Snattlerake
Member
- Location
- OKC
My brother-in-law has my deceased father's 1959 Ford 841 diesel. He was trying to sell it but couldn't get it started again after sitting for 6 months.
He said, six months ago he was working the tractor and shut it off to get a drink. When he came back, it had started itself and was sitting in place, running at idle.
Since it is a diesel and has a mechanical fuel pump and will not shut off with the key like a gas engine, he has to use the accelerator lever on the right side of the steering wheel to shut off the fuel to kill the tractor.
This unnerved him and since he had completed the work with the tractor, he stored it in the shed, shutting off the fuel by the aforementioned method and disconnected the battery.
He decided to sell it. He called me and I put it online in a local forum I am a part of and had three buyers. One absolutely wanted a running tractor and had first dibs. Since he had stipulations, we considered his offer second place to someone who would step up and take the beast running or not.
BIL and I tried to start it but the battery was dead Fred. He bought new one and replaced it. When we attempted to attach the positive cable to the solenoid, the solenoid clicked and the sparks flew on the terminal causing wisps of smoke. I quickly removed it. Thinking a shorted solenoid was the culprit for the self starting tractor, I used jumper cables to the starter terminal. The starter was stuck tight and wasn't even trying. After about an hour of love taps and reapplying the power in quick milisecond snaps, it finally chugged a bit. Oh happy day! Also after an hour, the battery was down so I jumped the battery with my truck. It still chugged a bit then the terminal got hot. I waited about 20 minutes for the charging to complete and tried the starter again. The starter chugged and chugged but it didn't start. After two more tries, I climbed up and checked the fuel tank. Lessee, compression, heat, air and fuel for a diesel right? Dang it brother, that tank wasn't even wet at the bottom. I wanted to pull the tractor to pull start it but I was by myself and my other buddy backed out having unexpected company.
So now the plan is when he gets home from a trip this weekend, he's gonna get some diesel pushmawater and add it to the tank. Then I got the call. A feller wants the tractor, running or not and wants to be present when we try to start it again. Hey, he's bringing cash and a trailer, who am I to argue?
He's agreeing with me on my diagnosis and bringing a solenoid with him.
One other question, is there a priming pump lever or something to prime the fuel pump? I remember my 930 Long Nose had one. (never ran out of fuel again either) It has the tarp on it and that front end loader so I couldn't see much of anything on the engine.
Just for grins, do you think we diagnosed it correctly?
He said, six months ago he was working the tractor and shut it off to get a drink. When he came back, it had started itself and was sitting in place, running at idle.
Since it is a diesel and has a mechanical fuel pump and will not shut off with the key like a gas engine, he has to use the accelerator lever on the right side of the steering wheel to shut off the fuel to kill the tractor.
This unnerved him and since he had completed the work with the tractor, he stored it in the shed, shutting off the fuel by the aforementioned method and disconnected the battery.
He decided to sell it. He called me and I put it online in a local forum I am a part of and had three buyers. One absolutely wanted a running tractor and had first dibs. Since he had stipulations, we considered his offer second place to someone who would step up and take the beast running or not.
BIL and I tried to start it but the battery was dead Fred. He bought new one and replaced it. When we attempted to attach the positive cable to the solenoid, the solenoid clicked and the sparks flew on the terminal causing wisps of smoke. I quickly removed it. Thinking a shorted solenoid was the culprit for the self starting tractor, I used jumper cables to the starter terminal. The starter was stuck tight and wasn't even trying. After about an hour of love taps and reapplying the power in quick milisecond snaps, it finally chugged a bit. Oh happy day! Also after an hour, the battery was down so I jumped the battery with my truck. It still chugged a bit then the terminal got hot. I waited about 20 minutes for the charging to complete and tried the starter again. The starter chugged and chugged but it didn't start. After two more tries, I climbed up and checked the fuel tank. Lessee, compression, heat, air and fuel for a diesel right? Dang it brother, that tank wasn't even wet at the bottom. I wanted to pull the tractor to pull start it but I was by myself and my other buddy backed out having unexpected company.
So now the plan is when he gets home from a trip this weekend, he's gonna get some diesel pushmawater and add it to the tank. Then I got the call. A feller wants the tractor, running or not and wants to be present when we try to start it again. Hey, he's bringing cash and a trailer, who am I to argue?
He's agreeing with me on my diagnosis and bringing a solenoid with him.
One other question, is there a priming pump lever or something to prime the fuel pump? I remember my 930 Long Nose had one. (never ran out of fuel again either) It has the tarp on it and that front end loader so I couldn't see much of anything on the engine.
Just for grins, do you think we diagnosed it correctly?