![]() ![]() Replacement dampers cost about £350 and fitting one is a good day’s labour for an experienced mechanic – most of the work involves splitting the tractor.Ī recent example fixed by Mr Hodges was on a 5455, but most models suffer in the same way. It typically fails between 4,000 and 6,000 hours, when the plates wear through the casing. The symptoms of a failed unit are a complete loss of drive and a fairly unpleasant banging noise emanating from the bell housing. Flywheel dampersĪ fairly regular Massey Ferguson breakdown is the flywheel damper, and Mr Hodges has replaced a few in recent months. Replacement injectors cost about £450 each and take two to four hours to replace. Injectors on Tier 3 Perkins blocks are another common problem, and the symptoms are poor starting and an engine knock at low engine rpm. Replacement pumps cost £265 and fitting is a 16-hour job. This results in a pulsing of the oil pressure and the light on the dash will flash on and off, accompanied by an error code. In these tractors, the bolts holding the pump together can snap, causing it to spring open when it speeds up. There was nothing the operator could do to prevent this particular breakdown, but thankfully it’s a rare occurrence.Ī more common oil pump problem is found on Tier 3 Perkins engines, which is easier to diagnose before serious damage is caused. The cost to put it right was about £6,500. ![]() The result was a complete engine rebuild, with new pistons, liners, a reground crank, new cylinder head and turbo, which had also been starved of oil. In this instance, the gear driving the pump dropped off and caused one of the pistons to seize in the bore. Thankfully, engine failures are pretty rare, but recently a Tier 2 model did have the oil pump pack up completely, causing the engine to seize. Problems with the Sisu block are almost unheard of, but Tier 2 and Tier 3 Perkins 1106 engines can give trouble, most of which are linked to the oil pump. The ubiquitous 6480 had a build run of more than eight years, with early versions featuring a Perkins engine and later models a Sisu. See also: Handy checklist for buying a second-hand tractorĪs well as carrying out running repairs, he also takes on complete restoration projects.īelow, we take a look at some of Mr Hodges’ recent repairs and he offers a few tips to reduce the likelihood of costly breakdowns. He specialises in Massey Ferguson, Fendt and Deutz tractors, plus Merlo telehandlers, all of which he worked on while he was an engineer for Pallisers of Hereford. We spoke to independent Massey Ferguson tractor specialist Steve Hodges about some common issues.Īfter 21 years working for a Herefordshire machinery dealer, Steve Hodges set up his own repair business, which he’s been running for the past three years. But with tractors getting ever more complex, there’s an increasing number of jobs that require expert knowledge and equipment. For the mechanically minded operator, it’s often possible to carry out minor repairs in the farm workshop. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |