super major engine surging help

[wayebo79]

hello all i have a super. hard to start. engine surges up anyone have a idea think it has a simms minimec pump??

[Nick]

Hi, have you checked the timing? That will cause them to not start or hard start, they have to be spot on to run right, as i have found out lol

[wayebo79]

ok checked timeing seems to b ok if i use eather it starts right up and runs good but then the engine starts to surge up and down i wondering if it could b sucking air or inj pump problems

[Pavel]

It would be helpful to know if; [a] you have just got this SMD and started it for the first time; it had slowly developed over a period, or [c] you've done something, or replaced something, and now have these problems.
Usually these symptoms are the result of uneven or poor compressions in one or more of the cylinders; dodgy valves and/or seatings; insufficient fuel being injected because of air-locks; a failed injector. But not necessarily all of these. On the other hand, could be a faulty lift pump and/or bunged-up fuel filters.
I would suggest that firstly you thoroughly bleed the fuel system - and maybe even remove the injectors and check their spray pattern. And whilst at the last; do a compression test. You might also check the valve clearances.
The symptoms you describe are similar to those I had when I 'inherited' a SMD some 5 years ago. I removed the head and had it, and the valves and seats, re-faced. I also had the injectors cleaned and re-calibrated and fitted a new lift pump. Since then it has performed faultlessly.
Pavel

[wayebo79]

yes i have had it for lots of years it has been doin this for couple years it does not miss or anything has ton of power it very well could b the lift pump its the thing thats got the lever that u can manully run i looked at the lift pump it seem to have a gasket in the middle of it and half of gasket is gone so i will make one for that also took fuel filter off half full of water slime lol also the 3 point wont lift anymore but thats another prodject . i am wondering if maybe the governer might b bad???

[Dandy Dave]

Get the fuel filter changed first. If it was half full of water that is your problem. I change mine often as clean fuel is very important. I did have a problem that would happen from time to time on my Power Major ever since I've had it. I'd be running it and it would some times act like it was starving for fuel and quit. I would get off, pump the primary pump a few times and it would start and go on again. It happen again it the shed about a month ago and I found the culprit. A piece of leaf had somehow gotten into the tank and would sometimes wash over the shut off valve and block the hole. When the tractor quit, it would release and float away. I found it when I syphoned the fuel out of the tank and moved the hose around the bottom of the tank to suck up anything that may have been in the bottom. It showed up when I put the fuel back in while dumping in a funnel with a paint filter in it. All because someone was not careful with being sure the fuel was 100 percent clean at some point. Dandy Dave!

[wayebo79]

well i cleaned filter then i took the the little cover off the lift pump it was half full of rusty looking stuff got that all cleaned out lets hope that fixes it im think this is a 1962 super major but not sure thanks dave i will look in tank to

[Pavel]

Some 'major' work there, mate. If I were you I'd stop doing things piecemeal.
Start with the tank, by draining and flushing it and then strip and clean everything else up to the injectors.
As far as the lift pump is concerned; scribe a line across the upper and lower part of the body [to ensure correct orientation when re-assembling], remove the small screws and separate the 2 parts. This will expose the diaphragm, which should be pliable but not torn or floppy. The top part of the body will have the 2 poppet valves which could have muck underneath their flaps causing them to leak, or weak springs not holding them closed. [be careful with the little springs]. Also lift up part of the diaphragm to see if the underside is covered in oil. If it is, then the oil seal, which the operating lever goes through, is past it's use by date. [Heated oil hardens them]. Whilst you could still use the pump, eventually the diaphragm will also crack.
When re-assembling the 2 parts of the body, and before tightening the small screws down, compress the operating lever about halfway of it's stroke, with your hand, so that the diaphragm sits on a level plane with the body.
After complete assembly, immerse the fuel inlet union in some fuel and pump the operating lever. There should be healthy squirts of fuel from the outlet side.
If you need to make a flange to engine block gasket, use the thinnest paper possible as the thicker the gasket, the lower the pump pressure.
Interesting, and maybe helpful point.
Here in Oz we sometimes travel in the outback where fuel is delivered in 40 gallon drums to service stations, instead of by tanker. Quite often these drums collect water after they've been opened which, after a fill-up, can cause problems down the road/track aways. To overcome this an in-the-know driver will pour a cupful of metho. into the tank which then causes the moisture to evaporate. Works well with petrol; not sure about diesel,though.
Pavel

[cwayne]

Check the condition and the oil level in the injector pump, They often get neglected. I have seen a few that were righr rusty and worked okay after flushing with auto trans fluid several times then fill with engine oil.

[wayebo79]

yes i have took the two plates off the side it was dry and empty and rusty not sure how to fill it up though

[cwayne]

The drain plug is on the side , level plug just above that. Can be filled with a oil squrt can but is easier to fill through the side plate. put the auto trans fluid in and run about 10-20 min.and drain. Do this several times increasing the run time each flush until satisfied.
At this point, if it's going to be a working tractor, it may be time to have the injector pump serviced. However the simms pumps (probably any inline pump) are extremly expensive to repair.