MF 180 Quit Running

[Walleyeguy13]

I know next to nothing about tractor (or old diesel) engines so am looking for thoughts from the experts. We have a Massey Ferguson 180 with the Perkins diesel that came with a property we purchased. Started and ran just fine last season. Started and ran fine for several hours for two days this weekend... until it didn't!

We were clearing some trails in the woods all morning and brought the tractor up to the cabin to hook up a box scraper. While backing up, the tractor just quit and we have not been able to get it restarted. What we have done:

Checked all along the line to make sure fuel is present and pumping... from tank to pump, fuel getting a strong stream to the first fuel filter. Bled both filters, fuel is flowing out there. Drained the sediment bowl under the first filter. Opened up both bleeders on the injector pump... strong stream out those when engine is cranked. Loosened the connectors to the fuel injectors and verified fuel is running out when engine is cranked... you can see short quick squirts of fuel. So it seems we have fuel flow without air bubbles present.

The engine cranks fine, and fires when ether is sprayed into the port above the alternator... just no apparent fuel flow.

Taking a look at the fuel... it looks pretty cloudy so we are wondering if this might be the culprit. It is from last season and has not been treated. Not sure how it ran for a few hours beforehand, but at this point we are looking to start from scratch. So our plan is to drain all the old fuel, change the filters and see what happens next.

Should we be looking at the injectors themselves?

Appreciate any thoughts/feedback.

 

[quefan]

I know next to nothing about tractor (or old diesel) engines so am looking for thoughts from the experts. We have a Massey Ferguson 180 with the Perkins diesel that came with a property we purchased. Started and ran just fine last season. Started and ran fine for several hours for two days this weekend... until it didn't!

We were clearing some trails in the woods all morning and brought the tractor up to the cabin to hook up a box scraper. While backing up, the tractor just quit and we have not been able to get it restarted. What we have done:

Checked all along the line to make sure fuel is present and pumping... from tank to pump, fuel getting a strong stream to the first fuel filter. Bled both filters, fuel is flowing out there. Drained the sediment bowl under the first filter. Opened up both bleeders on the injector pump... strong stream out those when engine is cranked. Loosened the connectors to the fuel injectors and verified fuel is running out when engine is cranked... you can see short quick squirts of fuel. So it seems we have fuel flow without air bubbles present.

The engine cranks fine, and fires when ether is sprayed into the port above the alternator... just no apparent fuel flow.

Taking a look at the fuel... it looks pretty cloudy so we are wondering if this might be the culprit. It is from last season and has not been treated. Not sure how it ran for a few hours beforehand, but at this point we are looking to start from scratch. So our plan is to drain all the old fuel, change the filters and see what happens next.

Should we be looking at the injectors themselves?

Appreciate any thoughts/feedback.

How is the air filter condition, using the port above the alternator bypasses the air filter ?
Air filter behind the 180 emblem on the left side.

 

[Walleyeguy13]

How is the air filter condition, using the port above the alternator bypasses the air filter ?
Air filter behind the 180 emblem on the left side.

Will check when we are back out to replace fuel and fuel filters.

 

[Powered By IH]

I know next to nothing about tractor (or old diesel) engines so am looking for thoughts from the experts. We have a Massey Ferguson 180 with the Perkins diesel that came with a property we purchased. Started and ran just fine last season. Started and ran fine for several hours for two days this weekend... until it didn't!

We were clearing some trails in the woods all morning and brought the tractor up to the cabin to hook up a box scraper. While backing up, the tractor just quit and we have not been able to get it restarted. What we have done:

Checked all along the line to make sure fuel is present and pumping... from tank to pump, fuel getting a strong stream to the first fuel filter. Bled both filters, fuel is flowing out there. Drained the sediment bowl under the first filter. Opened up both bleeders on the injector pump... strong stream out those when engine is cranked. Loosened the connectors to the fuel injectors and verified fuel is running out when engine is cranked... you can see short quick squirts of fuel. So it seems we have fuel flow without air bubbles present.

The engine cranks fine, and fires when ether is sprayed into the port above the alternator... just no apparent fuel flow.

Taking a look at the fuel... it looks pretty cloudy so we are wondering if this might be the culprit. It is from last season and has not been treated. Not sure how it ran for a few hours beforehand, but at this point we are looking to start from scratch. So our plan is to drain all the old fuel, change the filters and see what happens next.

Should we be looking at the injectors themselves?

Appreciate any thoughts/feedback.

Any update?

 

[Walleyeguy13]

Any update?

Haven’t been back out to the property yet. Probably tomorrow. I will definitely update here after we go through it again.

