So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

This forum is about the Fordson Dexta, Super Dexta and Petrol Dexta.
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pat777
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So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by pat777 »

I really must get on with reading the workshop manual in great detail!

I came across this previous thread recommending changing the oil in the governor every time you change the oil in the engine, any further advice on these matters would be appreciated. I have a 1959 Dexta; is that the type of governor that needs the oil changed in it?

Having recently cleaned the air breathing filter on my governor and noticing the huge difference it made to the running of the engine in terms of smoothness, especially at lower revs, I'm now pondering how much better it might run if I changed the oil as well?

A drawing of the governor can be found on Section 4 "Fuel System" Page six of the Fordson Dexta workshop manual (66/100 pdf) ,showing the location of the air filter. It is a wire mesh filter and is quite a tight fit and needs a good tug to get it out of the housing for cleaning.

Here is a YouTube link, showing the location of the air breather filter on the governor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3eo785qRjM

https://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/ubb/ ... 00332.html
You have to change the oil every time you change the oil in the engine. The filler is the large 15/16th plug on the front/top of the governor housing, the level is a 1/2"spanner size on the side of the governor and the drain is a 1/2"af spanner size underneath the housing,(or could be immediately beneath the level plug depending on pump).

The governor itself is a system of weights, spinning round and using inertia to control through linkage, the position of the fuel pump rack.

The oil in the governor housing is only to lubricate this weight system. Diesel from the main pump is allowed to leak into the housing diluting the oil. The oil level will build up due to this and slow the action of the weights. When the tractor was a working tool, the oil level had to be checked weekly to keep the level down. Some pumps leak more than others so don't worry if the level rises quickly or doesn't rise at all as long as there is oil/diesel in the housing.

When changing the oil the governor holds about 1/3rd British pint(sorry have not worked out metric equivalent). The pump should be filled until oil runs out of the level plug, then allowed to stand until oil stops running out. This is then correct.

This information also applies to the mechanically governed Super Majors.

regards

Brian

Emiel
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by Emiel »

Hi,

Your 59 dexta should have an vacuum governor who does not require lubricant. If your engine has been swapped for an mechanical governed type you should do a oil change.

To distinguish the two types, the vacuum one has throttle control on the air manifold. The mechanical one the throttle control is on the fuel pump.

Regards emiel
Best regards

Emiel

N 1937, E27N 1948, 8N 1949, E27N 1950, E1A Diesel 1953, E1ADKN PP 1956, Dexta 1959, NH Clayson M103 1964

pat777
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by pat777 »

Thanks for the reply Emiel. Yes, from your description my governor is the vacuum type governor with the throttle control on the air manifold. Thanks for clearing that up for me, saves me another job!

Billy26F5
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by Billy26F5 »

The minimec does indeed need regular oil changing, but I would recommend that you put some oil into your pump anyway, as you'll get lots of dirt out from the overflow. Make sure you do this with the pump absolutely clean and when there's no wind or too much damp.
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pat777
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by pat777 »

Hi Sandy thanks for the reply, so what you're saying is that even though I have the vacuum type governor on my 1959 Dexta, that I should put oil into it as a cleaning method. Just want to make sure I'm picking you up right. And do I put the clean oil into the oil pump?

Billy26F5
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by Billy26F5 »

Yes, and do make sure the oil is clean.
Sandy
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pat777
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by pat777 »

Thanks Sandy. I'll get to the oil pump at some stage, I want to concentrate on getting the diesel system cleaned up first and hopefully get her back running properly before I start making any more adjustments...

Billy26F5
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by Billy26F5 »

I thought you were referring to the injector pump, which is what I was suggesting putting oil in to (In to the cambox, not the fuel gallery). I would do it now while you're not running quite yet. You should'n need to do anything else to the pump.
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pat777
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by pat777 »

Thanks for the reply Sandy. Sorry I did not see it earlier, so she is already back together and started up first press of the button. I will have to look into the injector pump in the workshop manual in more detail as all of this stuff is way over my head. This was my first time changing a diesel filter, which will give you some indication of my mechanical knowledge...

