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mf in sydney 11-18-2009 14:54:56 58.172.49.36 108954 Report to Moderator	Hi I have a MF 178 that has decided that the battery is not good enough to start it's engine and I wanted to know if I could clutch start a diesel like I would a petrol car? Thanks [Reply]   [Send Email]
mf in sydney 11-24-2009 05:39:05 58.172.49.36 109108 Report to Moderator	Re: Clutch Start in reply to mf in sydney, 11-18-2009 14:54:56   The batteries didn't do so well on their own or both together with jump leads even though they had been on charge for a week and showed up as fully charged on the chargers. The tests I did as recommended also led me to believe poor battery, but when I left it for about 10 minutes and then tried it fired straight up. I took it for a 30 min run and then back to same problem, battery only strong enough to only weakly just turn engine a bit but not able to start it. Then I hit it with 24 volts and it fired straight up. Again I think it’s a weak battery but I still don't know why it fired up after that 10 min rest if the battery is the problem. Any Ideas? Anyway at the end I also discover that the generator gauge (is that what you call it?) shows that it is only charging at about 5 (Volts? Amp? or whatever they are). Now I know that the generator charges the battery as it is running but could this be the cause of the original problem I am having even though I'm starting off with a fully charged battery? Thanks if you can help.   [Reply]   [No Email]
mf in sydney 11-20-2009 22:10:02 58.172.49.36 109019 Report to Moderator	Re: Clutch Start in reply to Jeff Z., 11-18-2009 14:54:56   Bob N.Y. said: (quoted from post at 17:37:50 11/20/09) Put a battery that you know is good in the tractor and hook it up directly. That should determine if you need a battery or if something else is wrong. Thank Bob I've tried that already and what seemed to be a good battery for one tractor didn't do so well in this one. I have put both batteries on charge for now and when I get a chance I'll have another go at a few thing and let you all know how I get on.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Bob N.Y. 11-22-2009 15:35:04 72.10.208.83 109074 Report to Moderator	Re: Clutch Start in reply to mf in sydney, 11-20-2009 22:10:02   Remember to check the rest of the connections per David's instructions. It is possible that the starter is "tired" and needs a professional rebuild.   [Reply]   [Send Email]
mf in sydney 11-20-2009 14:22:12 58.172.49.36 109006 Report to Moderator	Re: Clutch Start in reply to mf in sydney, 11-18-2009 14:54:56   Thanks David I'll give all that a go.   [Reply]   [No Email]
mf in sydney 11-19-2009 19:34:42 58.172.49.36 108987 Report to Moderator	Re: Clutch Start in reply to mf in sydney, 11-18-2009 14:54:56   Thanks Bob That's a bummer. The battery that was on it was kept on a maintenance type battery charger and never had a problem starting the old girl on the rare occasion we used it, but last week there was a built up of that white powdery stuff on the negative terminal. Cleaned it with a spray solvent, stripped it cleaned the terminal and attachment with a file and recharged the battery but it only weakly turns the engine over for a couple of seconds. Even tried jump starting with the aid of a second battery but the only thing that seems to happen is that the cables and starter get warm & even a little bit of smoke out of the starter. Is it the battery that are the problem or could it be something else? Both the batteries I used are 620CCA and seem to start my other tractor ok. Thanks   [Reply]   [No Email]
Bob N.Y. 11-20-2009 16:37:50 72.10.208.110 109010 Report to Moderator	Re: Clutch Start in reply to mf in sydney, 11-19-2009 19:34:42   Put a battery that you know is good in the tractor and hook it up directly. That should determine if you need a battery or if something else is wrong.   [Reply]   [Send Email]
DavidP, South Wales 11-20-2009 12:09:41 92.26.137.32 109002 Report to Moderator	Re: Clutch Start in reply to mf in sydney, 11-19-2009 19:34:42   Hi, Sounds like you have cleaned the battery lugs and terminals? Have you checked the connection between the cable and battery lug? It could be loose or dirty or even a partly 'dry' connection. Where is the earth cable attached to? If it is onto one of the bell housing bolts that may not be good enough. Some tractors have a seperate braid from the bell housing to the earth connector at the end of the starter. As a test connect a heavy jumper lead from the negative terminal/lug on the battery to the earth point on the end of the starter. If there is an improvement it looks like an earth problem. Are your headlights working. If so switch them on and try and start on the key. If they go almost out then it looks like the battery is faulty. If there is very little drop in the lights it points to the starter. DavidP   [Reply]   [Send Email]
Masseynut(Australia) 11-19-2009 02:40:36 203.217.42.92 108963 Report to Moderator	Re: Clutch Start in reply to mf in sydney, 11-18-2009 14:54:56   Hi MF in Sydney, Provided the tractor in question is NOT a Multi-power model, you CAN roll-start it. Pick a high gear though, say high range, 2nd gear and try to get the tyres on some solid footing before popping the clutch, if the tread is down. regards, Evan.   [Reply]   [No Email]
mf in sydney 11-19-2009 13:11:40 58.172.49.36 108975 Report to Moderator	Re: Clutch Start in reply to Masseynut(Australia), 11-19-2009 02:40:36   Thanks Evan This 178 does have a Multi- power lever on it but it has never worked since I've had it (no idea what it does, how or when to use it but shifting the lever up or down does nothing). Do you think it would be ok to roll-start? Thanks   [Reply]   [No Email]
Bob N.Y. 11-19-2009 15:49:06 72.10.208.69 108982 Report to Moderator	Re: Clutch Start in reply to mf in sydney, 11-19-2009 13:11:40   It won't work. There is an overrunning clutch in the M-P transmission so the wheels will not turn the engine over.   [Reply]   [Send Email]