Hard starting ford 5000 blues

[Mandomaniac]

Sad to say, I find myself with another issue to ask for help on.
Seems my 65 Ford 5000 has decided to become hard to start.
Ran fine during hay season, although I did notice it would occassionally require a bit more cranking to start.
Now it takes so long I am worried I will burn out starter!
Once it does start, it seems to run ok.
Any thoughts on how to approach step by step diagnosing and fixing in the least painful and least costly manner?
Thanks for the help.
 

[awhtx]

The first step is to determine if it's Gas or Diesel powered.
 

[leej]

Any hard starter, I have ever had, was found to
be low compression, I would check that first, being it seems to run ok after it has started. ggp
 

[leej]

Any hard starter, I have ever had, was found to
be low compression, I would check that first, being it seems to run ok after it has started. ggp
 

[Mandomaniac]

Sorry, should have noted diesel in original post.

I tried a search on subject, but did not find all that much on first try. Searched again and found several likely culprits....from battery cable issues to injectors, to compression, well, you get the idea. What would be most helpful is some experienced based, logical guide that begins with the easiest,cheapest issue and moves from there.... step by step.
I realize this might take a fair bit of wrenching and not just a little cash.....just trying to minimize the pain.
Thanks!!!!
 

[awhtx]

Have you tried ether- aka starting fluid? If it starts good with a shot of ether I'd start with a compression check as noted above.
 

[Jerry/MT]

Compression check. A valve adjustment might help.
I"d try that first.
 

[PeteTheRookie]

hi,
the 1st winter i had my 4500 diesel it got real cold and starting became a problem.
Like yours during warm weather starts fine. Some times takes a little longer BUT that is low battery voltage.
1st clean up and repair, battery cables and connections. Make sure you have the heavy duty tractor/truck cables not whimpy car ones.
2nd charge battery over nite until its fully charged
my experience is if its btw 30-35 it will take some extra cranking to start.
Below 30 and it will take more. BUT if my batteries are topped off with a charge i can start it without ether. i only use ether below 20 and only after i try starting it without it 1st.
When the batteries are not well charged it will crank and crank and take forever to start as the crank speed is too slow.
I have added a inline rad hose heater and a battery heater. With those i now almost never use ether.
 

[paul]

I bought one a few years ago, wonderful tractor.

Was a little hard to start if it wasn't used for a couple days, or
when cool out.

Once it was run, it started like a champ the rest of the day.

New battery cable and starter did wonders for it, can sit in the
shed 3 weeks and will fire right up. It still doesn't like cold, but
its like a different machine, the old starter was slowing down
and not enough oomph.

Paul
 

[Mandomaniac]

Thanks guys!
I think it may well just be electrical. It cranked for a while (which made me worry about the starter) but I suspect a bit too slowly. Was not super cold outside, but I bet the temp difference was enough to make the slower cranking ineffective. Will check cables, connections, and charge battery real well.....and keep my fingers crossed it is nothing more.
 

[swinetime]

Madomaniac, I know that my Ford 5000 needs a complete overhaul. It needed overhauled when I bought it 6 or 7 years ago! Had cold spell here and it just would not start. Replaced car battery with true tractor battery; had starter rebuilt. Talk about a difference in cranking power-its unbelievable. It starts better in cold weather than it has for years.

Swinetime