Difficulty getting Ford 3000 to fire

[NJClark7]

I have a 1971 Ford 3000 Select-o-speed diesel with a Simms fuel pump. I serviced it with new filters, gaskets and fluids this summer and got it running well. This is my first diesel tractor. Recently, I was so enamored with tilling up my ground I didn't realize I had ran out of diesel fuel. Thinking this was like an unleaded vehicle, I filled it up with 4.5 gallons of diesel and tried to start it. To my surprise the battery will crank but the engine won't fire. There is grey diesel smoke coming out of the exhaust and the battery is healthy, cranking at 10.8 V. Now, I know I'm an idiot and should have never let the tractor run out of diesel. Air had gotten into the fuel lines. I have bled the fuel filters, attempted to bleed the Simms pump (Although diesel only comes out when the engine is cranked, not by the small hand pump), and I have bled the 3 fuel injectors where they meet the engine. I am at a loss here, what else should I do to get it firing? Thank you all for your help and wisdom.

 

[Keith Williams]

I have a 1971 Ford 3000 Select-o-speed diesel with a Simms fuel pump. I serviced it with new filters, gaskets and fluids this summer and got it running well. This is my first diesel tractor. Recently, I was so enamored with tilling up my ground I didn't realize I had ran out of diesel fuel. Thinking this was like an unleaded vehicle, I filled it up with 4.5 gallons of diesel and tried to start it. To my surprise the battery will crank but the engine won't fire. There is grey diesel smoke coming out of the exhaust and the battery is healthy, cranking at 10.8 V. Now, I know I'm an idiot and should have never let the tractor run out of diesel. Air had gotten into the fuel lines. I have bled the fuel filters, attempted to bleed the Simms pump (Although diesel only comes out when the engine is cranked, not by the small hand pump), and I have bled the 3 fuel injectors where they meet the engine. I am at a loss here, what else should I do to get it firing? Thank you all for your help and wisdom.

To bleed a Simms pump, you open the bleed screw on the side then pump the hand pump until all the bubbles are out of the fuel.
To start, I would then:
1 Make sure the fuel shut off is fully in.
2 Pull the throttle lever fully back
3 On the pivot of the throttle on the pump, there is a button (under a rubber cover). Push that in. You will hear a sound (TINK).
That sound is the fuel rack going to max.
4 Turn over the engine using the starter. You should see black smoke as you are at max fuel volume.
5 As soon as it starts firing move the throttle to half speed.
6 The engine will sputter some then clear up as the air is removed from the system.

Rereading your question, you state that the hand pump will not push fuel out of the bleeder.
After retrying that several times, I would question if that hand pump is defective?

You can also try a light spray of starter fluid at the air intake if all else fails. Don't overdue the amount, and spray only while cranking.

I would have suggested pull starting, but with an SOS you can't due that.

HTH
Keith

 

[showcrop]

Keep pumping

 

[sotxbill]

IF the hand pump is on a cam lobe, you will need to bump the engine a bit so that it can now pump. The hand pump can be cheaply replaced with an aftermarket pump if needed. BUT.. you bleed the filter first, then hand pump the primary side of the inj pump till it runs out of the little bleeder screw with no bubbles,,, then you can start to crank and bleed the high pressure side. DO NOT over tighten anything on the injector pump as it can and will strip out... Then you really have problems... Also you can bleed the tractor with starting fluid if you very lightly spray it into the air intake while cranking... and actually run the engine,, til it picks up the diesel fuel.

 

[NJClark7]

Thank you for the feedback. I will try this starting fluid method. My mechanic friend is coming tomorrow to look at it with me and get it going. I appreciate the insight and will update you guys if we get it running!