5000 Valve Adjustments

[Heagon]

1972 Ford 5200 Diesel, seems to be a little hard starting and I got to thinking it could be the valves out if adjustment? Could that make it harder to start? Also, seemed to have lost my manual, what are the specs for the valves on a 256?
Thanks, Heagon

 

[Bern]

.015" intake, .018" exhaust.

The only way a valve adjustment could cause hard starting is if they're too tight, as in the valve(s) not seating. Not likely
on a Ford.

Reason for hard starting/low compression on a 5000 is typically the wrong head gasket if it's an early one.

 

[Dopp Creek]

When was the last time you changed the oil
in the cam box of the injection pump?
Should be done with each engine oil
change? My 8000 started hard and had a
surge until I changed mine.

 

[MikeJM]

Define hard starting. Whats your ambient temps? Condition of the battery and cables, is it cranking fast enough? Have to give it a sniff?

Inline injection pump? Like Dopp Creek said, when the last time you changed the pump oil? If an inline pump are you opening the throttle and pushing the little button in on the shutdown lever to give it excess fuel for starting?

Intake heater in place? Working? Tried using it?

Sometimes they are just plum wore out.

 

[Heagon]

(quoted from post at 18:42:35 01/09/21) Define hard starting. Whats your ambient temps? Condition of the battery and cables, is it cranking fast enough? Have to give it a sniff?

Inline injection pump? Like Dopp Creek said, when the last time you changed the pump oil? If an inline pump are you opening the throttle and pushing the little button in on the shutdown lever to give it excess fuel for starting?

Intake heater in place? Working? Tried using it?

Sometimes they are just plum wore out.

Yes, using manifold heater and the fuel button. I think after thinking on it more the starter isnt spinning it over fast enough. Anything under about 50 degrees Fahrenheit it has to be roll started, or put a 300amp booster so it will really spin when cranking. Sniff of ether and itll start good. Kept it parked in the garage and let the temps warm up to about 60 and with the fuel button and a little preheat it started in no time. Does anyone know of a fast spinning starter thatll fit?

 

[Destroked 450]

The Bosch starter used on the 7740 has more cranking power and spins the engine faster, its about a inch longer than the old Lucas but it fits ok, I put one on my 6610 and it starts better now
This starter wont fit the smaller 3 cylinder tractors, its to long and hits the inj pump

 

[Bern]

If the Lucas starter won't spin a 3-cylinder fast enough, the engine has more problems than the Bosch starter will ever be
able to cure.

 

[Heagon]

(quoted from post at 19:48:24 01/09/21) If the Lucas starter won't spin a 3-cylinder fast enough, the engine has more problems than the Bosch starter will ever be
able to cure.

When I bought the tractor, the starter would hang occasionally. Went to the old ford dealer in town and they sold me an aftermarket, this starter has spun slower than the first one since Ive had it. The original would crank the 4cy fast enough, but this one is slower.

 

[Bern]

Cranking speed has a major effect on starting ability. If your new starter is indeed slower than the old one, I'd either take
it back or else figure out where your voltage loss is in your cables or connections.

 

[sotxbill]

I have seen several that have tired injector pumps... that dont squirt well at cranking speeds. Add that to a bit of wear and it means it needs several/many turns to start putting fuel in the engine. They are lazy slow crankers.... HOWEVER... Using the cold start helps start them almost on the half of the first crank,, even in warm/cold weather, and hot or cold engines.


As to exactly what the cold start button on the injector pump does,,, maybe someone can commit. excess fuel??

This would support my theory of lack of fuel?? maybe worn governor? on these tractors... Last two 5000s I have sold both exhibit this trait.

 

[Bern]

The cold start button allows the fuel rack to move back further than normal for excess fuel. Some versions also retard the
timing at the same time, making for even easier starting.

 

[Destroked 450]

(quoted from post at 21:48:24 01/09/21) If the Lucas starter won't spin a 3-cylinder fast enough, the engine has more problems than the Bosch starter will ever be
able to cure.

Cranking speed is key when starting a diesel in cold weather so if there's a starter that will crank the engine faster than the Lucas I'm interested.
I installed one of the Denso gear reduction starters on my 4000 some years ago, it made a difference in cold weather starts but the bendix went bad after 4 years and I couldn't find a replacement bendix.

 

[Texasmark1]

I'm glad somebody decided to toss low compression possibility into the responses. On a well used 3000 I bought once, I did "all the other stuff" and in the end the problem was low compression. ....I spent a lot of money on the other stuff but with the age of the tractor it probably was due to be changed anyway and one of the problems was that the starter was a 4" and 5" is required for the diesel.