Starting Problem With 5610 Ford.

[Farmallhal]

I've had this 1992 model 5610 tractor since 2001 when I purchased it with 490 original hours. It currently has approx. 1140 total hours and is my main heavy use tractor in the hay fields putting up 2500 square bales a year as my disc mowing tractor. It also has a front loader so it gets lots of year around use around the farm throughout the year doing various other jobs which require it's 65 hp or loader. Never had a starting issue until just recently after the hay was finally done last month. Since then it has on occasion required the starter to be engaged for 10-15 seconds before it would start and acted like a gas engine which had run out of fuel until the carb was refilled from the tank. Then it would slowly build up RPM's to the normal starting throttle setting but would take maybe a short minute to reach that point during which changing the throttle position had no effect on engine speed. After that it would run like normal by responding to the position wherever the throttle was moved. Until this recent issue it was always an instant start tractor in normal spring, summer and fall temperatures. Today I went to start it and it cranked and cranked and never did start after trying it for about 20-30 seconds. I came back about 10 minutes later and thought I would give it another try and behold it instantly started.
Not having any knowledge of diesel engines and the unique components utilized for starting and fuel delivery I am at a loss as what to do or check. I had the tractor serviced by our local Ford New Holland dealership in late winter and like I stated it worked fine until a month or so ago. This starting issue happens on occasion and is unpredictable as best I can determine. Is this something that can easily be rectified or is it time for me to seek out a diesel mechanic in the area? I am familiar with gas engines and worked on them as they are quite simple in my thinking and with air, fuel, compression, and spark at the right time will generally start but diesels are a total mystery to me at this point. With my limited knowledge on diesels I am thinking it is some type of fuel delivery issue or insufficient pressure to inject the fuel or some leak down in some piece o equipment but those are just uneducated guesses at this point. Any useful areas I should be looking at which a diesel novice could possibility handle would be most appreciated, Hal.

 

[David G]

I would suspect an air leak somewhere in the low pressure lines. Is it super smooth on idle?

 

[Farmallhal]

Thanks for your response and I haven't noticed any abnormality in anything other then the noted starting issue. I will pay close attention to the idle next time I have it running to see how smooth it sounds, Hal.

 

[RodinNS]

Is this a cab tractor with the fuel tank under the left step?

Rod

 

[wvfarmboy]

when it wont start pull out the enguine kill cable in and out a few times sometimes thay stick a little in the pump end.

 

[Farmallhal]

Thanks Rod for the response but it is just an open station model with the fuel tank under the hood, Hal.

 

[Farmallhal]

Thanks for the reply and I will certainly try that to see if that helps next time and that might have been the reason today when I went back and gave it another try and it started. What is the correct fix if that is the issue, Hal?

 

[David G]

That is a good idea, I have cussed at my 6610 with the cable still pulled out.

 

[RodinNS]

My hope is that it was a cab model and mabey you had a bad lift pump....
Now your problems are probably worse... The first thing I would do is change the fuel filter and make sure you have a strong flow of fuel from the tank to the filter. If you don't you will need to remove the line and shutoff tap from the tank and clean the strainer. I doubt that is the problem tho... These are gravity systems. They don't lose their prime from sitting unless mabey there was a slight leak on the top side of the pump and the tank was very nearly empty.

What I would suspect is happening is that the metering valve is sticking in the pump. What you could try... and this is no guarantee... get a quart of Howes Power Cleaner and dump the whole damn thing in a nearly empty tank of fuel and run it through her. That may clean it out and it may not... Most likely the pump is going to require service.

Rod

 

[Farmallhal]

Thanks Rod for the information and at present the fuel tank is full up and don't know how to use up a lot of fuel at this time of year. I will probably try the other suggestions I received on this thread until I can get some of the fuel used up so the cleaner concentration will be quite strong as you noted. I have a filter on my farm tank which is changed every couple of years so I would think I have been putting clean fuel into the system. If it is a pump issue that will be left to more knowledgeable folks then myself for sure. Never have had a diesel issue on my two diesel tractors so this is new to me and really don't know where to find a good diesel mechanic but I'm sure they exist in the area. Thanks again for the reply, Hal.

 

[sotxbill]

Got one that does that when the fuel tank is low. Keeping it above a quarter tank seems to fix it.

 

[Farmallhal]

Thanks but I generally stay above a half tank of fuel unless finishing up for the day - never noticed the situation due to low fuel level as it is basically full at this time, Hal.

 

[RodinNS]

Then just dump the quart in the full tank. It'll still work if it's going to do anything for you. Let it run for an hour at half throttle or more...

Rod

 

[Farmallhal]

I was in town this morning and picked up a quart at the auto parts store. I'll pour it in the tank in a few minutes and let it set for a couple hours and them go check my cattle and shake it up good and run it at half throttle or more over the rough pasture ground - it's calving time here for the fall calves and the herd gets a good looking at a couple of times a day so should get some of it though the system. Thanks much for your responses, Hal.

 

[Farmallhal]

Rod, I ran the tractor yesterday evening for about 1 1/2 hours after putting in the whole quart of Power Kleene. When I shut it off last evening I pushed the kill switch back in to the start position and this morning it fried right up like normal. Drove it around for about 1/2 hour and put it back away and will try it again in the morning. Thinking that pushing the kill switch back in right after shut down might keep it from sticking in the closed position and preventing fuel flow at start up. Time will tell and will keep starting it daily for a while to see if the old problem repeats, Hal.