ytmag. com is a good place for older tractor discussions.and parts

I do actually need it. My big one is way too big and my manure management is falling behind with the boy in school. I'm just leery of headaches with an essentially abandoned tractor. My wife's grandfather bought it new and took good care of it but I bet it hasn't been run more than a few times in the last dozen years and not at all in the last at least 5. On the other hand, I see them selling online for 4K regularly and as much as 9K with front buckets.

by the way JP, regarding your misread of the original post, all I need for THAT task is a good stout wheelbarrow. Gets a little dicey out in public though, never mind on horseback.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

What an imagination!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

That's a great tractor! I can't imagine what kind of problems it would have that would be difficult to overcome.

Basics, drain/refill the oil to make sure it's not full of condensation. Check antifreeze, get a new battery, check the fuel system and give it a whirl.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

My first ever exposure to diesels was restoring a '65 Case 530D. The engine was the best, least troublesome part. It was a former grove tractor that had been used to cultivate around citrus trees, and its steering was worn out. I spent quite a bit of coin improving it (too expensive to completely fix it) so that it could at least be controlled for pasture mowing. My ex-wife kept that toy, but it soon led to my obsession with VW and later MB diesels that always start.

In my second life, I no longer need a pasture mower, but I sure could use something like that with a bucket for road maintenance.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

If you have any trouble, it will probably not be with the fuel system. If it has set long enough, the cylinders might be rusted frozen. Turn it over by hand before hitting the starter, or even use a bit of cheater bar on it to try to turn it. If it is free by turning with a wrench, you won't have to do the following:

If it won't turn, remove the injectors and squirt some brake fluid in the cylinders and let them set overnight. With the injectors still out, keep turning and brake fluiding until you free it up. THEN pull it in gear to turn it over and blow out the fluid before replacing the injectors. VERY important, a diesel has tiny combustion chambers. It doesn't take much liquid to lock them and do damage.

I'm not sure if the Japanese versions have hand bleed pumps, but I expect they do. Once the injectors are back in, use the hand bleed pumps in proper order, starting at the filter or lift pump on through. THEN crack open each injector line about a full turn and turn it over with the battery until fuel dribbles out of an injector line. Close that line and turn it over enough to dribble out the other lines and once dribbling close them.

Don't run the starter more than 15 or maybe 30 seconds without cooling and don't plan on starting it with the starter. Once you have bled and closed the injector lines, TOW the tractor to start it. You will likely waste the starter if you try to start it after all this.

Tow it in gear and keep towing it. You might even have to keep pulling after it's hitting on all three. Once started, run it several minutes at a pretty good clip. The amount of "stuff" that will come out the exhaust stack after all this will amaze you. After a few minutes the exhaust should clear and all will be well. THEN it will be a good time to warm it up and give it an overnight oil drain. Refill with your favorite diesel type oil, e.g.; Delo, Rotella, Delvac.

If it has been started in the last couple of years, unless it was in a very damp climate, you won't have to go through all this, and may very well be totally free and crank up quickly once a hot battery is connected.

Best of luck with it and keep us posted.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I appreciate all the tips. I'm lucky to have a good tractor indy nearby and don't mind spending some money on this as it's not costing me anything up front. He tells me he'll see if it will run enough to get the attached disk harrow to lift so it'll fit up his trailer ramp, if not we'll disconnect it and leave it for the time being. If startup is not an option he can winch it up onto his trailer. From there we'll bring it back directly to his shop where he'll go through it. It's a three hundred mile round trip to retrieve it, so it's going to take me a week or ten days to arrange time to go get it. Maybe I'll take some pics getting it loaded and for sure update after it's here.

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You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I recently got a free John Deere 440 tracked loader with a 2 cyl. Detroit Diesel. It had been sitting near the ocean, for either 12 or 30 years, depending on the memory of the old timer who gave it to me. After making sure it had oil and coolant in it I hooked up a battery to it and cranked it over a few times before opening the fuel petcock and filling the system with the diesel, that had been in there for 12 or 30 years, and with a little ether it fired up and ran smooth! Those old diesels are pretty simple and will tolerate a lot of abuse. I would put a battery and some fuel in it and see what happens. after only 5 years or so in the dry desert I bet it will be fine.

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1984 300TD 1981 240D

So we'll be seeing you in Tulare in a couple of weeks? Man I am I jealous of your find. I know a widow that has several restored John Deeres, a track layer amongst them. I'm a sucker for anything with tracks, and a Detroit on top of that! Dang. Just not sure how it would help with the container gardening...

MV

I might go to the farm show if I can get away from work. The Deere is my first track layer and I am looking forward to flogging it when I finish going through it. I don't think there is a part on it that doesn't weigh at least 100 lbs. It is some true old American iron

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1984 300TD 1981 240D