MF 35 glow plugs

[Jimbo44]

Hi everyone, I m new here. I recently "inherited" a MF 35 tractor. It s a great tractor, but doesn t start if it s cold outside. I ve been doing a little research and decided to post here, hoping someone can help me. I m hoping there is an EASY way to install a glow plug so it will start in cold weather. I noticed that the the keyed ignition can turn counterclockwise but it doesn t do anything. Turning clockwise cranks the engine. Looks like a few people have messed around with the wiring over the years, there s a few that don t go anywhere, and maybe someone removed the original preheat system. I m not a mechanic, and I don t know much at all about old tractors, but I d like to learn more and I m mechanically inclined so if anyone can help out that would be great. I took a few pics. I m really hoping to find an easy way to install a glow plug and switch and get this thing running!

 

[danofarming]

The 3 cylinder perkins never had a glow plug system that I know of. It looks like a coolant pre-heater is installed on your tractor. Plug it into the wall and i'm sure it will help.

 

[danofarming]

Post over on the MF board, someone will know if glow plug pre-heat was available for your tractor. Do you think that the compression could be low?

 

[Jimbo44]

The compression is great, and it runs strong in warmer weather, just won t start when it s cold. Not sure where I would "plug in" for a coolant preheater but I ll look for more info on that also. Thanks for the quick reply, I ll check out the MF board for more info.

 

[old]

In your last picture there is heater that has to 2 black hoses going to it. There should be a electrical card on it some place so you can plug it into a 110 outlet and that in turn heats the coolant so it will start easy

 

[fixerupper]

The coolant heater is the round can with two hoses coming out of it in front of the injection pump. I see two pins sticking out of the top of the can. Those two pins is where the power cord pigtail plugs into. The pigtail will have a female plug with two round pin holes on one end to plug onto the two pins coming out of the can and a regular flat blade electrical plug on the other end. It is possible the pigtail is missing because the heater does not work or maybe the pigtail was lost during the paint job. I dont know where you can find a pigtail new though. Maybe someone else can fill in the blank.

 

[Dieseltech]

That tractor should have had a Thermostart intake manifold heater for easy cold starts. Maybe it never had one but should be in one of the intake manifold plug holes, with a fuel line and a 12V wire to energize it. The key switch will have two LEFT positions, first is heat, then after 15 seconds turned to second heat/start position. Most MF 35, 50, 65, 85 and S90 came with it.

 

[Dean]

As stated by a previous poster, your Perkins MF 35 does not have glow plugs. Rather it is equipped with a "thermo start" intake manifold pre-heater, nearly all of which have long since failed.

Unless you are in a very cold climate, your Perkins 151 will probably start with a GOOD and properly sized battery, good and correctly sized battery cables, good starter, and a properly functioning coolant pre-heater as shown in one of your photos. The thermos start system should be necessary only in very cold climates. All bets are off if your engine has low compression.

If all fails, use a good hair dryer in the intake before and during cranking.

Making a long since functioning thermo start system work can be a challenge, though it is not impossible. Several years ago, I did this with a Perkins 35 that I once owned, and, though successful, I would not recommend doing so if there are other alternatives.

Nice little tractor.

Dean

 

[Jimbo44]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the quick responses! My uncles and grandpa used to work on these old tractors, but they have all passed away, so I m glad to find some guys that can offer advice. I see the coolant heater can with the 2 probes sticking out of it, but I don t have the plug that powers it. Hopefully I can find an aftermarket one that will fit, and I assume it just takes 110v ac? I assume the plug does NOT have a transformer on it to convert it to DC and drop the voltage? Could I (carefully) rig up an extension cord straight to these prongs just to see if the thing still works before buying the power plug for it?
The tractor has great compression, new battery and good connections, good wires, etc. I am in Pennsylvania, most winter days are 10-25 degrees F. But any temp below 40 the tractor has a really hard time getting started, and below 30 just won t start at all without starting fluid, and I don t like using that stuff.
Thanks again for everyone s help!

 

[rlp in Co.]

I would just solder a short electric cord
to those two terminals and then put some
electrical tape on them. First use an ohm
meter to see if the heating element has
resistance.

 

[old]

If you can find some markings on the coolant heat one can buy replacement cords for them BTDT more then once.

 

[JK-NY]

The coolant heater should be 110v , maybe you could use
crimp on connectors to rig up cord to see if it works. It would
be worth replacing it if needed rather than bother with the
thermostart system. A good coolant heater and a good battery
and starter system and keep the tractor inside if possible and
you should be able to start it with out a problem. One more
consideration, you mentioned using starting fluid (ether) you
can use starting fluid if needed with the coolant heater, but
should not use it when using a glow plug or thermostart.

 

[Jimbo44]

(quoted from post at 16:16:28 11/29/19) The coolant heater should be 110v , maybe you could use
crimp on connectors to rig up cord to see if it works. It would
be worth replacing it if needed rather than bother with the
thermostart system. A good coolant heater and a good battery
and starter system and keep the tractor inside if possible and
you should be able to start it with out a problem. One more
consideration, you mentioned using starting fluid (ether) you
can use starting fluid if needed with the coolant heater, but
should not use it when using a glow plug or thermostart.

Yep, sounds like this is where I need to start. Good advice regarding glow plugs with starting ether, thanks for that.
And thanks to all you guys for the fast reply! I m going to focus on the coolant heater and see if it will work, hoping not to get into thermostart system, hopefully the coolant heater will be enough to get this tractor running.
I ll post my findings next week, thanks again!

 

[onefarmer]

Here's the partsbook view showing the thermostart.

Agco parts book

 

[Ultradog MN]

I have a couple of 3 cylinder Ford
diesels that have the thermostart
feature but I never use them. Mine also
have coolant heaters. If I plug them in
for a couple of hours the engine will
start like it's July.
So I agree with the guys who said fix or
replace your coolant heater. You will be
amazed at how much difference it makes.