MF65 diesel won't start

[Fergy63]

Hello.

I have a 1960 MF65 diesel that I replaced a blown head gasket and misc gaskets including injectors dust rubber sels. I follow the pump bleeding procedure and it still won't start, I don't see any obstruction in the air inlet.

is there another way that I could fire up the engine?

Thanks.

 

[JimB2]

When bleeding the injection pump, did you get fuel out of both bleed screws on the pump?
Loosen a couple injector lines at the rear of the pump and try to start the engine and see if there is any fuel dripping out the loosened injector lines? If no fuel then if the tractor has been sitting for several months, the metering valve could be stuck in the injection pump.
Try freeing up the metering valve by pull the throttle to wide open and then work the RUN/STOP lever back and forth for several times and then try to start the tractor and see if there is any fuel at the loosened injector lines.
Had a neighbor with MF35 with the CAV injection pump and after he retired from farming and only used the tractor to work his garden in spring and fall and some snow plowing, he had problems with the metering valve sticking in the CAV pump after sitting for a few months.

Maybe @Dieseltech will give you more advice.

 

[scootergmc]

Did you have the head worked? Are the valves readjusted? Are the gears timed correctly? Are we to assume all the variables were done?

 

[used red MN]

Loosen a couple injector lines at the rear of the pump and try to start the engine and see if there is any fuel dripping out the loosened injector lines? If no fuel then if the tractor has been sitting for several months, the metering valve could be stuck in the injection pump.

Did you replace the head gasket since this November 2023 post? Previous no start post Nov. 23 Did it ever run since this? If no fuel comes out of the injector line connections your pump very likely has parts in it that have stuck and won’t allow it to pump. I personally would loosen them up on the head so if fuel shows up there you know it is being “pumped” up there. If no fuel it probably needs pulled off and went through by a knowledgeable person that has a test stand who can check it for proper operation after the repair.

 

[miangus]

They are kind of a pain to get to bleed out. I would loosen the plug at the filters, crank the engine until fuel sprays out. Open the first bleeder at the pump and crank the engine until I got a solid stream of fuel, repeat for the second bleeder. Loosen an injector line and crank the engine. And as I have mentioned before you must get fuel on your pants, just getting diesel fuel on your shirt doesn't count.

 

[Fergy63]

When bleeding the injection pump, did you get fuel out of both bleed screws on the pump?
Loosen a couple injector lines at the rear of the pump and try to start the engine and see if there is any fuel dripping out the loosened injector lines? If no fuel then if the tractor has been sitting for several months, the metering valve could be stuck in the injection pump.
Try freeing up the metering valve by pull the throttle to wide open and then work the RUN/STOP lever back and forth for several times and then try to start the tractor and see if there is any fuel at the loosened injector lines.
Had a neighbor with MF35 with the CAV injection pump and after he retired from farming and only used the tractor to work his garden in spring and fall and some snow plowing, he had problems with the metering valve sticking in the CAV pump after sitting for a few months.

Maybe @Dieseltech will give you more advice.

Yes I got fuel out of the bleeding screws on the pump and on top of the injectors return line.

 

[Fergy63]

Did you have the head worked? Are the valves readjusted? Are the gears timed correctly? Are we to assume all the variables were done?

I just replaced the blown head gasket and bolt everything back on and adjust the valves, the timing gears were untouched.

 

[Fergy63]

Did you replace the head gasket since this November 2023 post? Previous no start post Nov. 23 Did it ever run since this? If no fuel comes out of the injector line connections your pump very likely has parts in it that have stuck and won’t allow it to pump. I personally would loosen them up on the head so if fuel shows up there you know it is being “pumped” up there. If no fuel it probably needs pulled off and went through by a knowledgeable person that has a test stand who can check it for proper operation after the repair.

The fuel pump is working, fuel is pissing from the injector pump bleed screws when I crank the engine.

 

[Fergy63]

They are kind of a pain to get to bleed out. I would loosen the plug at the filters, crank the engine until fuel sprays out. Open the first bleeder at the pump and crank the engine until I got a solid stream of fuel, repeat for the second bleeder. Loosen an injector line and crank the engine. And as I have mentioned before you must get fuel on your pants, just getting diesel fuel on your shirt doesn't count.

I bleed both filters, constant fuel incoming out.

 

[scootergmc]

I'd give it a quick shot of ether and see if it sputters. That would help narrow it down to a fuel problem.

 

[Fergy63]

I'd give it a quick shot of ether and see if it sputters. That would help narrow it down to a fuel problem.

I did give it a shot of quick start, it puttered but didn't start. I can't get around my head the fuel reach the injectors return line and I bled the system 3 times already and still it won't start. I cleaned everything when I removed the injectors and the head for a new head gasket.

 

[scootergmc]

Have you had your injectors tested?

 

[used red MN]

I can't get around my head the fuel reach the injectors return line

Not real familiar with that system. In many cases the injector return line is coming from the return from the injection pump and the line picks up the return leak off from the injectors as it passes by them and continues on to the tank. So the return from the pump may be what you are seeing. This may not apply in your case. Pull it around a while and see if it will go.

 

[Fergy63]

I got it going, purged the fuel a fourth time and it fired up. Finally it stopped smoking when warmed up. Lapping the valves and new gaskets and fluids helped a lot. Now its time to get rid of it.

Thank you all for the correspondence and inputs.

 

[miangus]

That’s how it seems to always go.

 

[used red MN]

I got it going, purged the fuel a fourth time and it fired up. Finally it stopped smoking when warmed up. Lapping the valves and new gaskets and fluids helped a lot. Now its time to get rid of it.

Thank you all for the correspondence and inputs.

Thanks for the report, glad it started for you.