Another Kubota that won't start. Fuel filter?

[284 International]

Congratulations on getting your machine up and working again! Nice work!

 

[Herkypilot]

Glad you got it sorted out. Did you use any kind of fuel additive such as power service leading up to this problem? Just curious if preventive measures such as additives help or hurt.

 

[cs6000]

I've never used any additives. A little fact that may explain some of this is that I bought the tractor from a rental business in a nearby town. The people that run the business are very good, reliable people, or I probably wouldn't have bought the tractor.

Still, you never know what could have happened with some renter possible adding fuel, etc.

I now have an easy system for adding fuel through the strainer funnel that is easier, and cleaner than what I was doing before. The positive side of a negative event.

 

[rsewill]

It's always nice when people post the solution to a problem once the poster solves an issue! Doesn't happen as often as it should Thanks!!!

 

[MarkV]

If you are in a colder climate or one that you are not sure your supplier winterizes fuel I would use an additive even with your funnel system. The funnel will not stop gelling if the temps drop.

MarkV

 

[LRH]

If you have a B series or other engines with the black plastic housing with white/clear plastic bowl, as you unscrew the bowl there is a plunger that closes the fuel feed automaticly as the bowl is removed. Screwing the bowl back on starts fuel flow and air is vented back to tank. Sometimes the bleeder valve on the injection pump needs to be opened to complete bleeding.

David Kb7uns

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I have had to clean My B3030HSDC filter/bowl 3 times since 2008; and the plunger does close the fuel flow. The problem is that it will not fill the filter bowl enough unless the tank is 90-100% full because the final filling and bleeding is by the (3rd) return line being completely submerged in fuel. Mine will only fill the bowl 1/2-2/3 with 1/4 a tank up to about 3/4, but finish filling the tank (which is what the manual says) and there is no visible air in bowl. About 2-3 seconds of engine miss with about 5 seconds of moderate smoke the tractor idles smooth. I can't see why the air doesn't just go up into the tank via the return line, while the supply line tops off the bowl, but it works fast to just fill up tank completely. Manual states this will work if lines have been disconnected and /or tractor run out of fuel.

 

[Chilly807]

My L3400 has the same plastic filter housing, with the bowl removed the fuel flow is shut off. If you leave the bowl slightly loose for a few seconds while replacing it, mine will completely fill the bowl because the air can get out. If the tank is full, fuel will leak from the return line, defeating the shut-off feature of the filter housing.

I changed my filter a few months ago, the engine never missed a beat on the re-start after I was done.

Sean

 

[john_bud]

If you are in a colder climate or one that you are not sure your supplier winterizes fuel I would use an additive even with your funnel system. The funnel will not stop gelling if the temps drop.

MarkV

^This is a good point.

Especially if you have bio-D added to the regual diesel. It will cloud up at much higher temps and is a LOT harder to keep clear. If you get that "glop" of goo again, bring it inside and let it warm up to 70F. If it "melts", it's just solid wax from the fuel.

Only way I know of to really fix it is to heat the whole tractor up to 70+ for 24 hours, then treat the snickers out of it with a triple dose of Howes Fuel Treat.

 

[cs6000]

Don't think we have any bio-diesel around here. The day I did this it was around 70. The best I can describe it was oily mud, yet rubbery feeling.

Probably a mash of gunk that accumulated at the bottom of the tank. Hopefully its all gone now. Had no more trouble.

 

[wdmiller]

If you have a B series Kubota, always check the valve that shuts off the fuel when you take off the fuel filter bowl (you can depress it with your finger when the bowl is removed). My B7500 did the same thing mentioned above, started and went about 50 yards and died. I noticed that the fuel filter bowl was only about 1/2 full of fuel. I removed and cleaned the fuel filter and noticed that when I depressed the valve that shuts off the fuel, nothing came out. I removed the hose that goes to the tank and fuel gushed out. Then I removed the fuel filter assembly and the value was completely clogged. I cleaned the valve and fuel filter, then reassembled everything. I then performed the fuel line purge procedure and the tractor started up a ran. You may have to repeat the purge procedure more than once. There is a 90 degree turn in the shut off valve that tends to collect trash. Not a real good design.