet, is flow ok or slow with line off? Check clear through to injection pump inlet. If ok and tank cap is not plugged you may have small inlet screen at pump inlet plugged causing stalling. May need a new one if old one is damaged on removal. Watch how the spring/piston assembly is arranged also. Return line must be open back to tank too, if not high return pressure will cause shutdown also.
 

[Al Baker]

Sounds like you have some type of return line restection. On the cav or roosa pump a slight plug will cause the plungers to equalize their pressure on both sides causing them to not pump. loosen the return line where it comes out of the pump and let it leak. See if this allows it to stay alive. If so then you know there is a pressure build up. If you have the simms inline pump then you are starving the pump for fuel.Check for fuel suppy at the fitting going into the pump head. You should have a good steady stream of fuel. I own a small pump shop, and have been inside of hundreds of these pumps. I dont charge anything for over the phone advice. Give me a call and I will help walk you through your problem and get you back up and running 231/757/0064 Ask for Al
 

[souNdguy]

check for continous fuel delivery first.. and then leak off lines 2nd.
 

[RodinNS]

I'd pull the filter off and see what kind of flow you've got coming into the filter housing. If it's not a decent steady stream, work back towards the tank. Usual problems there are blocked strainer in the tank... or if that's missing... dirt/chaff or ice in the valve.
It's also not uncommon for the line between the tank and the filter housing to ice up. So... check that first. That's the most common problem on those tractors. It's not that the govenor can't come apart and block the return but it's pretty uncommon from what I've seen...

Rod
 

[Texasmark1]

What about a clogged fuel cap vent? Vacuum in the tank means no fuel to the engine and as the vacuum develops it starts shutting down fuel. Letting it sit allows the vac to bleed off and you repeat the process. Easiest check is to just take the cap off and see how it runs.

Mark
 

[Tequila]

Sounds like all the possibilities have been covered, but I will share my experience on a 68 4000 diesel. Similar problems developed, engine shutting down after 10 minutes or so at or above third throttle. I would shut it down and remove fuel lines and get steady drip of fuel. Bleed everything and go again for a while, same problem. I noticed when I purchased the tractor it had numerous nicks around the fuel shut off where previous owner had apparently been tapping. I drained the tank, removed the valve and screen. It was partially plugged. Made a mop out of dowel rod, attached a piece of sponge and rag with wire ties, and with a pen light cleaned the sludge from the tank depression. New valve and screen, no problem since.