Oil & Fuel Changing the Fuel Filter

[WEJ]

I am getting ready to change the fuel filter on my 4340c. Looking at it, it seems to be pretty complicated. All kinds of objects sticking out from it. My questions is... Just how big a job is it? If anyone has already done this procedure please give me a heads up... or should I just take it to a dealer....

Thanks...

 

[JDeerekid]

When you find out let me know. I bought one over the winter because I thought my tractor had a fuel problem but it turned out to be the key switch so I never replaced it. I know it should be replaced soon. My dealer said it was pretty easy, just some stuff in the way that makes it look complicated.

 

[WEJ]

I sure will JDeereKid... I have not attempted it yet. It will be another couples of weeks before I will... I am a school teacher and school will not be out for another two weeks. Then I am going to do a full fluid change. I did it last year for the 50 hours service, but I did not do the fuel filter. I do have the service manual but I am still hoping someone on here who has done it already would give me some first hand advice....

I do know that air in the lines is not a good thing....

 

[MontanaJames]

I have a 4940c with the same setup. You need to unplug the wire connected to the bottom of the filter. There is a wire off the bottom with a connector about 6 inches out. Then from there you need small hands, small oil filter wrench, and some time. The working space is close.

 

[WEJ]

Hello MontanaJames,

I found the wire you are talking about. I did not see the connector.... as you say, it is tight and I did not want to get all greasy tonight... The wires look awfully thin and fragile. I don't know why a full filter change should have to be so complicated...

Thanks

 

[WEJ]

I went to get a new fuel filter today for my 4340c. It was not a good experience. First the dealer did not have one... Then no one could find a cross reference for anther brand filter. So the deal is ordering me one. The other bad news is my dealer is no longer going to be a New Montana dealer. Not good for me....

Anyway, does anyone know of a cross reference for the Montana fuel filter.... I can see in the future I may be needing to know what will fit from other brands other than the Korean one.

Thanks

 

[JDeerekid]

Oil Filters

Wix - 51064
Fram - PH3593A

Fuel Filters

Wix - 33128
Fram - PS4886

 

[WEJ]

Wow!! Now that is what I call service!! Thanks JDeereKid! I will look into it in a day or two.

On anther subject, I just ordered a Befco 7 foot sickle bar mower... It should be here in a week or so...

Anyone have one.... If so, how do you like it?

 

[BrentD]

Fore future reference, should you ever need to cross-ref any other parts on the tractor, your engine is a Mitsubishi S4Q Diesel engine. A good auto-parts store should be able to look that up in their big books and get what you need. When I needed an oil filter for my Mitsubishi dozer that has an S4E engine we tried all the various cross-refs, and couldn't find anything until they pulled the big book off the shelf and looked it up by engine manufacturer.

 

[WEJ]

Well I changed the fuel filter on my 4340c and it only took me a week!! First I worked and worked to get it off from it's tight compartment, first unhooking the evaporator wire from the tractor. Once off I put the new one on. Primed it really well and fired up the engine... It ran about 2 seconds and stopped... My stomach sank... I knew what was wrong... Air in the lines.. I tried priming the filter more and ended up breaking the bleeder screw... Luckily I got it out and went to the hardware store and got a replacement. Still would not start. So I tried bleeding the injectors. While getting them loose I bend the return line... Not a good thing... I could not get the injector to do what I wanted... It seem no wrench would fit right... metric or SAE. To bring this to a close... I had to have the dealer order a new part that I bent and then take the tractor to his shop to get me going again.... So I would suggest letting the dealer do the fuel filter changes..... It has not been a good week.

 

[JDeerekid]

Thanks for letting know how your fuel filter change went. I have been putting off mine for a while and am planning on changing it before winter. My dealer keeps telling me that it is easy but I am still worried and now you give me more reasons to be worried.
Oh well when I change mine I will find out and post how it went.

Did you fill the filter with fuel before putting it on? The manual says not to but this is how I have always done it on other deisel equipment and has worked out fine most of the time.

Anyway did you get your sickle mower yet and did you get a chance to use it? I would like to know how it is as I am still wanting a sickle bar mower to mow around my ponds and eventually maybe mow a little hay in the years to come. Pictures of it hooked up would be greatful also.