 

[Powered By IH]

Haven’t been back out to the property yet. Probably tomorrow. I will definitely update here after we go through it again.

Did you ever check and make sure the stop cable was pushed in all the way?

If nothing else, disconnect the cable at the pump. Push the lever on the pump all the way foward (you might have to hold it there) and see if that makes a difference. I know you have fuel squirting at the injectors but it might not be enough fuel.

I would also change the fuel, just to be sure that's not the problem. When you bleed it make sure you get good fresh fuel out of the injectors.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Walleyeguy13]

Did you ever check and make sure the stop cable was pushed in all the way?

First thing I’m checking tomorrow!

 

[Walleyeguy13]

OK…. Stop cable was definitely pushed all the way in, the lever on the injector pump all the way forward. The fuel tank had been draining for a week, so that was totally empty. Pumped what was left out of injector pump. Reconnected the line from the tank to the fuel pump. Then we replaced both fuel filters/0-rings/gaskets… both pretty nasty/muddy looking. Cleaned out the clear bowl beneath.

We refilled the tank with fresh fuel and began to hand pump fuel into the system… bled the first filter, then the second. Pulled the lower bleeder from the injector pump and got a steady stream of fuel. Pulled the top bleeder and pumped till we had a stream of fuel. Pulled the lines off the injectors and cranked until fuel was pulsing out. So no air.

After re-connecting we cranked it over… no go. Then we shot some ether into the manifold and darned if it didn’t fire up! It ran great. We tooled around the property, moved a mower and were about to hook up the box blade and the damn thing just quit again! We made it a good half hour before it shut down again.

I just pulled the top bleeder off the injector pump and have great fuel pressure there, also pulled a line off one injector and have great pulse there. So I’m baffled.

Did you ever check and make sure the stop cable was pushed in all the way?

If nothing else, disconnect the cable at the pump. Push the lever on the pump all the way foward (you might have to hold it there) and see if that makes a difference. I know you have fuel squirting at the injectors but it might not be enough fuel.

I would also change the fuel, just to be sure that's not the problem. When you bleed it make sure you get good fresh fuel out of the injectors.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Walleyeguy13]

OK…. Stop cable was definitely pushed all the way in, the lever on the injector pump all the way forward. The fuel tank had been draining for a week, so that was totally empty. Pumped what was left out of injector pump. Reconnected the line from the tank to the fuel pump. Then we replaced both fuel filters/0-rings/gaskets… both pretty nasty/muddy looking. Cleaned out the clear bowl beneath.

We refilled the tank with fresh fuel and began to hand pump fuel into the system… bled the first filter, then the second. Pulled the lower bleeder from the injector pump and got a steady stream of fuel. Pulled the top bleeder and pumped till we had a stream of fuel. Pulled the lines off the injectors and cranked until fuel was pulsing out. So no air.

After re-connecting we cranked it over… no go. Then we shot some ether into the manifold and darned if it didn’t fire up! It ran great. We tooled around the property, moved a mower and were about to hook up the box blade and the damn thing just quit again! We made it a good half hour before it shut down again.

I just pulled the top bleeder off the injector pump and have great fuel pressure there, also pulled a line off one injector and have great pulse there. So I’m baffled.

Annnd now it’s running again

 

[Powered By IH]

Annnd now it’s running again

So now it's running fine currently or are you still having issues?

It must be afraid of the box blade...

 

[Walleyeguy13]

So now it's running fine currently or are you still having issues?

It must be afraid of the box blade...

It’s running fine now. Bladed up a 1/4 mile of trail.

 

[MFEngineer]

Do you hear any air hissing when you open the fuel filler cap? It sounds like the cap may not be venting the tank making a vacuum. Every time you open the cap to check the fuel you release it and fuel flows normally.

 

[Walleyeguy13]

Do you hear any air hissing when you open the fuel filler cap? It sounds like the cap may not be venting the tank making a vacuum. Every time you open the cap to check the fuel you release it and fuel flows normally.

We wondered about that. Did not hear any hissing or rush of air when we opened it, but I’m not sure how tight a seal that old cap makes.

 

[miangus]

Likely finally got all the air out of the system, great news that it's running, they are a pretty nice tractor. I have got so I crank them over to bleed the pump.

 

[Walleyeguy13]

Likely finally got all the air out of the system, great news that it's running, they are a pretty nice tractor. I have got so I crank them over to bleed the pump.

It is fun to work with, but might be a touch unwieldy for woods work. I wonder what the value is if sold with the woods-all bucket. I think my son said it was a ‘65?