Ford 3000 hard start

[Mudrig150]

3000 with CAV pump.
Have been having issues with the tractor struggling to start after sitting overnight but for some reason now it won't run longer than 15 seconds and sounds like it's running on 1 cylinder.
Getting very weak fuel flow from the injector lines despite having good flow from the fuel pump. Tractor also most just hit a few times upon initially turning the key and then nothing after a few seconds of cranking, but it occasionally WILL start but won't stay running.
The fuel in it was absolute trash and almost sticky with no obviously lubrication to it, so I drained the tank, lines, and filters and put fresh fuel in then ran it for 2 hours but the fuel coming out is right back to being nasty.

 

[sotxbill]

You might have the dreaded black/grey algae growing in your fuel, in which case it will gum up the works. You will to completely flush the tank with a high pressure hose, then dry it, Add back fuel and a diesel "biocide" to kill off this alien growth from mars. You also will have to change all filters and flush your pump. The pump MAY be clogged and will require an expensive rebuild. You could have water in the fuel system that encourages this growth. Water also cause other bad things like rust and corrosion in the pump that stops it up. Many times the "rack" in the cav pump is gummed up and will not slide and turn on the fuel to the engine due to this problem. But I would definately flush the system till nice clean fuel comes out!!!!!

 

[winslo]

And another fuel/cav story... began working on a 2000 3 cylinder diesel that followed me home as a parts tractor. First step was to drain the fuel tank, so I opened the tap and nothing came out. Removed the fuel line and unscrewed the tap and varnish came out. Then slick black tar, lots of it. Let it drain. Checked the tank with a light and black scum covers the bottom. What to use to clean it? Noticed that paint thinner didn't have much effect. Old gas... had two partial small cans of chainsaw gas and dumped it in. Let it sit for some days. Drained tank. Same as before, more watery. Back in the fuel tank for some days. Drained again. Cleaner, not so much black. Next emptied some degreaser that was sitting around into the tank, let it sit for a week or two. Drained again. Not so much black anymore. Inside tank looked very clean. On to fuel lines: removed them all from the pump and dumped into a pan with degreaser. Let sit some weeks. Pan liquid gradually turned black, so I took each line to a vise and ran a piece of electrical wire through until it came out clean (it took several tries), then to the outdoor sink and a water rinse. Then on to the cav: removed the bottom plug to see if anything dripped, and yes, it did. Watched some videos on cav pumps and pondered my predicament. And that's where the story is... and remains till this day.

 

[winslo]

And another fuel/cav story... began working on a 2000 3 cylinder diesel that followed me home as a parts tractor. First step was to drain the fuel tank, so I opened the tap and nothing came out. Removed the fuel line and unscrewed the tap and varnish came out. Then slick black tar, lots of it. Let it drain. Checked the tank with a light and black scum covers the bottom. What to use to clean it? Noticed that paint thinner didn't have much effect. Old gas... had two partial small cans of chainsaw gas and dumped it in. Let it sit for some days. Drained tank. Same as before, more watery. Back in the fuel tank for some days. Drained again. Cleaner, not so much black. Next emptied some degreaser that was sitting around into the tank, let it sit for a week or two. Drained again. Not so much black anymore. Inside tank looked very clean. On to fuel lines: removed them all from the pump and dumped into a pan with degreaser. Let sit some weeks. Pan liquid gradually turned black, so I took each line to a vise and ran a piece of electrical wire through until it came out clean (it took several tries), then to the outdoor sink and a water rinse. Then on to the cav: removed the bottom plug to see if anything dripped, and yes, it did. Watched some videos on cav pumps and pondered my predicament. And that's where the story is... and remains till this day.

 

[Mudrig150]

I think the problem is that the plungers in the pump are stuck... I'm gonna go ahead and pull the pump apart and free them up and see what that does for me. I think the injectors might be partially gummed up as well.

 

[Mudrig150]

Okay, so it's gotten weird. It WAS doing nothing, wouldn't even smoke, then on a whim I turned the key today and it started but only for about 10 seconds. It will start and run but only on like one cylinder and then it shuts off. I checked the fuel pump bleeder and it will spit fuel for a few seconds and then it stops... it seems as if the filter is partially clogged so it stops up the fuel flow under pressure. When the engine is turned over it pulls the junk into the injection pump filter and it doesn't let fuel through.