Dead 2305

JohnnyTractor · Dec 18, 2005

In the middle of lifting a bucket of snow, my 2305 stalled and died. I had been working on the machine for about 40 minutes, during which time it was running fine.

Thinking I had a fuel problem, I checked the sediment bowl. There was some sediment floating along with some ice on the bottom of the bowl. I cleared out the bowl, and checked the filter for obsctuctions, then re-installed the whole assembly. The machine started running again, and ran for ~5 minutes. I mounted up and turned the machine around, and as soon as I dropped the bucket it stalled again. After repeating the inspection of the fuel bowl, I checked the air flow, as well as the fuel cap for vaccum; all seem fine. After cranking the engine, it will sputter and sometimes run for 20-30 seconds, but then the engine will stall. Also notice that the fuel bowl drains down when cranking, so it seems to be feeding fuel.

Noticing a thumb press lever on the Mikuni assembly that is connected to the fuel line and block (assuming this is the fuel injector?) I pressed the level (hoping that it was the 'all fixed' button /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif) This did not seem to help - any feedback on what that's for would be appreciated.

I'm wondering is there is some ice in the line somewhere, but not sure. I figure that a blockage would stop the fuel from draining the bowl. Just to be sure, I'll take a blow dryer to the fuel lines after this post - I needed to come in and warm up: The temp here is 11.

The machine has 10 hours on it. I've treated the fuel will anti-gel, and I've ran about 1/2 of the treated tank with no issues. Yesterday I ran it in colder weather for about 2 hours with no issues (aside from the cold hydraulics for the first 10 minutes.) I'm not new to diesels, but this is the first one I've ever owned.

I can say that I really appreciate the hood and access cover design - it's very easy to get at the engine when needed. Any ideas would be appreciated.

ronjhall · Dec 18, 2005

If your filter is like mine. It is made with a paper like material. Paper will not allow water to pass through. The filter is loaded with water and needs to be replaced.

JDFANATIC · Dec 18, 2005

JT,

I agree; water or gelling. After ditching the filter, you might try using an anti-gelling/cetane booster such as PowerService.

Deere_parts · Dec 18, 2005

Condensation in the fuel tank is a big problem on equipment that sits idle for a while whith partially full fuel tanks and will get to the point that all you're sucking up is water and it will die.

You are also in Wisconsin and it is below freezing up there. It's time for you to do 2 things.

1). Treat the fuel you have in it with a quality anti gel/anti iceing tratment like Power Service or FPPF Fuel power to get the water out of it so it will pass through the filter and to lower the gel point of the last bit of summer fuel you have left in it (or your fuel cans) if you haven't already swithed to blended fuel or #1 diesel.

2). You will need to switch to a blend of #1 and #2, Kerosene and #2, straight #1 diesel or a Kerosene based Jet Fuel like Jet A, Jet A-1 or JP8 (if you really want to spend the big bucks /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif) for the cold you get up there.
If you do not switch to these fuels for the winter you will have to either install a fuel heater or suffer worse than you are now fighting with it. The only other option is to continue to run the #2 but you will have to treat evey tankful until it warms up next spring. PowerService was regarded as one of the best fuel treatments by most of the trucking companies I worked for, some would even fire you for using other brands.

A note on safety....DO NOT put gasoline in diesel fuel like some good ol boys will tell you to do. It makes a very dangerous mixture in something designed to burn diesel and I have witnessed a flash fire when I went to help a freind fix his gelled up truck. When he took the cap off of the tank the fumes flashed in his face and I had to take him to the hospital. He's OK but it wasn't cool...DON'T DO IT...It's not worth it. Spend the $10 on a gallon of power service or whatever it is now.

This advice is coming from my 8 years of trucking while running in Canadian fleets for Burlington Motor Carriers and Thompson Emergency Freight and owning 4 of my own trucks as well as I am retired from the US Army as a Petroleum Laboratory Technician.

I have had problems in the past when I was testing a new fuel filter for WIX on one of my trucks where the whole case of fuel water separator filters they gave me to test had defective seals that would shrink when it got below zero and the truck would act just like you are descibing...Change filters, bleed injectors start it up and drive 10 miles...That was cured when I ran out of filters in the middle of BF Montana at 20 below zero and had to call a service truck where I received the pleasure of paying almost $400 for a $3 Fram fuel filter in the middle of a snowstorm.

Hope this helps you or somebody else that might read it. Good luck and stay safe up there in the "Great White North"

Mike

JohnnyTractor · Dec 18, 2005

The fuel was treated will PowerService; I mixed it when I filled the cans. Either I didn't put enough in, or it's very overrated. It's hard to mix 1/20th of a bottle when you're using (2) 5 gallon cans, and the bottle is good for 100 gals. Anyway, so far I'm not impressed with the PS treatment. I've added a little more to the fuel tank on the tractor.

I'd like to stock up on the filters; I'm out in the sticks. I can, of course, buy them from the dealer, but looking to compare prices, etc. Are there any good online parts stores?

rvtech · Dec 18, 2005

Sounds like some pretty bad fuel to me. Treatment won't perform miracles. Did you start with new fuel and clean cans?

JohnnyTractor · Dec 18, 2005

Affirmative on both. New fuel from the BP (it's a blended #2 this time of year in Wisconsin) into 2 new cans.

Like I said, there was ice in the bottom of the float, so there's definetly water in the fuel. I'll get a new filter tomorrow at the dealer.

joes_427_vette · Dec 18, 2005

I always use the Standard Premere diesel fuel ( now BP ) and have never had a problem. I use additive even though it is blended. We have never had a day above freezing since November. Don't yah just love Wisconsin winters? Sometimes I think a quarter of my fuel usage is just warming up the tractor. Those 4 nice warm days in summer make it all worth while....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

rvtech · Dec 18, 2005

I always take my father in law's advice. He was in the service station business for 45 years. I go to the Flying J for my diesel. They sell an enormous amount of diesel, therefore it doesn't sit in the tanks long. I avoid the car only fuel stops that sell diesel. That fuel is sitting there a long time.

I hate to hear about the problem you're having. I know the extreme temperature is really hurting. Good luck /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Deere_parts · Dec 19, 2005

Yep, I would say a water problem from a bad batch of fuel, condensation or a combination of the 2.

My experience with powerservice fuel treatment was over the course of 8 years and 1 million logged miles. Most of my winter driving in semi trucks was along the I-90 corrador from Boston to Seattle and Canada. I never had a problem with powerservice and the only problems I ever had were a faulty batch of fuel filters.

I also did not let my truck sit and idle all night like most drivers do because I carried a 12 volt electric heater and a sub zero actic sleeping bag and I never had problems starting them in sub zero weather. Just make sure you have enough batteries to crank it in the morning. My trucks had 8 batteries in them for this.