The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Here is a list of some questions I have about tractoring and the dexta in particular. I am new to all this, but willing to learn. I have been through a hundred or so old posts, which answered some of my questions, but not all. Here are some in no special order.

1. When working the tractor (plowing snow at this point), when things get tough and the tractor starts to slow and struggle under the burden, how high a rev should I have? At low, gear 2 the engine sounds good at '14' I think, which is exactly half way on my dial. Beyond that it seems a bit high. Do I just 'go by ear'?

2. After heavy plowing, the injectors, I think (the three devices on top of the engine with the copper tubing linked to them) can be a bit sweaty with diesel. this unusual. It does not drip enough to pool much.

3. Diesel seems to leak in very small amounts from just about every connection involving fuel, more so in the winter. Is that usual? Again, never enough to make a pool, just sweat.

4. Is there a minimum warm up time I should have after starting, especially in the winter? I have a motor warmarer, so it starts great and I idle while I do an inspection for about 3 minutes or so.

5. Is there any harm to the hydraulics if I keep my plow raised for an extended amount of time?

6. Is it better to increase rev from the motor, prior to lifting my plow (or using the hydraulics for anything else)?

7. Sometimes when working the tractor I smell a whiff of fresh warm oil. Just for a second. No signs of leaking. Problem?

8. Should I close the fuel supply tap when the tractor is not in use?

9. Should I run the PTO periodically to keep it lubed up? Just now I have no use for it. Do I press in the clutch to use it?

10. I have a auxiliary service control knob I think on right side near knee. I have no use for it now, but should I pull it out to lube up the bits associated with it? Or to get oil flowing, would I first have to hook up a device (wood spliter etc) to allow for oil to pass though the system?

thats enough for now!

1. When working the tractor (plowing snow at this point), when things get tough and the tractor starts to slow and struggle under the burden, how high a rev should I have? At low, gear 2 the engine sounds good at '14' I think, which is exactly half way on my dial. Beyond that it seems a bit high. Do I just 'go by ear'?

- You adjust the revs to the power you need. You can speed it up to max speed if needed. 1400 is perfect imho


2. After heavy plowing, the injectors, I think (the three devices on top of the engine with the copper tubing linked to them) can be a bit sweaty with diesel. this unusual. It does not drip enough to pool much.

-Diesel should not leak. If you want to fix it, check wether the bolts are tight. If so, then replace the copper wahers.

3. Diesel seems to leak in very small amounts from just about every connection involving fuel, more so in the winter. Is that usual? Again, never enough to make a pool, just sweat.

- See answer at two.

4. Is there a minimum warm up time I should have after starting, especially in the winter? I have a motor warmarer, so it starts great and I idle while I do an inspection for about 3 minutes or so.

- You should not rev a cold engine up too much, but when it runs, you can start using it.

5. Is there any harm to the hydraulics if I keep my plow raised for an extended amount of time?

- No.

6. Is it better to increase rev from the motor, prior to lifting my plow (or using the hydraulics for anything else)?

- Don't know, probably not necessary.

7. Sometimes when working the tractor I smell a whiff of fresh warm oil. Just for a second. No signs of leaking. Problem?

- Check all oil levels regularly.

8. Should I close the fuel supply tap when the tractor is not in use?

- No, not needed.

9. Should I run the PTO periodically to keep it lubed up? Just now I have no use for it. Do I press in the clutch to use it?

-No, not necesarry. You should clutch befor engaging the pto.

10. I have a auxiliary service control knob I think on right side near knee. I have no use for it now, but should I pull it out to lube up the bits associated with it? Or to get oil flowing, would I first have to hook up a device (wood spliter etc) to allow for oil to pass though the system?

- No, you don't have to. The oil will have no way to go when you try to lube it.

Good luck.

Emiel

Diesel can just burst into flames at around 60 deg C. Petrol is even lower, around 40 degrees maybe. Imagine if you were bailing hay or straw and your tractor was leaking diesel, you would be in the shit.

The engine is constructed to do tough jobs at 540 PTO rpm. It should be a mark on your revcounter. That should be around 1800 crank rpm.

You can take a little oil on the service external knob shaft so it would not stuck.

All your questions have been answered well. The only one I would add to is the "whiff of warm oil". This is most probably from the engine breather and is perfectly normal. It could also be grom the gearbox or rear axle and again is perfectly normal.