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Foton 404 Good or BAD

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wagonertim
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 4 Kentucky
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2007-04-12          141257

I have a 404 Foton 40 hp 4X4 with only 103.5 hours on the thing and the fuel injector pump went south. Has anyone had any experiences with these tractors. I was in the process of prepping a field to sow alfalfa hay when this happened. What a pain in the butt. I am trying to decide if I should keep this thing or get something else. The engine has never seemed like it could provide the power that it should. Could this had been due to a defected pump that finally just broke. Also haw reliable are these tractors.
If you have any experiences that are good or bad of true farm ( hard pulling or lifting) work with these tractors from Rural King please let me know.
Thanks
Tim
My e-mail is wagoh58d at yahoo.com


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2007-04-12          141261

First - what's made you convinced that it's the injection pump? There are a lot of potential bottlenecks in the fuel delivery system that could impede fuel flow.

Second, has your warranty period expired?

Third - my experience with Rural King and Chinese tractors is that the merchandise is good value for the money, but the service-after-sale sucks.

//greg// ....

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wagonertim
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 4 Kentucky
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2007-04-12          141262

I was on the phone with a mechanic and he walked me through what to do. At the end of the checks he had me do it was the pump. ....

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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2007-04-12          141265

Well, forgive me if my faith in Rural King "techs" is low. Back when they were selling Jinmas, RK service after sale was wholly unimpressive. At that time, they were turning a blind eye to the fact that certified diesel mechanics simply won't work for minimum wage. The same guy that put together the lawn mowers and weedeaters got the job of assembling and servicing Jinmas. In my case they screwed up the electrical system on the first tractor I bought, to the extent that it actually had to be replaced with another tractor. They then proceded to mess up the driveline and hydraulics on that one up so bad - I simply escalated the matter until obtaining a full refund. It's why I'm now a KAMA owner. The brand of tractor however, has nothing to do with RK's ability to competently troubleshoot and repair diesel tractors.

If you don't mind, would you elaborate on that telephone troubleshooting session? If they actually employ certified diesel mechanics now, I'll be glad to eat my words.

//greg// ....

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wagonertim
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 4 Kentucky
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2007-04-12          141268

Sure

the first thing he told me is that he bet it was the line that comes from the filter to the pump. I loosened the line and primed it with the primmer pump fuel came out. Loosened the line on the other side( bypass) good this removed the chance of a clogged screen cracked the nut where the injector lines hook to the pump cranked the engine. no fuel. went back and checked the fuel shutoff valve where to ensure the lever was not slipping on the shaft. then removed the injector line nuts that hold the lines on to the pump all the way to see if any fuel came out at all when cranking. out of the back line attachment point fuel (while cranking the engine) finally made a very small trickle. the other two would not let any fuel come out at all. just got back from RK and picked up the new pump. Well we will see what happens.
....

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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2007-04-12          141273

I'll admit, that's better advice out of RK than I've ever heard/read about, better even than actual hands-on troubleshooting I've witnessed at several RK stores. But are you sure the fuel filter is actually full? It's possible to get a false impression of fuel at the input to the injection pump, just from air the hand primer can push through the filter housing. The quality of the flexible fuel lines in these tractors is not impressive. It's not uncommon for that flaps inside a deteriorating rubber line to be temporarily forced open by the hand pump, but block actual fuel flow during normal gravity feed or fuel pump pressure. At lesat one of the banjo connectors should have an inline screen as well. Debris collects against the screen blocking normal flow, but can sometimes be blown past with the hand primer.

I'd have advised the troubleshooting to start way back at the strainer in the fuel tank, eliminating segment by segment in the direction of the fuel flow. Your telephone tech hit rounded up all the usual suspects, but did not in fact walk you through a comprehensive and sequential series of checks.

That said, I hope the new pump fixes your problem.

//greg// ....

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wagonertim
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 4 Kentucky
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2007-04-13          141280

I got the new pump on and it pumped fuel as it should. The mechanic I spoke with on the phone was going to come up and fix it. But his wife went into labor the day he was to do so. The had a baby girl who came early. Now with all that said. I put the pump on but here is the bad part. I believe I must have let the gear that the tapered shaft fits into jump a tooth. The acceleration is slow and when you go to drive off it almost dies and does not regain its rpm’s That sucks. I ran out of day light yesterday and am heading out this morning to see if the slots on the pump will let me adjust it out. Then I will be off to work for a three days. It may have to wait until Monday night.

Tim
....

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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2007-04-14          141303

Either the new pump didn't fix your issue, or it's a timing problem. Unlike gasoline engines where timing is a matter of adjusting spark delivery, on diesel engines you time the fuel delivery. This is done at the pump itself. So perhaps it's best for you to wait on the RK guy to catch up on his family duties.

//greg// ....

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ft254a
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2 Southern Iowa
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2008-06-06          154342

I am trading my 254a for a 404, because I am moving up from a 50 parcel, which I mowed last year with a 5' bush hog to a 9' bar mower to accomodate a 20 acre increase in the contract. 5' a round on 70 acres is discouraging. So the 404 will better serve me. I have been using the 254 with the 9' mower, but it is too much (although a testimony to the the ruggedness of this tractor). I have no qualms with staying with the Foton brand since the 254 has been a good investment. It has been a crescent wrench/screwdriver tractor, but I have an excellent service dealer. If you have seen Mayer Farm Implement posting on the web, pay heed. These guys a good.

I have been told parts availability for the Foton is much better than Nortrac, Farm Pro, Jimna. ....

