Another Kubota that won't start. Fuel filter?

[crazyal]

If you don't mind spending a couple of bucks you can pick one of these up.

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If you look around you should be able to find a 20% coupon code so you should be able to get it shipped for under $80 bucks.

 

[284 International]

I actually used a shop vac to vacuum out an old diesel tank once. It had been drained and was dry. I'm not suggesting you do it, but it sure worked well for me.

Have you checked the fuel line between the tank and the sediment bowl to make sure it isn't the culprit? It would be nice if the blockage were in the hose, not the tank.

With the cap off, and the sender removed, you may be able to both shine a light, see, and use one of the [ame=http://www.amazon.com/American-Science-Surplus-CLAW-PICK-UP/dp/B0001CUJ3U]claw grabbers[/ame] to pick up anything like leaves, cloth, teflon tape, or mouse carcasses. You'll probably need a helper though, or have the ideal type of light.

If the trouble is fine, rusty sediment and pieces, I think you're going to need to get the tank out one way or another.

 

[cs6000]

That flexible light to look in the tank is a good idea. I'm thinking of using a rifle cleaning kit to get down to the bottom and swab real well.
Another irks fact is that I already have a handy funnel with a strainer, and never use it. Living with your eyes open can really pay off.

 

[Herkypilot]

That flexible light to look in the tank is a good idea. I'm thinking of using a rifle cleaning kit to get down to the bottom and swab real well.
Another irks fact is that I already have a handy funnel with a strainer, and never use it. Living with your eyes open can really pay off.

Mine had a magnet at the end with integrated pen light so you can pick up a dropped screw or nut. I don't need it too often, but when I do, it's a lifesaver.

HP

 

[cs6000]

OK, here's the rest of the story.

Decided there was just no way I could get the tank off, so I put it all back together.
I then removed the fuel line at the fuel filter/shutoff cock, with the tank cap off, and dropped it into my strain funnel. Almost immediately a couple glops of crud came out. I continued until the tank was empty. By then a little more crud had accumulated. Altogether about a thimble full of rubbery, oily goop.

I then got an old small shop vac, taped up a nozzle on one end and sucked out all I could get from the tank. Worked pretty well. Next I attached some gun cleaning rags to a shotgun cleaning rod, and swabbed the thing out.

Then I ran another gallon or so of clean fuel thru the tank. No more crud appeared in the strain funnel. I took a pipe cleaner and swabbed out the inlet to the shutoff cock, then reattached the fuel line.

Then I added more clean fuel, straining it again as it went it. Waited a few minutes and opened the "air vent cock" the L-series tractors have on the injection pump, according to manual instructions. Started it up, ran it for 30 seconds and shut off the motor, then shut the "air vent cock".

Hopefully I am OK now. One of those confidence building operations, I hope. Though the fuel filter itself looked very clean, I will replace it, too now that I feel I can avoid the "long version" of air bleeding.

 

[JRobyn]

Mine had a big clump of semi-floating glop in the tank. Guess it was algae or somthing similar. It would run ok as long as the tank had a gallon or two in it. Here's how I cleaned it out with no tank removal required:

Siphoned out all but the last little bit of fuel in the tank. Then removed the hose from the bottom of the tank to the filter bowl - put the end in a container. Blew (just by mouth) into the tank, holding a slight pressure on the tank. I expected while doing this that I would force glop into the tank outlet and clog it, but that never happened, the tank just totally emptied. I looked down into the tank best I could with a small flashlight, to check for further evidence of glop - none found. Replaced fuel lline on filter bowl and all has been well since.

- Jay

 

[jonyyuma]

Cs6000, replace your fuel filter, before you put it on, fill it with clean new fuel. I have same size tractor and could not get the tank off without radical disassembly. You cannot pour the old filter out and clean it. A new Kubota fuel cartridge is good insurance. I added a fuel strainer that is clear, to front of mine to protect it. Space is cramped so I had to add some fuel line. My fuel is all gravity, until past the fuel filter...

 

[dodge man]

The first thing I would do is get some anti algae treatment for your fuel. That stuff can regrow and be a pain to get rid of.

 

[cs6000]

Algae in the fuel tank? What's next, The Blob rolling across the pasture to eat the tractor?

 

[crazyal]

It's not a cheap option but I have a 55 gallon drum with a fillrite pump on it. The pump came with a large filter so I know what's going intot he tractor is clean. Before I had the pump I would use a couple of old 5 gallon plastic jugs I used when racing. They were clean, after a few times filling them up with diesel the bottom of them started collecting black sludge.