Engine dies going up a hill

[slider909]

Have a Boomer 35, starts and runs great. Have a path down a hill to the creek, about 120' long and is pretty steep. The past few times I've used it, the engine dies out going back up the hill. Not a lack of power die, more like a lack of fuel problem. Normal hills and inclines are no problem. It will make it about 1/2 way up, maybe about 20 seconds before it starts to die out. I'm in low range, it's not having any problems up to the point where it starts to die. I push petal in and it will recover after maybe 5 seconds, then I can go the rest of the way up the hill. Full tank of fuel, the glass fuel bowl doesn't look like there is any air or water in it, still is the orginal fuel filter. Going to replace the fuel filter and take the bowl off and clean everything. anyone have any idea why a incline would cause a problem?

 

[k0ua]

take this for what it's worth because I'm not a mechanic. The only thing I can think of is that as you're going up the hill the governor is calling for more fuel because of the increased load on the engine and you have some sort of restriction in the fuel delivery system that does not allow the proper amount of fuel to be delivered.of course this could be entirely off base. As I said again I'm not a mechanic.

 

[slider909]

I replaced the fuel filter yesterday, from the outside the filter and bulb looked fine, when I opened it up and removed the filter it was black as coal and there was a 1/4" of sludge in the bottom. Engine seems to run with more energy now, but can't try it on the hill since it's rained for the past 4 days. I've changed the fuel filters in my diesel truck many times but they are all canister type, this is the first time I've seen the filter element. Why would it be so black? I use the same fuel as the truck, almost always use Shell fuel.

 

[k0ua]

take this for what it's worth because I'm not a mechanic. The only thing I can think of is that as you're going up the hill the governor is calling for more fuel because of the increased load on the engine and you have some sort of restriction in the fuel delivery system that does not allow the proper amount of fuel to be delivered.of course this could be entirely off base. As I said again I'm not a mechanic.

I replaced the fuel filter yesterday, from the outside the filter and bulb looked fine, when I opened it up and removed the filter it was black as coal and there was a 1/4" of sludge in the bottom. Engine seems to run with more energy now, but can't try it on the hill since it's rained for the past 4 days. I've changed the fuel filters in my diesel truck many times but they are all canister type, this is the first time I've seen the filter element. Why would it be so black? I use the same fuel as the truck, almost always use Shell fuel.

I am guessing you found your "restriction" in the fuel system. One of our members showed his fuel filter a year or so ago, and it was black, and had a dead fly in it.

Maybe the black gunk is algae.

 

[Richard]

I once had a stalling problem (industrial backhoe) that had me scratching my head.

Machine starts fine.... meanders down the road....fine. Anytime I start pushing it or going faster than meander down the road, it dies. Wait few minutes, starts right up like nothing happened.

Cutting to the chase, the water separator was essentially full of water and diesel was only skimming across the top, to the engine. As long as the demand was met by the trickle, engine was fine. Exceed that amount, engine dies.

Cleaned water out of glass bowl and everything was 100%. I had never thought that water would collect to that degree and essentially, choke the engine.

 

[skyhook]

Check your fuel tank for gunk, some machines have a pick-up screen in the tanks also.

 

[Mysfyt]

What skyhook said. Nice bright flashlight. I'm sure you found the problem, now your just doing a follow up on the source. How many hours on your tractor?

 

[slider909]

Hate to say it, but 650 hrs. Do the oil and hydraulic maintenance regularly but never the fuel. Pretty sure it was the problem, it's running strong again. Had to try it out on a hill yesterday, against my better judgement, it was so muddy I slid almost all the way down the trail and scraped up against the trees. No damage, but I shouldn't have taken that route. Sometimes we really should listen to that inner voice.

 

[Mysfyt]

Yeah, I'd say you got it fixed. I did a search on algae in the fuel and kOua nailed it! Here is a link to an article about what to do with this issue: Solving Diesel Fuel Problems Unfortunately, your problems aren't done yet. Your going to have to kill off that algae. I'd keep a couple extra fuel filters on hand!