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colemanmd
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 4 Carbondale, Illinois 62901
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2010-01-25          168215

My foton 404 has been a pain in the but. Solved most problems, loose connections to starter and battery ground, however for the past two years, tractor starts ok(most of the time) but then after running for10-15 minutes slows down and stops! It seems to be "running out of fuel". I have changed filters, emptied tank and removed hoses, changed hoses, added a 12 volt aux pump and then I thought I had solved the problem but alas after 12 minutes it slowed down and stopped. I was just about to order a fuel inj pump when I saw your post! My tractor has less than 20 hours on it as it is used mostly in the summer to bushhog 5-6 acres. Have you figured anything out or did you drive it to the land fill. Cliff ....

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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2010-01-25          168222

That's about the time it takes for the engine to use up what's in the fuel filter housing. When it quits, unscrew the fuel filter and see if it's empty. If yes, then you have to troubleshoot backwards to the tank. The round fittings with hex bolts through them are called banjo fittings. Some of them have filter screens that clog up. Remove/inspect/clean/replace as necessary.

The sediment bowl has a screen at the top of the glass. Turn off the fuel valve, remove the glass bowl, see if the screen is clogged.

There's also a screen inside the tank, over the pipe that feeds the sediment bowl. But to check it, you first have to drain the tank - and then remove the entire sediment bowl assembly from the tank.

While the assembly is removed, look at the shut off valve. Some have found drilled off center, giving one the false impression that the fuel flow valve is fully opened.

If all that checks out ok, you probably have a bad lift pump. Unfortunately, it's part of the injection pump assembly - and cannot be replaced at the component level. You'd need an entirely new injection pump assembly.

//greg// ....

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Freightflyer
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2 Kinston, NC
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2010-03-06          168997

Quote:
Originally Posted by colemanmd | view 168215
My foton 404 has been a pain in the but.Solved most problems, loose connections to starter and battery ground, however for the past two years, tractor starts ok(most of the time) but then after running for10-15 minutes slows down and stops!It seems to be "running out of fuel". I have changed filters, emptied tank and removed hoses, changed hoses,added a 12 volt aux pump and then I thought I had solved the problem but alas after 12 minutes it slowed down and stopped.I was just about to order a fuel inj pump when I saw your post!My tractor has less than 20 hours on it as it is used mostly in the summer to bushhog 5-6 acres. Have you figured anything out or did you drive it to the land fill.Cliff

This sounds like exactly what happened to me. My mechanic found out that the injector pump wasn't serviced with oil when the tractor was put together by the dealer. To me it sounded strange that the pump needed oil to work, but he serviced it and it has worked great ever since. He also showed me how to service it so I should never have the problem again. Glad it was something so simple cause I was figuring I would have to buy a new pump... Hope this helps.
Jeff ....

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colemanmd
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 4 Carbondale, Illinois 62901
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2010-03-06          169005

Turned out to be a plugged fuel hose that went from primer apparatus to the filter. Had to take the primer mechanism with attached mechanical pump to get the hose off that was plugged. New hose and I am now ready to drive it to Alaska.
Thanks for the information. It was helpful and I was happy that it wasnt the fuel injector mechanism. Clifford Coleman ....

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susan_s
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2 Utah
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2011-01-17          176450

I wonder if you gentlemen can help me. I need to sell a 2004 foton with bucket but am having a hard time trying to find compairables to set a sale price. I have tried calling a couple of dealers without result. I already checked tractor data and Tractor house. I want to be fair and not jip my self in the process.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

2004 Foton 404 with bucket
Diesel
40 hp
4 wheel drive
Manules for tractor and bucket
low hours - It in really good condition
I was thinking $ 9000.00

Thanks guys !! ....

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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2011-01-17          176451

Depends upon which loader. Those who know Chinese tractors would deduct for a Chinese loader, but add for an American or Korean aftermarket loader. But seeing as how yours is a 2004, I doubt you have a Korean loader.

New FT404s w/loader are going for up to $18K, so I don't think you're in danger of over=pricing yours at $9000. What price ultimately advertise it for will depend upon (a) the loader, and (b) the prevailing local/area economy. There are other influences as well; like whether sale includes delivery, maintenance records, if there's a convenient dealer or parts supplier, et cetera

//greg// ....

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yozzause2015
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2 perth western australia
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2015-08-17          193370

our 404 would run ok but if you went over 1,ooo rpm it would start to smoke (white) and run rough. if you let it idle it would run fine again, you also got spotted with black oily smudges from the exhaust(un burnt fuel).
Any way finally got a mechanic in to go over the machine, he was a bit stumped by the problem,and covered our ute and his vehicle with oily deposits from the exhaust whilst doing his tests, un beknown to him at the time.
I suggested that i had read on this forum that there are a number of in hose filters that can cause fuel starvation. He came back a second day and removed a couple of said filters and we haven't had the same problem since.Prior to that talk was of a replacement pump! ....

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yocsr1
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 182 Terre Haute, Indiana
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2015-08-19          193380

I'm happy with my 404 !!! I work it hard and it does a good job. My buddy has a 404 that he works crazy hard and it's great! Ours is the 490 bt 4 cylinder motor. The fuel injector has to be timed. Also you have the little dip stick ALWAYS CHECK FLUID LEVEL REGULARLY. If you let it run dry you blow the injector. Fill with hydraulic fluid. ....

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Jamesodom
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 2 Ohio
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2023-07-30          201713

I was reading your post on the foton 404 I also changed injection pump can,t get it to start. It will fire with ether but no start, so I was curious if it was a timing problem and if so how do you reset the timing are there any marks. My tractor is an 04 ....

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yocsr1
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 182 Terre Haute, Indiana
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2023-07-31          201715

Call Tommy at Affordable Tractors at 1-979-865-4002. He can tell you what you need to know. ....

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