L3800 Died..Help

[lzicc]

I was working with my L3800 and it just slowed down and shut off. If I try to start it, it stars but will only stay running for a few seconds. I pulled the fuel filter out and cleaned it, put it back on but it still will not start. The fuel gauge read 1/4 full, but I put another 5 gallons in just to make sure that maybe the gauge was not working. The fuel bowl is only half full of fuel right now which makes me think that it is not getting any fuel. I did check the bleeder valve and it is close. Any suggestions??

 

[Ed of all trades]

Try bleeding the air out of the system and see if that helps.
Rule 1 Always try simple and cheep things first.

Hope this helps Ed

 

[teg]

^^^ Ditto on bleeding some fuel through the line... How many hours on that fuel filter? Do you use a diesel fuel conditioner? I had a little algae & gunk in my filter so I replaced it. Is your fuel fresh?

 

[k0ua]

If the fuel bowl is not filling, bleeding is not going to help, You have a stoppage upstream.. Crap in the tank or hoses. Blow compressed air backwards toward the tank, and see if you can get the bowl to fill, but I suspect you are going to be pulling off hoses and trying to clean out the tank..

 

[lzicc]

I went back to the tractor to try and start it. Same thing. I then opened up the bleed valve and cranked the engine over for about 10 seconds. I closed the valve and the tractor started right up then died. I then opened up the bleed valve and the tractor started up. I was able to move it about 20 feet, it started to bog down and then died. Maybe the fuel pump is ok? Maybe the line from the fuel bowl to the tank could be clogged like k0ua mentioned?

 

[k0ua]

Loosen the fuel cap and see if that makes any difference.

 

[k0ua]

This overall diagram might help some.. as you can see the fuel pump is after the fuel bowl.. If the fuel bowl won't fill. I still say you have a stoppage in the tank or the line from the tank to the fuel filter and bowl.

 

[lzicc]

That's for that diagram. I am going to try to blow the lines. I will also try starting it with the cap loosened. I let you know what happens. Thank you all. This forum is like instant service.

 

[teg]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...3-need-bleed-air-fuel-system.html#post3885423

Some information in thread above...

 

[lzicc]

Blowing the line from the fuel bowl to the tank fixed it. When I pulled the line, nothing came out. I put my air to it and after a few seconds, fuel starting pouring out. I hooked the line back up, when to start the tractor, it was rough starting do to the air in the lines, then it was normal. I cranked up the throttle and it sounded strong. It's been idling for about 5 minutes now with no issue's. Thank you k0ua and everyone else.

 

[k0ua]

Blowing the line from the fuel bowl to the tank fixed it. When I pulled the line, nothing came out. I put my air to it and after a few seconds, fuel starting pouring out. I hooked the line back up, when to start the tractor, it was rough starting do to the air in the lines, then it was normal. I cranked up the throttle and it sounded strong. It's been idling for about 5 minutes now with no issue's. Thank you k0ua and everyone else.

Aha. but the question, is now.. OK what was in that line that is now in your tank, and how long before it finds its way back into the line and stops it up again...

 

[lzicc]

That's my concern also. Could it have been sludge maybe?

 

[k0ua]

That's my concern also. Could it have been sludge maybe?

Perhaps, and when you mixed it back more into solution with the fuel, by blowing air in it, the fuel filter will catch it. That is scenario number 1. .
Scenario number 2:. It is something solid (an acorn for all I know), and sooner or later it will clog in inlet again?. I just don't know.

 

[PuckNPirate]

I have seen several post on this forum and others and just recently experienced this myself with fuel / pump issue on my L3800. I realize you may have already figured out your issue but i wanted to post this somewhere others might find when searching for an answer.

