The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Hello,

I'm a brand new Dexta owner with a lot of work ahead of me. My wife and I recently bought this tractor being told (and I should have known better as it was from a used car salesman) that it just needed a little work. He had a convincing story as to it's condition and so we stupidly bought a non running tractor.

We quickly discovered that the engine would not turn over. We tried pulling it in 6th gear but only got the tires to slip. I drained the oil which looked ok for used oil - no water or metal bits. I want to try getting some penetrating oil down in the cylinders but I can't get the injectors out. I've been hitting them with Kroil every day for the last few days and am going to locate another battery cable puller (I have one that fits one of the studs) so I can pull evenly on both sides. I've searched the internet for suggestions for stuck injectors and have seen info on specialty equipment, using heat, penetrating oil, etc.

Can anyone share their experience on pulling injectors or have any suggestions on how to proceed. Worst case, I can't get them out, how should I proceed?

Thanks in advance,
Walt Max
Montana, USA

An update - the Kroil seems to have worked as I was able to gently pry the three injectors out. The tips are covered in soot so I'm thinking they need some attention. I poured the Kroil into the cylinders and will check them each day.

One thing I notice is that when I put it into top gear and rock the tractor, I see a very small amount of movement in the fan. Anybody know what this could mean?

It could mean there is some rotation of the engine...

Have a peak at the timing marks in the flywheel window (LH side of the clutch bell housing) and see if there's movement there.

If so keep rocking and hopefully she will turn over. Do this with the injectors out, so she can't possibly start.

Hi Walt,
First point, do not wire brush the carbon off the injector ends, soak it in diesel or the Kroll. If you have a brass wire brush, use that.

Keep putting the Kroll down the cylinders and apply gentle pressure by either rocking backwards and forwards in gear or remove the starter and try levering the starter ring gear round. Depends how bad it is stuck but you may need to take the head off. Do not try and pull it to get things to move as this may damage rings and other engine parts.

Brian,

I had tried pulling it (slowly) but I'll stop that and do the other suggested methods. I'll check out the timing cover inspection for sure.

You anticipated my next question of what to do about the injectors. Thanks for the advice.

Walt

montanamax wrote:You anticipated my next question of what to do about the injectors.

I would take them to a diesel shop and get them calibrated. Also get the fuel pump checked out too, if it's not been done recently.

Ben - I take it then that you don't need a specialist familiar with the Dexta to do this work. I've never really worked on a diesel engine. Thanks.

montanamax wrote:Ben - I take it then that you don't need a specialist familiar with the Dexta to do this work. I've never really worked on a diesel engine. Thanks.

I think any good diesel engineer should be able to do it.

I took mine to a chap who specialises in older kit as he already had the correct tips etc.

A couple of years ago my neighbour called me with the same problem, engine stuck.
It turned out he had so much sand in the cilinders that they could not finish their stroke.
I had to remove the cilinder head to clean it all out.
Then i explained the purpose of the oil in the air filter.

Regards, Rob

I have to relate my Aha! moment (or maybe I should say Eureka!) about what size wrenches I need to work on the Dexta. I wanted to get the starter out to try nudging the flywheel and the first nut I worked on had me totally perplexed - my metric and standard wrench were not exactly the right size and the nut already showed signs of being rounded off. So I did research and discovered that I needed an AF set of wrenches. Found some on eBay from England and was almost ready to buy them when my Aha! moment occurred. What the rest of the world called AF, in the US, is called Standard! Well I got plenty of those wrenches.

Turns out the nut I started on was totally buggered and that's why my wrenches wouldn't fit. Used an 18mm six point socket on it and it came right out. Got the next one using my "AF" wrenches, no trouble. Now for that back nut...

I would recommend this in any garage/toolbox
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-UNIVERSAL-SMA ... 0289556535
It is especially useful when trying to remove chewed hex heads/nuts and of course square filler plugs etc.
I have both the large and small ones and they work a treat.
Cheers
Jerry

Jerry Coles wrote:I would recommend this in any garage/toolbox
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-UNIVERSAL-SMA ... 0289556535
It is especially useful when trying to remove chewed hex heads/nuts and of course square filler plugs etc.
I have both the large and small ones and they work a treat.

Do they mark the heads at all?

If you look at the advert and scroll down you'll see the pins are hexagonal so close up against the flats of the nut/bolt. I wouldn't use them for high torque use but for gripping a worn nut/bolt head they do work.
Cheers
Jerry