- Oct 29, 2017
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Fall planting is upon me; so I decided to show my MF-20 some attention. I bought this tractor a few years ago for $5000. It needed a lot of work; and I did that work. It is now a nice running tractor.
When I bought it; it had recently had an oil change; so that is the only routine maintenance procedure that I had not yet performed. I had put far less than 200 hours on the tractor since I had purchased it; but this tractor was made between the early '60's and the early '70's; so I like to give old machines extra attention. I decided to change the oil.
I have the Perkins diesel engine.
The filter that I started with was a Hastings LF134. I replaced it with a FRAM PH3600. According to multiple sources, those two filters cross reference. I filled with 6 quarts of 15W-40. I double checked the dipstick. All looked good. I then drove it across the field and started doing work. It stalled. I struggled to start it again; and in the process, I saw two small puffs of white smoke come from near the front of the engine. I finally managed to limp back to the tractor shed.
There I began to try to figure out what was wrong. I started it again; and it made some grinding squealing sounds. I went and got my stethoscope, to see if I could locate where the noise was coming from. I started it again; but the noise was even worse. I shut it down, and called my beloved diesel mechanic buddy. He works on heavy equipment day in and day out. That is what he does for a living.
He asked me me to start it up, with him on the phone; so he could hear it. He told me that it sounded like low oil pressure; and that he would try to come by, in the cool of the evening, to look at it. I was thinking that the oil pump had gone bad.
Getting close to sundown I called him back; and he explained to me how busy with work he is right now. I was going to ask him how much it would cost me to replace the oil pump; but that came out in conversation, after the problem was solved. He told me it would cost $6000. I can buy the part for about $60. The rest is labor breaking the tractor in half, and getting to the defective part.
I
Before I could ask him about the cost to replace the oil pump; he told me that those oil pumps are very rugged; and it's probably not broken.
He told me to try this:
Unscrew the oil filter. He asked me if there was any oil in the filter. I told him no.
He told me to put a bucket under where the oil filter goes, and turn the engine over without starting it. (this is done by pulling out the "stop" plunger, while pressing the "start" button.
He then asked me if oil was coming out. I told him no. He told me to turn it over some more. I told him that my engine is squealing; and that I was afraid that it would lock up. He insisted I continue. Oil came out. He then told me to take the old oil filter (the Hastings filter), fill it with oil, and run the engine.
I did; and It quickly quieted down, and ran smoothly. I let it run for about fifteen minutes; and then went for a test ride. I put it into high second gear, and revved the engine in drive. I'm sure there was damage; but the tractor still runs, no knocking, no squealing.
He told me that this happened to a customer of his, years ago; when he put in a FRAM filter on a similar tractor. He told me that he will never use FRAM, nor STP. He told me that he uses nothing but WIX. He told me to warm up the engine, and then pull the oil plug; and let it drain overnight. He said that there are probably bits of metal in my new oil. He said that there is probably scoring on my bearings. He told me to get a WIX filter, and a full synthetic 15W-40 and replace those items in the morning. He said that the full synthetic will help in the wake of the probable scoring.
Thanks and praise to our heavenly father that I didn't lose my tractor.
Thanks and praise to my dear diesel mechanic buddy for helping to save the day.
This website gets excellent exposure; and I pray that someone else might benefit from the lessons that I have leaned here at the school of hard knocks.
When I bought it; it had recently had an oil change; so that is the only routine maintenance procedure that I had not yet performed. I had put far less than 200 hours on the tractor since I had purchased it; but this tractor was made between the early '60's and the early '70's; so I like to give old machines extra attention. I decided to change the oil.
I have the Perkins diesel engine.
The filter that I started with was a Hastings LF134. I replaced it with a FRAM PH3600. According to multiple sources, those two filters cross reference. I filled with 6 quarts of 15W-40. I double checked the dipstick. All looked good. I then drove it across the field and started doing work. It stalled. I struggled to start it again; and in the process, I saw two small puffs of white smoke come from near the front of the engine. I finally managed to limp back to the tractor shed.
There I began to try to figure out what was wrong. I started it again; and it made some grinding squealing sounds. I went and got my stethoscope, to see if I could locate where the noise was coming from. I started it again; but the noise was even worse. I shut it down, and called my beloved diesel mechanic buddy. He works on heavy equipment day in and day out. That is what he does for a living.
He asked me me to start it up, with him on the phone; so he could hear it. He told me that it sounded like low oil pressure; and that he would try to come by, in the cool of the evening, to look at it. I was thinking that the oil pump had gone bad.
Getting close to sundown I called him back; and he explained to me how busy with work he is right now. I was going to ask him how much it would cost me to replace the oil pump; but that came out in conversation, after the problem was solved. He told me it would cost $6000. I can buy the part for about $60. The rest is labor breaking the tractor in half, and getting to the defective part.
I
Before I could ask him about the cost to replace the oil pump; he told me that those oil pumps are very rugged; and it's probably not broken.
He told me to try this:
Unscrew the oil filter. He asked me if there was any oil in the filter. I told him no.
He told me to put a bucket under where the oil filter goes, and turn the engine over without starting it. (this is done by pulling out the "stop" plunger, while pressing the "start" button.
He then asked me if oil was coming out. I told him no. He told me to turn it over some more. I told him that my engine is squealing; and that I was afraid that it would lock up. He insisted I continue. Oil came out. He then told me to take the old oil filter (the Hastings filter), fill it with oil, and run the engine.
I did; and It quickly quieted down, and ran smoothly. I let it run for about fifteen minutes; and then went for a test ride. I put it into high second gear, and revved the engine in drive. I'm sure there was damage; but the tractor still runs, no knocking, no squealing.
He told me that this happened to a customer of his, years ago; when he put in a FRAM filter on a similar tractor. He told me that he will never use FRAM, nor STP. He told me that he uses nothing but WIX. He told me to warm up the engine, and then pull the oil plug; and let it drain overnight. He said that there are probably bits of metal in my new oil. He said that there is probably scoring on my bearings. He told me to get a WIX filter, and a full synthetic 15W-40 and replace those items in the morning. He said that the full synthetic will help in the wake of the probable scoring.
Thanks and praise to our heavenly father that I didn't lose my tractor.
Thanks and praise to my dear diesel mechanic buddy for helping to save the day.
This website gets excellent exposure; and I pray that someone else might benefit from the lessons that I have leaned here at the school of hard knocks.