 

[WEJ]

Hey JDeereKid... I would say the filter change is NOT easy... and I have been around farm equipment all my life.... First due to its tight location and then all the chances of getting air locked. I did not fill the filter with fuel first... the manual said not to and I listened.. but if I had it to do over again I would have filled it first. My tractor had 275 hours on it and I think I could have gone a LOT longer... I will not try it again... too many things to go wrong with a fuel filter change. The bleed screw is slotted to let the fuel flow while loose... it is also very fragile. I tried to tighten it too much and it broke off VERY easily...

The Befco mower... Yes I have it!! I got the 7 foot model. It is a real mower. I have mowed the county road for a mile each way from my house... I have mowed about 2 acres of field... and trimmed about 2 miles of tree limbs on our farm roads with the mower set straight up.... I have cut limbs up to about an 1 inch or a little more with NO problem. I have also lost a nut here and there, so you need to inspect all nuts and bolts after mowing... It is a shaker, but the lift is GREAT... It can be positioned anywhere from 70 down to 90 up at the touch of a lever.... I am quite pleased with it. I will get some pictures up in a day or so.... It is raining here now....

 

[JDeerekid]

Hey JDeereKid... I would say the filter change is NOT easy... and I have been around farm equipment all my life.... First due to its tight location and then all the chances of getting air locked. I did not fill the filter with fuel first... the manual said not to and I listened.. but if I had it to do over again I would have filled it first. My tractor had 275 hours on it and I think I could have gone a LOT longer... I will not try it again... too many things to go wrong with a fuel filter change. The bleed screw is slotted to let the fuel flow while loose... it is also very fragile. I tried to tighten it too much and it broke off VERY easily...

The Befco mower... Yes I have it!! I got the 7 foot model. It is a real mower. I have mowed the county road for a mile each way from my house... I have mowed about 2 acres of field... and trimmed about 2 miles of tree limbs on our farm roads with the mower set straight up.... I have cut limbs up to about an 1 inch or a little more with NO problem. I have also lost a nut here and there, so you need to inspect all nuts and bolts after mowing... It is a shaker, but the lift is GREAT... It can be positioned anywhere from 70 down to 90 up at the touch of a lever.... I am quite pleased with it. I will get some pictures up in a day or so.... It is raining here now....

My tractor is reaching about 350 or so hours on it and the fuel filter has not been changed yet so i will do it before winter when I have probably close to 400 or so hours on it by then. I will be careful and follow what you said and hopefully it will turn out alright.

That is awesome that the mower can be used at 90 degrees. That would be great to keep all the brush cut back on the edges of my fields and road ways. Thanks for posting pictures when you get a chance. I am just imagining what it would be like on my tractor now.

It is raining here now also been off and on for the last few days. It was needed for the corn and the gardens but is putting a damper on my bush hogging side jobs.

 

[WEJ]

Hey JDeereKid,

Hey are some pictures of the mower... When I get a chance I will add some video to YouTube....

 

[JDeerekid]

Thanks for the pictures. Now I really want one. Would you mind telling me what you paid for it. I have between now and the begining of August before the Empire Farm Days in Seneca Fall, NY to save up some money. They usually have a big selection of Befco products so I might me able to get a deal on one if they have it setup like yours with the hydraulic lift.
Do you think our tractors would handle an 8ft model? I want as much reach around my ponds as possible.

 

[WEJ]

I ordered mine off the web.... Mowers
I also paid by check which got me 5% off so the total came to just over $4906.
The 8 ft model was several 100 more and I did not need the extra foot... as far as the tractor handling it... No problem. The ad says a tractor of 25hp will work and I am sure it would. I just did not want to pay the extra for the 8 ft. Like I said I am quite pleased with the mower.

 

[WEJ]

Update on the fuel filter change.... After getting the tractor back from the dealer after having the return lines replaced, I noticed that the tractor smoked more that it used to, and I could smell diesel smoke in the cab, which I never could before. The Dealer has been been back now twice for a total of 7 hours bleeding air from the filter, injector pump and injectors. I still have the smoke and rough running. Injectors 3 and 4 still are bubbling with air when they are loosened. 1 and 2 squirt diesel when loose but not 3 and 4. The Dealer's mechanic is baffled. Like I said he has bled everything we know of... and we are still getting air... Tomorrow the dealer is going to try a different mechanic.
I have mailed Bob Goltz of Montana and he wrote back that my dealer was working on the problem.... What I am looking for now is some cyber help... Does anyone out there have a subjection of something I am missing... The tractor ran great before the filter fiasco... no smoke to speak of...