expeatfarmer

I thought I had found the problem today, the rod that links the fuel pump rack to the governor was fouling on the casting for the pump location bolts. I relieved the casting to give clearance, put it all back together again but just won't start. It fires and runs for a few cycle and then stops.

I think basically that the engine design is not of the best and excess fuel is always present in the exhaust. In the past I have taken a blowlamp to the exhaust to clear out the crap. The other thing to do is drain the crankcase regularly as oil and fuel does build up in the transfer cavity which can make smoking worse.

No and no, just about to take the gas bottles to it!!! Had it running nicely so spent ages refitting all the covers went to start it and it just wont run It would seem as if I have two faulty governor assemblies. Going to try and get a new set.

Good as its going to get I think, just finishing it off now.

I have just adjusted the crack pressure to exactly 2300psi and the tractor runs much better so I would say it is worth setting them up right. But if it starts runs and does nor smoke too much I would leave well alnoe until you ave the engine in bits again.l

Now that was a revelation, I managed to borrow a portable injector testing rig which was a bit of a faff to set up but once sorted it showed me that one of the injectors I have was cracking off at over 4000lbs/sq inch ( nice pattern though ) the other looked like that little boy fountain cracking off at 1000 psi with a squirted stream and the dribbles. The crack pressure is adjusted by fitting schims or washers under the injector spring, I played around with one for about an hour trying to achieve 2250 psi and gave up at 2100 fitted it to the engine, it started a bit better but still smoked. I decided to closely examine the governor mechanisms and found that the one fitted had a bent spring locating shaft which was causing the rotor to be obstructed. If it was not for the time constraints I would be finding it interesting following on from previous owners trying to analyse just what they have adjusted to keep the machine running in the past as it is now it is a right pain as I really don't have enough set up information to restore factory settings as they say. Things like the rod that links the rack on the pump to the governor the one fitted has been adjusted longer than the one I have from a running engine but swapping makes no difference. Maybe if I stand and look at it long enough some crucial thing may become apparent ( I wish ) Crack pressure tester in action sitting at 4000psi !!!

Now up to 35 Ransomes entered. Final closing is 19th Feb.

Smoking is not as bad but still not good, smell of unburned fuel is awful. Injectors and pump are both spotless, taking injectors today to crack test , it may be that the blow off pressure is low giving a longer coarser spray rather than short atomised burst, worth a try can't think of much else. Valve timing is ok, pump spill timing, I played around fitting a gasket under the pump runs a bit smoother but smoke is worse. If I cant get it any better this weekend it will just have to go as it is as next week I have to get the skimmer finished.

Good Luck !

Does the latch spring open when you push the lever forward?

Most of the pictures are Dorset Steam Fair and the MG4o and MG6 pictures look to be a local show, hopefully the skimmer was near where the photographer lived and his local show.

Not trying to corner any markets just trying to find all the bits to get a machine restored to full working order. You need to sell things to corner the market and I don't sell a lot.

Would be fantastic to find it, happy to cover any costs if someone goes looking.

That would be good Rob many thanks looks as if there may be enough of it left to finish the rebuild of mine.

Changed the governor,now the whole fuel system pump ,injector and governor are from the same running (previously) tractor. Smoking not as bad but still there. So bad though that I have to solve it removed the head again and then barrel, had a brand new piston and rings so swapped both barrel and piston, all back together loads of compression but still smoking, going to try adjusting fuel timing which entails fitting gaskets under the fuel pump see what happens. Although it looks clean I have dismantled injector and have it soaking over night just in case. Thought it might be jetting fuel rather than spraying.

How long ago do you think it was Rob. looks like an abandoned nursery there is a derelict polytunnel in the background.Looks as if most of it is still there wow that would be a find. I will take the picture to Malvern and post it it with a do you know where this is.

In the background is my £140 temporary shelter for some of my crawlers which has withstood 80mph gales all over the winter and only just failed, strangely the sheeting has ripped on the leaward side and is still keeping the machines dry.

Changed the governor no change, checked the spill timing seemed ok. Removed the new head and the barrel fitted a brand new piston and barrel started it up and still the same!!!!!! Seems I am destined to explore the nth degree of set up on all my engines will fiddle a bit more in the morning, good thing about this engine is the electric start at least turning it over is not killing me! Good old Norm re assembled the brake bands on the MG40N and we got that running today, Norman took it for a test drive.

From the amount of smoke it produces it is as if it is getting far too much fuel, I have swapped pump and injector, going to swap the governor mechanism today before i get into the rings. The excess fuel rod has stuck a few times so it may not be releasing properly.

In addition to the 33 machines booked in so far ( still time if you hurry ) There will be a display from the MERL Archives, a display of Literature relating to the tractors, another display of literature relating to implements , a display of photos of machine around the World and a stand from Neil Jarrett carrying spare parts and interesting Ransomes items. If you need a particular part, ring Neil and ask him for what you need.

Fitted the new head smoking is better but still pretty bad garage full of acrid white unburned fuel smoke. When I had the head off I examined the bore which was very good. Usual causes of this problem are either insufficient compression or timing of the fuel pump. I am wondering if the piston rings may be stuck with having sat for 25 years, the top one is free but the lower two may be gummed up. I will check the spill off timing in the morning before I remove the barrel.

Checked the exhaust valve clearance which was a bit tight and then noticed that the rocker arm bushes were worn which makes setting the valve clearance impossible. I then noticed that the valve spring retainer was a non standard item, the Drayton engine has two exhaust valve springs of unequal length the outer retains pressure on the rocker arm at all times, clearance is set using a narrow feeler through a slot in the upper spring retainer. This head had both springs held down by a standard collet collar, looks as if the previous owner had adapted a non standard valve which clearly worked but not properly which may explain why the diesel engine was removed and a petrol engine fitted. Fortunately I have a couple of spare brand new heads complete with valves so as a minor diversion I have fitted a new cylinder head. I have done this a few times before so took a guess at the gasket thickness and peeled off a few layers before I refitted the head leaving a piece of lead solder on top of the piston, Torqued the head down and turned the engine over a couple of time by hand, remove the head and measure the squished solder thickness luckily it was 0.9mm on the first go so took out the solder refitted the head and off we go. I was extremely lucky because these heads have a section that sits about 3/4" into the liner which is steel against an alloy head!! they can be absolute pigs to remove, usually evidenced by broken cooling fins on the head and barrel where levers have been applied in the past. Before now I have had to resort to removing head and barrel together and thumping the whole thing up and down on a wooden post with lots of heat to break the head free. This one popped off as soon as I undid the head bolts a sure sign it has been off before and not run much since. Picture on the right is the new head showing the slot for setting clearance in the outer spring cap.

It was about 6.30 pm Norm. Not sure what is causing it, smoke free at low and medium revs but if you open it up it smokes like hell pure white unburned diesel smoke which may be due to a sticking exhaust valve if not that then it will be down to compression, the head has been off in the past so may not have been set with right bump clearance on the head gaskets.

Got the ITW running tonight but then I lost it!

Wired up ignition system, sorted throttle cable Norm fitted tyres wheels and chains. Ready to try starting it in the morning, a few fuel leaks to sort first. New Dunlop Industrial tyres look good , not sure what pressure to inflate them to.