The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Ok, ive just read the theory on compression ignition engines, and now i feel a bit stupid to be honest.
My major has never been good at starting, even after the re-build i recently carried out.
The only bits i know are good are the bottom end and the head (valves etc).
Ive never taken the injectors out, never had the starter re-conditioned, never changed the fuel filter, never changed the air filter element, the cold start device on the pump is broken, the earth strap is getting hot when cranking, and the battery although newish, is too small and dies quickly.
Looks like ive got a bit of fiddling to do over winter, should i just replace the lot?

a new battery earth strap might make a big difference because that starter will have more current goin through it, therefore turn the engine over faster. just make sure the connections are clean on the connecters might help.

regards, John

You need to sort out the excess fuel device for cold weather starting. The major engines that we had, even when fairly worn, were good starters with the button in and a reasonable crank. They did not need to spin as fast as some engines we have had in order to fire.

thing is also, when it eventually starts, it fires on three cylinders for a few seconds. so i wonder when i was cleaning the head up i damaged the injectors. there was a fair bit of black soot around the injector tips, which i cleaned off. interestingly before i re-built it, it never used to missfire.

Nick,
Did you take the injectors out before you removed the head! If not you have probabl damaged the tips and now will want new ones.

You seem to have started working backwards. Air filter, fuel filter, tank filter and fuel pump filters are the first places to go when you are problem solving or when you are rebuilding an engine. Its a very steep learning curve.

You need to get the injectors out and get them checked over at least.

Yes brian, i seem to have worked backwards i know. The reason for the re-build was leaky liners and i never bothered with anything else because i knew the engine needed doing.
And no i didnt take the injectors out the head, and to make matters worse i cleaned around the injectors with a WIRE BRUSH, because at the time i didnt realise how delicate the tips were. Luckily there is a diesel specialist near to us, i have just taken the four injectors out the other major which im doing up, and they charged £20 each to test and replace the needles/tips etc and re-test them. Should it start easy enough without the cold start button working or do you reckon i should get a new unit?

Like the new forum looks!

Nick wrote: Should it start easy enough without the cold start button working or do you reckon i should get a new unit?

Nick
I use my cold start button everytime I start my Major when the engine is cold.When I say cold, I mean when the engine hasn't been going/running for whatever, say 2 hours/2 days/ 2 weeks etc
The temp here ranges between a summer high of 27 deg C to a winter low of 11 deg C.
My engine with excess fuel button in, good battery, good wiring, starts always within half a revolution.

My advice would be if you can afford a new excess fuel button/cold start button, do it.
The side effect of slow starting= longer cranking on the starter and more drain on the battery.
Also longer to get oil pressure up.

Good Luck and keep us informed. Glad you like the new forum. Oscar has worked long and hard on it.
Kiwi Kev

In that case i will get another cold start mechanism, they are only £60 from agriline. I just want the bloody thing to be reliable!

Hi Nick
I guess some people swear by a major. Sounds like you just joined the swear at' em group . The hard work and cost will pay off in the end. you got this far don't quit on us now .
Regards Robert

Dont worry robert, i dont give up easily! Anyway, something that works and is reliable is boring and un-interesting in my opinion! I mean, what else would i spend all my money on!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another one perhaps...........