1030 out of fuel

oliver28472 · Oct 17, 2012

A friend's tractor ran out of fuel. Pretty sure he's bled it right but still won't fire up. Any hints?

DT86 · Oct 17, 2012

This probably won't go over well here but I've seen it work.

You can drift start one after running it out of fuel just like the battery was dead. I've bleed every dang place you can get to and still have one not start. Let it roll five feet and dump the clutch and it'll start.

This is assuming that you haven't sucked up a bunch of crud from the bottom of the tank and clogged a fuel line somewhere.

Like I said this will probably go over like a lead ballon with some here.

oliver28472 · Oct 19, 2012

Does this tractor have a fuel solenoid?

DT86 · Oct 19, 2012

Well I can only assume you mean a fuel shut off solenoid.

Does the motor shut off with the key or a separate lever like a choke cable?

If it does with the key then yes.

oliver28472 · Oct 19, 2012

That's why I'm asking, I have not seen the tractor. My two critters are both manual shut off, not with the key. I'm guessing the 1030 may be a little more uptown.

Jerry/MT · Oct 20, 2012

oliver28472 said:
A friend's tractor ran out of fuel. Pretty sure he's bled it right but still won't fire up. Any hints?

Bleeding a Diesel Fuel System

Start at the fuel outlet of the tank (inlet to the filter). Shut the tank valve, remove the line at the filter inlet and holding a suitable container to catch the diesel fuel, open the valve. You should have a CONTINUOUS rush/flow of fuel out of the line. If it dribbles or is intermittent, check the fuel cap for a blockage of the fuel vent or the strainer upstream of the valve for clogging. The strainer/screen is attached to the shut-off valve, and is positioned up inside the tank. You will have to drain the tank and pull the valve to clean the screen.
If you have good fuel flow at that point, reconnect the line and open the bleeder screw at the top of the filter. Turn on the tank valve and wait till you have a steady flow of fuel with no bubbles at the top of the filter, then close the bleeder screw.
Your pump may have a bleeder screw. If so, open that until fuel streams out with no bubbles, then close it. If you cannot identify the bleeder screw, loosen the inlet connection at the pump and purge air at that point.
Go back and make sure ALL the fittings in the fuel delivery system are tight so they cannot suck air.
Make sure the battery is fully charged. Loosen the fuel fittings at the injectors, either one at a time or all at once. Crank the engine till you see all fuel at the injector fittings and then tighten the fittings. If you do indvidual fittings, the engine will usually start before you get to the last fitting.
Alternatively, you can "tow-start" it to save wear and tear on your starter. Leave the injector lines cracked open at the injectors at first to purge the lines. Then tighten them up and she should start.
Your injection pump puts out a very small amount of fuel (high pressure/low volume). BE PATIENT. If the lines are totally empty, it takes a lot of cranking to fill them up.
sixbales & Jerry/MT