Oil & Fuel Kubota BX1860

shadowshack · Jun 6, 2015

I had similar issues with my BX25. I was ready to bet the farm I don't have that it was fuel related. Changed the filters as you did, with no improvement. Finally gave up and let the dealer take it when I needed it most (dead of winter with snow after snow piling up in my driveway). They said the parking brake wouldn't fully disengage and it continually put a load on the engine. As I would use it more, the engine would bog down even more. Once I got it back the problem never reoccured. Go figure.

Professor49 · Jun 7, 2015

Thanks for the information. I will check this out, but I haven't seen any indication that this might be the case.

shadowshack said:
I had similar issues with my BX25. I was ready to bet the farm I don't have that it was fuel related. Changed the filters as you did, with no improvement. Finally gave up and let the dealer take it when I needed it most (dead of winter with snow after snow piling up in my driveway). They said the parking brake wouldn't fully disengage and it continually put a load on the engine. As I would use it more, the engine would bog down even more. Once I got it back the problem never reoccured. Go figure.

anthonyv · Jun 7, 2015

Have you checked to see if the fuel sender is not rusting out & the rust particles are plugging the tank outlet? There have been several posts regarding this same issue.

Professor49 · Jun 9, 2015

I'm a dummy here...not sure what the "fuel sender" is... The tractor is only a couple of years old.

anthonyv said:
Have you checked to see if the fuel sender is not rusting out & the rust particles are plugging the tank outlet? There have been several posts regarding this same issue.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jun 10, 2015

Several of "us" have dropped stuff in the fuel tank over the years. Usually a cap, lid, spout, ring or something from our fuel can. Some threads in the past. The best method to retrieve the "stuff" is to turn the tractor upside down and shake it till the item comes out

but most of us aren't that strong. Or lay it on its side and maybe it'll roll out.

I did finally get my part out (I think mine was the pour spout) by letting my wife have a go at it with a full tank of fuel which made it float near the top where she could see it but I never could. It never hindered the running of my tractor but just knowing it was there bothered me.

anthonyv · Jun 10, 2015

Sorry I meant the fuel gauge sender switch under the fender on the left side. A float is mounted on a steel wire then to a switch inside the fuel tank & controls the fuel gauge display. There have been several complaints & many previous posts about this wire & the switch housing rusting & plugging the fuel outlet & filters. If this is what is occurring the only option is removing the fender & replacing the fuel gauge sender unit & cleaning the particles from the tank. Here is one thread that may help. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/222371-rough-running-bx.html

dodge man · Jun 10, 2015

Next time this happens, take the fuel line off after the back filter. If the flow of fuel is very low or almost none, then the filter is plugging up or the tank is plugging up. If the flow is low, then take if off before the filter and if the flow is good, then its the filter for sure. Mine plugged up about once a year. There are some threads on here about putting a Racor filter on the BX, this usually solves the problem of the filter plugging up. The factory filters are very small and plug very easy. Of course the problem with all my advice is that the mower deck is in the way and you probably have to pull it to get at the rear filter.

Professor49 · Jun 24, 2015

Thanks for the advice. Since I last posted I have definitely figured out that something was lodged in the fuel line between the tank and the filter. I purged back into the tank with slight air pressure after loosening the fuel tank cap and could feel the line pressuring up before the restriction broke loose and I was rewarded with a full stream of diesel in my face where there had only been a dribble before. The feel of the pressuring made me feel pretty certain that the restriction was something soft in the line and not in the tank at the inlet since it seemed stuck. Hard to explain, but I'm convinced of this. Problem is now that whatever it was is in the tank now and I still don't know how to get it out. I guess I'll just proceed as normal until the problem returns. I've put quite a few hard hours on the tractor since I blew the line out and there has been no recurrence of the problem yet. Some people spoke of algae problems - something I've never experienced in my 15 years of owning and using Kubota tractors ( all 3 fueled from the same supply tank), but anything is possible. Thanks again for everyone's advice. I guess I'll just see if the problem returns or not...any maybe treat the diesel to prevent algae even though I've never seen any.

dodge man said:
Next time this happens, take the fuel line off after the back filter. If the flow of fuel is very low or almost none, then the filter is plugging up or the tank is plugging up. If the flow is low, then take if off before the filter and if the flow is good, then its the filter for sure. Mine plugged up about once a year. There are some threads on here about putting a Racor filter on the BX, this usually solves the problem of the filter plugging up. The factory filters are very small and plug very easy. Of course the problem with all my advice is that the mower deck is in the way and you probably have to pull it to get at the rear filter.