3510 gear drive won't run at speed.

Nightrain1 · Feb 1, 2009

The tractor sits in the pole barn, unheated and it's been in the teens. Fuel is proably a couple months old but does have some dps, white jug, in it that raises cetane rating and stops gelling. It fired right up but 5 minutes down the road and it would'nt keep the rpms up. It would idle fine and fuel does'nt look gelled. If you put any load on it, it would die. If I let it idle for several minutes, I could get it up to pto speed for a few seconds, then it starts blowing some white smoke and back to idle speed only. I have 200 hours on it and will get a new fuel filter from napa. I hope that's the problem as it recently warmed to mid 40's outside, but I still had the same results.
I see a chrome ring above the glass fuel bowl that houses the filter. Would'nt budge by hand but I assume I turn it left to remove the bowl to get to the filter? Sorry to sound so dumb, but are there any other things I should look at or do. How often to change the fuel filter. Hydraulic and engine oil and filters changed around 100 hors, I plan to change engine oil w/filter after I get it running again. Will use 15/40 diesel oil unless someone says differently. Any thoughts?

Nightrain1 · Feb 3, 2009

Whoa, slow down, I can't keep up with all the replies. Just kiddin fellas, I found the manual finally.

DK35vince · Feb 3, 2009

Did you find what the problem was ??

Nightrain1 · Feb 3, 2009

I will be changeing the filter this weekend, I will let ya know if that cures what ails me.....

dex3361 · Feb 3, 2009

It sounds as though you have a fuel restriction or it could be gelling or waxing. It would help if we knew where you were. Was the fuel posibly a summer blend? I agree that you should change the fuel filter. There could be a leak on the fuel line letting it suck air into the fuel, check your fuel bowl (if clear)for air bubbles.

Nightrain1 · Feb 8, 2009

It's really warmed up here recently, 50+ degrees and the tractor was running really well again. I pulled the filter out and it was dirty and needed changed. Manual says to clean it every 150 hours and replace at 200 if memory serves right. I put new fuel in and if we get some more weather in the teens, I want to see if this has cured my problem.
I now have another question for you gurus. My sight bowl is proably close to an inch from the top from being filled with fuel. How can I burp the system and clear the air? I am a way from the tractor but after thinking about it, I think I will barely loosen the ring on the sight glass until the pump pushes the air out and then tighten it back up. The manual says to open up a valve by the pump, but I see nothing like that around the pump. I did see a white plastic nut that I loosened and anti-freeze came out so that was'nt it.
I was back dragging the 600 ft of driveway I take care of. Once it seemed a bit low on power and I thought it possibly was running low on fuel. With the tractor idleing, I turned the fuel valve off and watched it pull the fuel out very quickly through the site bowl. It suprised me how much fuel it uses at an idle actually. It would empty the sight bowl in just a few short seconds if I did'nt turn the valve back on quicly. It always would just fill back up to the same level, never completely full.
Are there any manuals that show how to work on these tractors? My learning curve is pretty much straight up. Thanks!

LAWALLSTRACTOR · Feb 9, 2009

With the tractor not running and the fuel shut off valve (by the filter) open, just loosen the sight bowl nut and it will fill by gravity feed. Tighten the nut back up and you should be good to go.