Oil & Fuel BX-24 Fuel Filter Problem

[arcticranger]

Not a tractor professional but have done minor maintenance on my BX-24. I ran it out of gas a few days ago, newbie mistake, and now I must change the fuel filters. The side facing filter I was able to do relatively easily, I used 2 needle nosed pliers to clamp the in/out lines, with some rags protecting the rubber from the pliers. There was leakage for only a few secs and I got to work doing the replacement.

The underside filter is another story. Clamping in the same way isn't working, I tightened the pliers on the hose as far as I dared to and the fuel is still squirting out. I've plugged it back into the old filter and am leaving it until I get some advice.

Do people typically drain the fuel before doing this or is there a better recommended clamping technique? I followed a YT vid as regards using pliers. Any advice appreciated!

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

I've used small vise-grips to clamp the lines with no problem. These days I find something like this a bit handier.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YKHRUK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Roadworthy]

I've never seen a BX and this may be a silly question but is there a way to mount a permanent shutoff valve in the fuel line somewhere?

 

[boomer1025]

Just plug the line the fuel is coming out of with a golf tee, bolt, piece of dow rod ect. Then replace the filter and connect the fuel line.

 

[Mowbizz]

I bought a 3 piece set of pinch pliers on Amazon. They work great! I just used them to install a filter relocation kit to eliminate that pesky filter underneath.

 

[arcticranger]

I've never seen a BX and this may be a silly question but is there a way to mount a permanent shutoff valve in the fuel line somewhere?

You need to clamp both in/out on 2 fuel lines, so that is 4 positions, all in tight spaces. Not sure where you'd fit a shutoff.

 

[arcticranger]

Well I got both replaced but tractor is still blowing blackish smoke and I see the battery light. I'll ask for any last advice here before I call in the service people ($$$$).

 

[moship]

Don't recall you mentioning there was a problem with the tractor until Post #7. Everything up to this point was about changing the filters. So did it have a black smoke issue before you ran in out of fuel? You mentioned running out of gas, but assumed you meant diesel.

If black smoke, have you checked your air filters?

 

[RjCorazza]

I've never clamped downstream of the filters on my ZD mowers that have a similar fuel delivery as the BX machines. Since I have a fuel valve for 2 tanks, I close the valve, clamp before the first filter, then change the filters.
Running out of fuel does not require replacing filters, although you would need to bleed the fuel system. I don't know the procedure for a BX, but most diesels I've had have a bleeder screw near the injectors that is opened to bleed air.

Do yourself a favor and look into one of the filter relocation kits that are available, or just see how others have done it. On my ZD mowers I relocated the first inline OEM filter to a convenient location, added a large 2 micron spin on cat filter, and left the second OEM filter in the original location for protection from a catastrophic lift pump failure (which is its original purpose in my application).

 

[kevinj]

I've never seen a BX and this may be a silly question but is there a way to mount a permanent shutoff valve in the fuel line somewhere?

Put it inline before the first filter.

I have done a couple of them and it works well.