BX Problem...need help!

[Charliebrn]

I have an almost 3 year old BX2350. Been running great the whole time until 4 days ago. Here are the symptoms:

After running for a while moving snow at rated RPM @3000, about half hour or 45 minutes, it starts to bog downfor a few seconds, maybe5 or 10 seconds, then comes right up to speed for about 30-40 seconds. Once it starts doing this, it gets more and more frequent until in about 15 minutes, its like a roller coaster, up, then right back down.

When it first happened, I thought I got some bad fuel. I drained the tank completely, put in new fuel filters and bought all new fuel from a known good source (a local Sunoco that moves a fair amount of diesel) I also put in some fuel conditioner and anti-gel..PowerService. It ran decent yesterday for about 3 hours, so I thought i licked it, but tonight, right back to the same problem.

Any thoughts? I can hear the fuel pump running even after it starts having the problem, but don't know how those fail....

Oh, one other thing, it doesn't seem to matter if its under a load or not. I've put it in Neutral, turned off the lights, and taken the strain off the hydraulics, and it'll continue to do the roller coaster thing with the RPMs. It will even occasionally shut off when the RPMs go way down, but will restart just fine and continue the issue...

Thanks in advance....

 

[amigauser]

Does sound like a fuel issue. Did you change both fuel filters? I think the BX models have two. How many hours are on it?

 

[Charliebrn]

I have just under 200 hours on it. I did change both filters and checked the lines...no leaks that I can see....

 

[amigauser]

So basically the BX has been running badly after 45 minutes of use and it is repeatable. You changed both fuel filters and drained the tank and it ran fine for 3 hours straight. Now it is doing the same thing after 45 minutes again.

Stalling like that is almost always either a fuel delivery issue of some type or a safety switch causing the diesel to stall out. Are you doing something similar when it happens each time? Could you be lifting up off the seat and causing the seat safety switch to kick in? I know I have done that until I figured out what was happening.

 

[Tollster]

It does sound fuel related and it seems as if you are leaning that way too.
Could it have been your habits or job related. You said you swapped out the fuel and filters, was this done inside, then you ran it outside in the snow and ice?
Could you have clogged the breather or vent line on the tank? i think there is one there. or somthing is interupting fuel flow such as a sensor as amigauser pointed out.
You may even be getting a sensor iced up so it would not free release, particularly if ya been moving snow for 3 hours, or if its stored outside after snow removal where it would have a chance to ice up wher the snow has accumulated on the chassis and underneath the machine.
Perhaps hitting the ones you know of with silicone and see if it helps.
Just grabbing for straws here and i know its been cold and snowy where your at.

 

[Bob_Young]

Tollster had a good thought there about fuel tank venting.

Next time it starts with the roller coaster act, unscrew the fuel filler cap. If a vent is clogged or iced up, there might be a vacuum building up in the fuel tank while you work. Would expect it to come on very slowly, though as BX fuel consumption is quite low.
Bob

 

[dal929]

Now..I have to say this refresh your car post was funny. Even though this guy is a spammer..I was reading the thread and then out of no where refresh your car will fix it...gave me a good laugh. I'm going to take that approach to try and fix a lot of things.

 

[Charliebrn]

Well, when it was having the problem, I did loosen the cap, no change. Also, all my safety's have been bypassed. (Please, no flames on this...I KNOW the potential issues with doing this.I need to be able to run the hydraulics, etc without me sitting on the tractor)

One thing I did notice when i drained the tank...I started to do this by disconnecting the hose at the last filter going into the fuie injection pump, it barely dribbles out, even with the fuel pump on. I did disconnect the hose from the tank to the first filter (before the fuel pump) and it seemed to flow nicely, as it should from a 3/8" hose without a pump. So, does anyone know how much pressure the fuel pump SHOULD pump out? should it have been dribbling out, or should it have some pressure behind it? I'm beginning to think it's something that my dealer says is unheard of...a bad fuel pump. He says he's NEVER replaced on on the BX series. They aren't cheap though...$115, and a special order to boot....

 

[jmarotz]

I have had the exact same problem you mentioned, took quit a lot of work finding the problem but to made a long story short I had a piece of straw in the fuel tank and it would float when the tractor had not been used for a period of time but after running it for awhile it would suck down and partially plug the fuel outlet. After completely cleaning out the fuel tank I have had no problems since. Hope this helps.

 

[milkman]

I'd suspect the filter under the floor, even though you changed it, it only takes a small amount of water to saturate the element and no fuel will flow through. I went through about five of them when I got some water in a tank of fuel before I got rid of all the water. I've since been running all my fuel through a Mr Funnel water separating funnel and I've either been getting good fuel or the funnel works.