entrapped air in fuel lines?

[metalcaster]

Mine is a 2016 1538HST that I've put a little over 1000 hours on. During this spring's maintenance I installed a 3/8" ball valve in the fuel line so that I could shut it off during filter changes rather than clamping as I've done for every year since I've had it. I got the valve on Amazon that was made with the hose barbs integral to the valve body and single ear pinch clamps to secure. No leaks since installing. However if the tractor sets unused for several days it will start right up and then die in less than a minute. I pump up the primer and it will restart and run for as long as I need it to. I suspect entrapped air? However it has run several hours since the installation of the valve, I would think that the fuel system would be purged by now.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[seville009]

Can you temporarily remove the ball valve (put it back the way it was) to see if that eliminates your problem?

It's always possible that something else may be the cause, so best to at least rule out the ball valve.

 

[jaxs]

Are you killing engine BEFORE turning ball valve off then turning ball valve on BEFORE starting engine? Assuming the answer is yes to both,I would suspect a leak after ball valve. "Leak" doesn't neccessarly mean fuel dripping on ground,a leak where system is under vacumm can pull air "INTO" system. Considering the cost of having dealer look at it (with no guarantee they find the problem coupled with high probability they will throit'sw parts at it ) I would try priming before starting and if problem go's away use it and not worry. If that doesn't work,install a marine fuel primer bulb between tank and ball valve and try that before starting. If all that fails,come back and we can dig deeper. For the record,it's well worthwhile to resolve the engine dying for lack of fuel. Why? Because the pump is lubercated by fuel and each revolution without fuel wears on pump components.

 

[jaxs]

Can you temporarily remove the ball valve (put it back the way it was) to see if that eliminates your problem?

It's always possible that something else may be the cause, so best to at least rule out the ball valve.

100% agree. The ball valve could be the source of leak mentioned in post #3.

 

[2manyrocks]

I'd suspect the new valve and/or clamps are letting air get sucked into the system. First thing I'd do is try some worm clamps if there is any question that the chinch clamps aren't uniformly making a seal on the hose barbs. That would be my first suspect.

While you're at it, how well do the barbs fit your hose line?

Could also be ball valve, but I'd be looking at the hose connections to start with.

 

[metalcaster]

I'm almost certain it is the ball valve. I don't turn it off when parking. I installed it just to make changing the fuel filters a little easier to change. I've started leaving the hood up to remind me to pump the primer several strokes before starting.