My tractor would act as though it was starving for fuel or had air / water in the lines. Would run fine for 15 minutes, sit and idle just fine but if i throttled it up for a few minutes it would start to stall and bog down. and then resume to normal idle. Sometimes i could use it for an hour before the symptons would appear. All indications that i had something in my fuel tank blocking the fuel from exiting. First i drained the fuel tank completely, blew compressed air through the tank to get everything out. All was clean. Fuel flowed freely from the hose to the filter. No issue

Checked for water in my fuel. All was clean.
Checked all of my fuel lines, all were clean. I have heard of the inside of the hose failing before, where it can make a flap on the inside and not allow fuel to pass.
Changed fuel filter, cleaned out bowl (wasn't in bad shape to begin with) but eliminating all possibility. O-rings were in good shape on the filter.
Took the fuel filter housing off and checked ports in the plastic housing. All was clean.
Next i went to my fuel pump, with the engine off, removed the fuel hose that goes to the injectors. Turn the engine over a time or two and stand clear. This should blow fuel out. Should not just leak out as the engine turns over.

Here's my problem. The more fuel i had in my tank the more pressure i had. My pump was broke. There was enough pressure and suction from the injector pumps to keep my tractor idle until it came under a higher rpm and needed more fuel. Resulting in it stalling until it could catch up. I took the pump off (mechanical) and you could tell it did not have an suction when you put your finger tips over it. Ordered a new one with a new gasket, installed in about 10 mins. Tractor fired right up with bleeder screw open. Closed the bleeder screw after about 20 sec. Hasn't missed a beat yet.

It is not typical that your fuel pump go out as early as mine (150hrs) did but i believe that mine was a result of fuel gelled inside during the winter and could have messed up the diaphram inside. I plan to cut it open in the next few days to see what it looks like.

I hope this is helpful to anyone that runs into the same issue.

 

[ultrarunner]

Thanks for posting... this is why TBN members are the best!

 

[k0ua]

I have seen several post on this forum and others and just recently experienced this myself with fuel / pump issue on my L3800. I realize you may have already figured out your issue but i wanted to post this somewhere others might find when searching for an answer.

My tractor would act as though it was starving for fuel or had air / water in the lines. Would run fine for 15 minutes, sit and idle just fine but if i throttled it up for a few minutes it would start to stall and bog down. and then resume to normal idle. Sometimes i could use it for an hour before the symptons would appear. All indications that i had something in my fuel tank blocking the fuel from exiting. First i drained the fuel tank completely, blew compressed air through the tank to get everything out. All was clean. Fuel flowed freely from the hose to the filter. No issue

Checked for water in my fuel. All was clean.
Checked all of my fuel lines, all were clean. I have heard of the inside of the hose failing before, where it can make a flap on the inside and not allow fuel to pass.
Changed fuel filter, cleaned out bowl (wasn't in bad shape to begin with) but eliminating all possibility. O-rings were in good shape on the filter.
Took the fuel filter housing off and checked ports in the plastic housing. All was clean.
Next i went to my fuel pump, with the engine off, removed the fuel hose that goes to the injectors. Turn the engine over a time or two and stand clear. This should blow fuel out. Should not just leak out as the engine turns over.

Here's my problem. The more fuel i had in my tank the more pressure i had. My pump was broke. There was enough pressure and suction from the injector pumps to keep my tractor idle until it came under a higher rpm and needed more fuel. Resulting in it stalling until it could catch up. I took the pump off (mechanical) and you could tell it did not have an suction when you put your finger tips over it. Ordered a new one with a new gasket, installed in about 10 mins. Tractor fired right up with bleeder screw open. Closed the bleeder screw after about 20 sec. Hasn't missed a beat yet.

It is not typical that your fuel pump go out as early as mine (150hrs) did but i believe that mine was a result of fuel gelled inside during the winter and could have messed up the diaphram inside. I plan to cut it open in the next few days to see what it looks like.

I hope this is helpful to anyone that runs into the same issue.

OK just to be clear you replaced the fuel feed pump, sometimes called the fuel lift pump, that is after the fuel filter and bowl but before the high pressure fuel injector pump correct?

 

[PuckNPirate]

OK just to be clear you replaced the fuel feed pump, sometimes called the fuel lift pump, that is after the fuel filter and bowl but before the high pressure fuel injector pump correct?

Correct.