BX 2200 shut down after 3 minutes won't start solved!

[Jetfrank]

Hi all, newbie here, started tractor about a week ago and started mowing, ran about 3 minutes and then crapped out - shaking and blowing smoke then died and would not start. Checked fuses, removed shut off solenoid and checked thanks to helpful posts I found here from a few years ago. All good, starting to worry its the injection pump ($$$$), then looked at some more posts and was thinking hmmm perhaps the lift pump since I was going up a hill when it died......was about to pull it and decided to see how much if anything it was pumping. Noticed something funny about the fuel, should have been red but wasn't, got a clear jar (don't throw them ragu jars away!) and filled it up with about a two cups of water until the red stuff started coming out.......bled hose, cranked it a few times and bam! PROBLEM FIXED AND DID NOT COST ME A DIME!!!!! Now if I could only find the new fuel filters that are hiding in the garage!!!!

PS: my 97 Chevy Sierra Diesel not so lucky.....bad IP.....ouch.....

 

[Jetfrank]

PS, a few years ago the hydraulic tranny started acting up, decided that well after years of neglect I might oughta replace fluid......stuff that came out was milky brown.....yep water.....drained, cleaned insides replaced filters, and good to go.........unfortunatelty the machine lives outside although I have started to throw a tarp over it recently......

 

[Henro]

Even living outside, how do you suppose that much water got into the fuel tank?

My bx2200 fuel cap screws down at least a half inch. Can not imagine much getting in there.

Sounds like you got a bad batch of fuel. If you have any remaining in cans outside the tractor I would take a close look at it...

 

[Jetfrank]

yes, curious about that too - the tank was only about 1/4 full and had not been used for about a month so I can only assume that condensation was an issue. leaving tanks mostly empty especially in hot weather like we've been having here in DC area will cause that....

 

[Jetfrank]

also bad fuel would have shown up right away when I filled it.

 

[Henro]

also bad fuel would have shown up right away when I filled it.

Do not know about that. But what you describe sure sounds like an impossible amount of condensation.

Just speculation though...

Bottom line is you got the problem resolved!

 

[kthompson]

I agree that is a lot of water for it to be just condensation. A lot of tractors are kept outside without such an issue. As to the transmission look for a split boot on gear shift levers. Be sure the fill cap for the transmission and dip stick if it has one are also sealing. It is very possible you got some water in your fuel tank when getting it filled. How do you buy your fuel? Five gallon fuel tanks and and often? Do you use a large tank? If you are using small fuel cans you may be needing t change where you are buying the fuel.

Years ago a good friend who use to rebuild injector pumps and also drove over the road truck for a period of time said, be sure you buy your diesel from a station that sells diesel. He was talking about they sell enough to keep fresh fuel.

 

[Jetfrank]

Good points- I have a dedicated 5 gallon plastic can and buy usually from the BP down the street that sells off-road diesel - I'm surrounded by farms and good old boys in pickups so I'm pretty sure the fuel is fresh. Although.....the other station that this fuel likely came from did, in fact go through a major renovation a few months ago and I think replaced all their tanks...hmmm.......By the way, it appears that the vent on the top of the fuel tank was clogged - I cleaned it and hit it with compressed air and heard a distinct "pop" as if something had broken free, that may explain the excessive condensation, pondering installing a separate filter/ water separator at some point. on another note, my ex did, in fact, put some contaminant in my car a couple of years ago, but that's another story..........
PS. hydrostatic transmission so no gear shift boot....

 

[Jetfrank]

and perhaps it was only about a cup or less of water, I made dinner last night so got a better idea of the size of a cup!

 

[toledoohio]

Its the fuel sending unit under the left ROPS, Its a known problem ask the dealer abut it. I just fixed one last summer, basically its a crap deign of the gasket. the new sending unit is totally different design. The main Problem is the sending unit is recessed into the plastic tank allowing grass, dues/dirt and lots of water into the Tank, you will understand once you see it. I did every thing to figure this out and the gasket was the last part to check. basically you disassemble ROPS, seat, fenders, floor pan. Its a PITA job fut i got the power washer out and its like a new tractor.