Billy26F5
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by Billy26F5 »

Did you bleed the system thoroughly? If so you should be fine, if not I recommend you do that as soon as possible, as if not you could get in to difficulties with air constantly getting in. (had that with Billy quite a bit some time ago)
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pat777
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by pat777 »

Hi Sandy

I bled the system somewhat, in that I first filled the diesel filter with diesel before screwing it on, then I pumped the fuel lift pump to fill up the hose between the fuel lift pump and the diesel filter, connected that hose, then pumped the top of the diesel filter to fill up the hose outflow from the diesel filter that connects to the engine. I connected that pipe that leads to the fuel injector pump. Then I opened the air bleeding nut on the fuel filter and gave the fuel lift pump a few more presses.

I do not have a standard fordson dexta filter, as my tractor is a bitsa. So the fuel pump is off a Nissan pick up, you can see a picture of the nissan diesel filter in this previous thread.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7070&p=49113#p49113

Now after pressing the button for the heating coil/element (glow plug) for 40 seconds, the tractor started up first press of the button really easily. Now because it started so easy I assumed that meant that I had bled the system sufficiently, and I did not open up any injectors or such like. I did about an hours ploughing after getting it running and it ran perfectly with no hesitation.

So do you think because it started up so easily that I managed to bleed all of the air out or could there still be air trapped in the system?

How do you know if you have air in your fuel system, does it cut out or not start or run poorly?

Old Hywel
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by Old Hywel »

Sounds like it’s fine.

I am though intrigued to see recommendations to change the oil in the injection pump. The Dexta Instruction
Book makes no mention of this in the service schedule, indeed the only reference states ‘The fuel injection pump should not require attention between engine overhauls...’

pat777
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by pat777 »

Thanks Old Hywell, hopefully I got all of the air out of the system.

It is only certain models that require the oil changing at every engine oil change. My 1959 Dexta has a vacuum type governor and does not require an oil change. However Sandy recommended that I put some clean oil in to my injection pump as a method of cleaning out the gunk that builds up in there. The gunk should hopefully come out through the overflow.

I think perhaps the reason that the oil change might not be mentioned in the workshop manual, is because the time the online pdf manual was published was January 1958 when the vacuum governor was still in place. I wonder what year they switched over to the mechanical governor?
Emiel wrote:
Sun May 02, 2021 10:09 am
Hi,

Your 59 dexta should have an vacuum governor who does not require lubricant. If your engine has been swapped for an mechanical governed type you should do a oil change.

To distinguish the two types, the vacuum one has throttle control on the air manifold. The mechanical one the throttle control is on the fuel pump.

Regards emiel
I also came across another mention of the minimec pump. This time on a previous Fordson Super Major with starting issues thread.

Here is some additional advice quoted from Brian on this thread about cleaning of the minimec pump.
That will be a Minimec pump, you need to check the throttle rod is actually working the pump lever. If it is you have a governor fault in the pump itself.

Just a thought, have you ever changed the oil in the pump? Should be changed every time you change the engine oil and it is the same oil. May be worth draining it out and refilling with Automatic Transmission Fluid then run her around for a while before draining and putting the correct oil back. It takes 1/3rd of a pint so it will be quite cheap to do. The oil filler and level are marked in the first picture, the drain is underneath the housing. Be careful not to overtighten the plugs, it is an aluminium housing and it is easy to damage the threads.

Add the rest of the can of ATF to the diesel and this will clean up the system and help free off any injector or pump problems.

If you are very careful, take the side plate off the pump and check that your rack is free. The rack is the bit that moves the pumping elements and increases/decreases the fuel to the injectors. You should be able to get a screw driver and lever it carefully backwards and forwards. The pump must be very clean and you must not get dirt into it. A good drop of ATF sloshed around in there will be a great help.

If none of this works, you will have to take the pump off and to a repair specialist.
This is the link to that thread with additional information and pictures of the pump on the major.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7180&p=49879

Billy26F5
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Re: So you're supposed to change the oil in your governor - Who knew?

Post by Billy26F5 »

Minimec's came in in April 1962, coinciding with the introduction of the Super Dexta. If air gets in you won't be able to plough, as you loose power from at least one cylinder, and you'll hear a very unbalanced noise with a loud knock.
Sandy
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