mf 65 running issues

[Rich65]

Need some help with my 1959 MF65. I've read a few other posts but they never followed up with the solution. I'm at my witt's end trying to keep this tractor running. I'm a rookie with tractors. This is my first. Picked it up at a local auction about two years ago. It was running fine up to about a month ago. It started bogging down under a load but nothing serious at first. Then I noticed fuel around the carb. I rebuilt the carb. Started right up and sounded great. After about a minute it stalled out. It would restart about ten seconds later, run a minute and then stall again. I readjusted the jet and idle numerous times. Same results. I was told it could be starving for fuel. I removed the tank, Inspected (which is was clean) and reinstalled. Still the same results. Previous owner removed the sediment bowl and replaced with a universal in line fuel filter. I replaced the complete line and installed a new larger filter. Still the same results. I then noticed after a few attempts to keep her running that a large amount of fuel would come out of the large hose at the front of the carb. I would believe now that the problem was too much fuel, not a lack of fuel. I was told to check the float. I removed and reinsptected the carb a third time. I cleaned out the carb, the inline fuel filter and readjusted the float. STILL no success. I followed up on another suggestion and replaced the condensor, then the voltage regulator and coil. I also replaced every shady looking electrical line. STILL no improvement. I can get her to start right up when she's cold every time on the first turn, then she just bogs and stalls after running smoothly for about a minute. I've played with the choke. At times I thought that was the problem. If I played with it as it stalled it would hang in there but then eventually die. I'm throwing in the white flag. Made up my mind to get myself a newer dependable tractor but I'd like to get this thing running so I can sell it instead of looking at it as a large lawn ornament. I've exhausted every and all ideas but I'm open to anyone that can add something that I didn't cover. I've heard this isn't an uncommon problem with these old MF's but I haven't heard of too many solutions to correcting the problem. I'd truly appreciate any input that can help. Thankyou

 

[Bob NY]

Have you tried running it with the air cleaner hose disconnected from the carburetor? Maybe it is starving for air.

 

[Rich65]

Have you tried running it with the air cleaner hose disconnected from the carburetor? Maybe it is starving for air.

I haven't tried that but I will tonight. Thankyou

 

[Rich65]

Well another strike. tried running it with the air cleaner hose disconnected but no luck. Once again, it starts right up and runs great for about a minute then shuts down. I appreciate the suggestion though.

 

[Rodney51Cub]

Start it and about the time it starts to die loosen the gas cap and see if that helps. If it does then you have a plugged gas cap vent.

 

[Jim.ME]

Well another strike. tried running it with the air cleaner hose disconnected but no luck. Once again, it starts right up and runs great for about a minute then shuts down. I appreciate the suggestion though.

When you rebuilt the carb, what did you do? A carb kit, cleaning every orifice with fine wires or torch tip cleaners, Removing the inlet fitting and checking for a screen behind it, then using choke and carb cleaner as well as blowing through each passage with compressed air, and setting the float level?

Have you used a pint or quart jar and held it under the carb bowl drain and timed how long it takes to collect a pint of gas? You will get a strong flow as the bowl empties then it shoud remain a moderate flow if fuel is coming through to the bowl properly.

 

[Stan Coryell]

