The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Started the major today (not started it in a couple months) and all of a sudden a steady stream of diesel started coming from the pigtail pipe on the bottom of the injector pump. Any ideas what might cause this? I stopped the engine as soon as I saw it, then re-started it after it had stopped leaking and its fine now!

Hi
Chances are the fuels running/ seeping down into the bottom of the injector pump while it sits, is it a super major with a Mechanical governed pump or a vacuum governed pump type major, I can't remember what tractor you have . if it's a mech pump it will dilute the lubricating oil pretty quick and sooner rather than later it might be time to rebuild the pump. If it's a vacuum pump I wouldn't really worry until it pours out constantly all the time . some weap is ok from what I know on that pump as it relies on Diesel for lubrication, not oil like the other one .
Regards Robert

Hi robert, I have a few tractors now! This one is a standard vacuum governed pump, its never done it before, and its not doing it now, very strange! I hope the pump doesnt need re-building because this is the tractor with the early sump with no timing mark hole, and the engine without the pointer, so Id be buggered timing it up right again without major (pardon the pun) surgery!

Hi Nick
Sounds like you don't need to worry at this stage drive on It could even be that the pipe was plugged with crud. The level in the pump got high, and now the fuel dissolved said crud, and unplugged the pipe for you and now it's back down to correct level . like I said before if it starts pouring out more than it's burning all the time it's running, and leaving a mess on the yard or just not running right, then do something about it if you have to then. It might still out last both of us without doing anything .
Regards Robert

Well I do hope so! Just didnt want to run it if it was going to damage the engine, got some ploughing to do soon so I will give it a good workout and see how she goes. Thanks for your advice mate

Hello,
about the overflow of your injection pump, I don't know what set up you have but there are differences in the overflow pipe which may give different effects.

I had mine overfolw recently too but that was because I deliberately over filled it after replacing the cam box bearings.
Like yours it only leaked after inital warm up and seems to have settled now.
These cam boxes should run on diesel but are intended to run in oil, ( about engine grade oil.) they will wear more if full of Diesel.
I also modified the overflow pipe by following the service sheet modification of facing it up in a U shape before bending it back to the original line, but I had to straighten the pigtail at the sump flange which may cause a problem of syphoning too, I hope not.

I have used this practice on my Power Major for 20 years and it seems to be alright, I have always intended to remake a longer pipe but it never happened.

Once I tried to check the level by undoing the banjo, like you are supposed to but it would not seal afterwards until I fitted two new copper washers, so I will leave it now and top up via the top plug, I am lucky that I have a Thames Trader side plate which makes top ups so much easier, it won't matter if I put too much oil as it should just overflow and find the correct level.

Ford recognised that these pumps benifited by more oil in the cam box and early Super Major pumps had more metal at a higher level so a higher hole can be used for the level banjo.
I and a neighbour have late pneumatic governor models and they both have this feature, they are plated 4 / 1962 but are actually 1961 cast date models. mine cast A 27 F January 27th 1961, I think the neighbors tractor has a later replacement block.
But so many parts have been swaped on these tractors since they have been produced it becomes very confusing!

Mike