Tractor Under Load

[ericm979]

Check the strainer.
If it's dirty, take the carb off and clean the strainer and carb out. Small passages in the carb may be clogged with gunk. I use a can of carb cleaner with the little red spray tube to jet out the passages. Carb cleaner also dissolves gum and varnish. It's tough on skin too, so minimize exposure.

If it were mine I'd put a clear inline fuel filter in the fuel line. They're cheap and will catch crud before it reaches the carb.

Also check the air filter (I think someone else mentioned that). Feeling like it is running rich would indicate either too much fuel or not enough air. You can get too much fuel if the float is stuck or the needle is not seating fully. It's often difficult to tell if it's running lean or rich. A handy quick test is to turn on the choke partially or fully- if it makes things worse it was rich, if it makes it better it was lean.

 

[bikerzing]

When installing a fuel filter, do I have to worry about it adding additional pressure drop to the fuel line? Also, my 1020 has an oil bath air cleaner, so no filter to clean. Lastly, pulling the choke definitely makes things worse so it is running rich. Thanks for the tip.

 

[PILOON]

When installing a fuel filter, do I have to worry about it adding additional pressure drop to the fuel line? Also, my 1020 has an oil bath air cleaner, so no filter to clean. Lastly, pulling the choke definitely makes things worse so it is running rich. Thanks for the tip.

I'd say no* as I did that exact same thing and have been running like that for the last 4 years.
I simply cut the fuel line and added the filter.
I also converted my small fuel filter bowl into a separator like device by adding a small drain valve at the bottom. (my problem was that no shops carried the special filter elements for it)
I now simply drain crud and any water from the bowl 'quick drain' and the inline filter lasts forever it seems.
Note that I use a standard inline 'gas' filter as sold by NAPA as IMHO the filter knows not the difference between fuel or gas.

* 3cyl Mitsubishi 20 hp engine

 

[ericm979]

I've never noticed a change when adding a filter to gravity feed motorcycle or lawn equipment fuel system. If it has a fuel pump it's even less likely to cause a problem. Of course you want a filter that will flow enough fuel for your application, but unless you step down a size from the fuel line size that's unlikely to happen.

I'd at least open up the air filter and look. Could be a mouse in there, sludgy oil, or who knows. Another quick test is to remove the filter housing lid or the filter so the carb breathes air that bypasses the filter. You don't want to run it like that for long but if it runs significantly better then the filter system is probably the problem.

I've never had a vehicle with an oil bath filter so I had to go reading. This article Yesterday's Tractors - Oil Bath Air Filters is a good explanation. Seems that they need very frequent cleaning, and the correct weight of oil.

 

[bikerzing]

Here's an update. I did as Jimmy in NC suggested and ran Seafoam through. It cleared it right up. It's funny, I remember my grandfather always giving away cans of heat. He swore by the stuff and used it regularly in his old Farmall. I just love his "rules of thumb" as he would call them.