Need some help with my 1959 MF65. I've read a few other posts but they never followed up with the solution. I'm at my witt's end trying to keep this tractor running. I'm a rookie with tractors. This is my first. Picked it up at a local auction about two years ago. It was running fine up to about a month ago. It started bogging down under a load but nothing serious at first. Then I noticed fuel around the carb. I rebuilt the carb. Started right up and sounded great. After about a minute it stalled out. It would restart about ten seconds later, run a minute and then stall again. I readjusted the jet and idle numerous times. Same results. I was told it could be starving for fuel. I removed the tank, Inspected (which is was clean) and reinstalled. Still the same results. Previous owner removed the sediment bowl and replaced with a universal in line fuel filter. I replaced the complete line and installed a new larger filter. Still the same results. I then noticed after a few attempts to keep her running that a large amount of fuel would come out of the large hose at the front of the carb. I would believe now that the problem was too much fuel, not a lack of fuel. I was told to check the float. I removed and reinsptected the carb a third time. I cleaned out the carb, the inline fuel filter and readjusted the float. STILL no success. I followed up on another suggestion and replaced the condensor, then the voltage regulator and coil. I also replaced every shady looking electrical line. STILL no improvement. I can get her to start right up when she's cold every time on the first turn, then she just bogs and stalls after running smoothly for about a minute. I've played with the choke. At times I thought that was the problem. If I played with it as it stalled it would hang in there but then eventually die. I'm throwing in the white flag. Made up my mind to get myself a newer dependable tractor but I'd like to get this thing running so I can sell it instead of looking at it as a large lawn ornament. I've exhausted every and all ideas but I'm open to anyone that can add something that I didn't cover. I've heard this isn't an uncommon problem with these old MF's but I haven't heard of too many solutions to correcting the problem. I'd truly appreciate any input that can help. Thankyou

It sounds like it's running out of fuel.

Pull the plug out of the bottom of the carb bowl. I should fill a quart jar in two minutes, or something like that. If it doesn't have a steady stream of fuel for a minute or two, take the fuel line off the carb and try again. The elbow into the carb should have a fuel strainer on it. This may be plugged. The fuel line, fuel filter, fuel tank may be plugged.

 

[damn1981]

Do you have oil pressure

 

[Rich65]

When you rebuilt the carb, what did you do? A carb kit, cleaning every orifice with fine wires or torch tip cleaners, Removing the inlet fitting and checking for a screen behind it, then using choke and carb cleaner as well as blowing through each passage with compressed air, and setting the float level?

Have you used a pint or quart jar and held it under the carb bowl drain and timed how long it takes to collect a pint of gas? You will get a strong flow as the bowl empties then it shoud remain a moderate flow if fuel is coming through to the bowl properly.

hi jim, Installed a complete carb kit and cleaned it thoroughly. Installed new inline filters and fuel line. I even went a size larger after a few comments suggested a possible flow restriction. I removed the carb, opened, reinspected and recleaned the carb two more times and still the same problem. I noticed fuel filling up and entering the large hose (air) in front of the carb. Seemed like an awful lot of fuel. Was advised the floats could be stuck or need adjusting. I broke apart the carb a 4th time. Adjusted the float, recleaned and reinstalled only to have the same results.

 

[Rich65]

hi jim, Installed a complete carb kit and cleaned it thoroughly. Installed new inline filters and fuel line. I even went a size larger after a few comments suggested a possible flow restriction. I removed the carb, opened, reinspected and recleaned the carb two more times and still the same problem. I noticed fuel filling up and entering the large hose (air) in front of the carb. Seemed like an awful lot of fuel. Was advised the floats could be stuck or need adjusting. I broke apart the carb a 4th time. Adjusted the float, recleaned and reinstalled only to have the same results.

 

[Rich65]

It sounds like it's running out of fuel.

Pull the plug out of the bottom of the carb bowl. I should fill a quart jar in two minutes, or something like that. If it doesn't have a steady stream of fuel for a minute or two, take the fuel line off the carb and try again. The elbow into the carb should have a fuel strainer on it. This may be plugged. The fuel line, fuel filter, fuel tank may be plugged.

I did all of that. Flow is good. Even removed the shut off valve and positioned the fuel line to avoid any air flow restrictions. I also inspected and cleaned the new inline screen filter as well as removing and cleaning the tank. At this point I don't believe it's a lack of fuel problem.

 

[Rich65]

I did all of that. Flow is good. Even removed the shut off valve and positioned the fuel line to avoid any air flow restrictions. I also inspected and cleaned the new inline screen filter as well as removing and cleaning the tank. At this point I don't believe it's a lack of fuel problem.

 

[Rich65]

Do you have oil pressure

yes, oil pressure is good.