Engine sputtering...What's going on?

[Lockport]

About two weeks ago I was stationary and backhoing when the engine started to die under load. Not any consistency but a randomness. It did seem like you could almost control it at times by applying and removing load. First I changed the fuel filters at 200 hours they had never been done. This had no results. Then I thought there must be water in the fuel. I drained it with a siphon, added some water remover and fresh fuel to no avail. I don't think I got it all out, however, so yesterday I drove the right rear wheel over a log and siphoned out all the fuel until I was sure it was dry. I added more water remover and fresh fuel and at first it seemed to run fine (it does this however) and then just driving along at 2200 RPM's it began to intermittently die on me. What's going on here? I do have a Fleetguard air restriction minder installed and the fear or contamination getting in there crossed my mind, but it has a fine mesh screen of its own on the brass right angle connector and I am convinced there is a second intended blockage in the filter housing where the tap is located that I have to remove to even get the indicator to register anything, anyway.

I know some of you have experienced this before but any of the threads I searched seemed to fail to have any conclusive postings, instead making there way into history. Is it that bad?

One other note, I am sure it isn't the seat switch as I have the Woods BH6000 and there mechanism to allow the seat to swivel dismisses the functionality of the switch altogether.

Help, please!

 

[Blk88GT]

I'm going out on a limb here but my 7510 did this a few weeks ago. It would stall in high gear and just lacked power in general.

I had left the parking brake on.

LOL

It's unlikely to be your problem but you never know.

 

[Harry c]

Sounds like my BX24 although it didn't go on very long... T'was the PTO safety switch! The lever wasn't returning all the way. Lubed the lever and no more problem.

 

[tommu56]

BX2230_Lockport

I suggest keeping 2 fuel filters in stock I had a mysterious sputter and panicked called the dealer on a sat am Mechanic said to change the fuel filters. I was trying to figure how to get it over to them. I ran over and got 4 changed both and problem went away.

tom

 

[john_bud]

I sounds like a switch. The Woods switch deal may be faulty, or may have a short from rubbing. Trace the safety switches (seat, PTO, HST peddle) and see if any are flakey.

By the way, I agree with all the stuff you did on fuel. That's the first thing I would have done too!. Only other thing is to see if there is an air leak on the filter housing or a hose/fitting.

jb

 

[Volfandt]

I'd say water in the fuel was your original problem and now I'll guess that you're engine is sucking in air from reusing the old clamps on the fuel filters.
I seem to recall someone else having a very similar problem awhile back and he wrestled with it just like you. Ended up he replaced the factory fuel filter clamps with new screw/band type and he finally got his BX23 to run right. (this is after swapping rh filters out again too).
I wouldn't go too deep without 1st making sure that you've got the fuel lines sealed up good and tight and all the water out of the system.
It could be a switch but the fact that you can vary the speed/load and control the failure tends to make me think fuel.
Good luck

 

[escavader]

I'd say water in the fuel was your original problem and now I'll guess that you're engine is sucking in air from reusing the old clamps on the fuel filters.
I seem to recall someone else having a very similar problem awhile back and he wrestled with it just like you. Ended up he replaced the factory fuel filter clamps with new screw/band type and he finally got his BX23 to run right. (this is after swapping rh filters out again too).
I wouldn't go too deep without 1st making sure that you've got the fuel lines sealed up good and tight and all the water out of the system.
It could be a switch but the fact that you can vary the speed/load and control the failure tends to make me think fuel.
Good luck

That was me.Change the clamps-dealer reccomends it,and does it .Then I dumped a half bottle of power service in [diesal mechanic said it will not hurt engine] PROLEM SOLVED also got rid of my metal fuel cans and got plastic,keep them off the ground in winter.I buy diesal at a known truck stop that sells alot.Alot of offroad pumps in our area dont sell alot of volumn,and i think it sits in the ground a long time.BOY it sure sounds like water.
ALAN

 

[Lockport]

Thanks everyone. That gives me something to go on. Makes sense, too, Volfandt, as I was scepticle of the source of the fuel that prompted me to change the filters in the first place and I had never heard, or thought, of the clamps not sealing properly. (I'd like to retrofit a small water seperator.) I will get clamps, tomorrow, and size up the fuel lines. I hope that's it. Talk about yer heart suddenly being in yer mouth.

 

[Soundguy]

Have you checked fuel flow from the tank. Last time my blue tractor had these symptoms it was a clogged fuel petcock..

Soundguy

 

[Lockport]

Have you checked fuel flow from the tank. Last time my blue tractor had these symptoms it was a clogged fuel petcock..

Soundguy

I did when symptons first appeared and I changed the filters. When I removed the one by the fuel pump the fuel just gravity flows from there and I was soaked. I think that perhaps Volfandt hit it with two symptons, first water and now it is sucking air. I will try to get some clamps today and see what that yields.