 

[slider909]

I drained a gallon out of the tank, looked as clear as diesel normally does, it's pretty easy to drain in and clean the tank and lines so I might just as well. I might put another filter in the line as it leaves the tank, a pre-filter to the more expensive filters. Fuel doesn't sit in the tank long, going through a few tanks per week now and it's the same as that I'm using in my truck (2011 F250 6.7L) and there are no issues with it.

 

[Mysfyt]

I would still run some biocides through it just to be sure. Just sayin

 

[BHD]

is there a low oil shut off, and tilting the engine is sloshing the oil away form the sensor,?

 

[sal64]

is the tank full i no on my tractors if i dont keep the tank 3/4 to full the fuel goes to one side and it sucks air.

 

[crazyal]

I have a 55 gallon drum on wheels with an electric pump/ filter set up so I haven't had a problem in years. But before that I would use a couple of plastic 5 gallon containers. I know they were clean before I switched them from gas to diesel but after using them a couple of times I was amazed at how much black crap settled to the bottom. I almost always buy off road diesel when I can get it and it seams like the places that sell it must not filter it at all. If I was to go back to using them again I would visually inspect what I was pouring into my tank.

 

[Adolf08]

Is there a small filter or screen INSIDE the gas tank on the fuel line connection?
Some machines have a sort of pre-filter actually in the tank right at the line connection that can get a little clogged over time.

 

[slider909]

Haven't had a fuel problem since changing the filters. Ran a few tanks through it and checked the filter and it was clean. Then last Saturday I smelled diesel, thought maybe I didn't tighten something. Turned out to be a crack in the fuel tank. Has a plastic tank that sits between the ROPS, held in with a metal brace on the backside and one behind the seat, under that one is a metal strap. Cracked along the indentation where the metal strap goes up against the tank and curves around it. Looks to me like the safety strap they put on caused the tank to break. Called the dealer and ordered a new tank, took a bunch of pictures of the crack and how the strap fit. Took the tank off and used a plastic welder to try and fix it so I could finish up. It held up for a few days before it started leaking again. I got to thinking that maybe NH would do something to help out with a new tank since from my perspective it is a bad design issue that caused the problem. Opened a ticket with them, talked to a rep a few times. Sounded like they were interested in the problem until I told them I tried to fix it, then said nothing they could do about it and even if I didn't try to fix it, it would be up to the dealer if they wanted to do anything. I don't like to deal with anyone who gives me that line, there is always something that can be done, as simple as saying they would contact the dealer and have them look at it. I was in retail for years, I know there is always something that can be done, even if you know no results will come from it. Just leaves me with a bad taste with customer service from New Holland.

 

[skyhook]

Put a rubber pad between the strap and tank when you install the new one.

 

[slider909]

There is one. I think the problem was caused by the tank flexing and the strap not.

 

[GManBart]

Haven't had a fuel problem since changing the filters. Ran a few tanks through it and checked the filter and it was clean. Then last Saturday I smelled diesel, thought maybe I didn't tighten something. Turned out to be a crack in the fuel tank. Has a plastic tank that sits between the ROPS, held in with a metal brace on the backside and one behind the seat, under that one is a metal strap. Cracked along the indentation where the metal strap goes up against the tank and curves around it. Looks to me like the safety strap they put on caused the tank to break. Called the dealer and ordered a new tank, took a bunch of pictures of the crack and how the strap fit. Took the tank off and used a plastic welder to try and fix it so I could finish up. It held up for a few days before it started leaking again. I got to thinking that maybe NH would do something to help out with a new tank since from my perspective it is a bad design issue that caused the problem. Opened a ticket with them, talked to a rep a few times. Sounded like they were interested in the problem until I told them I tried to fix it, then said nothing they could do about it and even if I didn't try to fix it, it would be up to the dealer if they wanted to do anything. I don't like to deal with anyone who gives me that line, there is always something that can be done, as simple as saying they would contact the dealer and have them look at it. I was in retail for years, I know there is always something that can be done, even if you know no results will come from it. Just leaves me with a bad taste with customer service from New Holland.

After that sort of response, I wouldn't even buy the fuel tank from them. I'd get one from an LS dealer, or one of the online LS parts supply places, since it's an R3039.

I did a lookup and it seems like a $350 part from LS.

It looks like a few other people have had a similar problem with their R3039 fuel tanks:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...9-fuel-tank-leak-post3153592.html#post3153592