Oil & Fuel Fuel bowl cracked on CK30

[twigpig]

When I bought my used CK30 the previous owner warned me that the fuel bowls are fragile and prone to cracking. Fortunately I ordered a new bowl when I ordered a filter set from Wallace Tractor. I checked out the fuel bowl when I replaced the filter about 25 hours ago. It appeared fine back then so I reinstalled it. Today I ran the tractor for a couple of hours and was a bit peeved when I saw I had a fuel leak right after I repaired the leaking floating seal on the axle. I tracked the leak down to the plastic fuel bowl. It had serious cracking mostly on the bottom. It was almost spider web like but there was no pattern. At first I thought something must have hit it but it is pretty far up in the engine compartment and appears to be well protected. Could the spring be causing the cracking or does the plastic react to the diesel fuel over time? Anybody else have this problem? Any solutions? I don't think I am over tightening the retaining ring when I reinstall. I turn the ring about 1/8 to 1/4 turn past hand tight. Perhaps hand tight is enough? Besides that would not affect the bottom of the bowl. I better order another backup bowl.

 

[Highbeam]

Ack, I have replaced my fuel filter once and have another new one on the shelf for replacement. I am late on this service but my bowl is crackless and no sediments or junk in the bowl. Mine is an older model at 520 hours. Most of that with off road diesel labeled as 500+ ppm sulfur. I have an important job to do this weekend so I will procrastinate a bit longer to prevent being broke down by a cracked bowl. I don't think I used any tool to tighten the bowl ring.

 

[tracstarman]

wtf... I was just going to post a new message about this.

I bought a used DK35, and after after my first project, a full day of grading, I saw fuel leaking and tracked it down to a cracked fuel bowl.

I replaced it, and after only one day it was cracked and leaking again. I looked EVERYWHERE for the possibility of something smashing into it, but there is nothing even close that moves.

What is going on here???

 

[twigpig]

I'm wondering if I am tightening it too tight. Maybe I am causing a small crack up by the lip under the screw on ring thingy which is transfering down to the bottom of the bowl somehow. The engine does not vibrate much but the amount it does can not be good for a plastic bowl. There is nothing in the manual about how tight to turn the retaining ring thingy. I was hoping a kioti service person might jump in and let us know how tight to make them. Or better yet let us know about a more sturdy alternative.

 

[Barrettseq]

You guys are in luck. I talked to Kioti the other day when a golf course customer gave me an earfull after dumping fuel on the course. They have a new softer plastic fuel bowl that will not crack like the older fuel bowls. Order them fast because they will not last long. They are not clear like the older ones but more of a white plastic and softer this way you know you are getting the newer version. I do have them in stock. barrettsequipment.com

 

[tracstarman]

Amazing... this is not the reply I was expecting.

You'll be getting a call tomorrow!

 

[Hoffie]

I have a ck25 and mine cracked on the bottom at about 100 hours. I was told something must have hit it. As I was buying a replacement the shop guy did an expoxy glue job on my cracked one. He glued the entire bottom of the fuel bowl. I put the glued one on and had a new one as back up. The glued one is still not leaking and I am at 240 hours.

 

[tracstarman]

Both of mine were pretty much destroyed and looked like they were leaking from the top, even though the bottom was cracked.

 

[contdevelop]

I did a search and saw someone had already talked about this topic so i wanted to throw my 2 cents in.

I bought my CK30 new 2 months ago and only have about 40 hours on it. Today when I was using the tractor I smelled diesel and a mist on the hood. So I drove it to the garage and parked it. Come to find out I have a small vertical crack on the side of the fuel bowl. The crack is actually invisible but sure enough it is spraying like an artery. Being that this is basically a brand new tractor, does anyone have any idea what could cause the bowl to crack? And, is this going to be a warranty repair?
Thanks

 

[wallace]

We had found that the spring at the bottom is to tight, Prior to the new fuel bowl we would cut half of ring off of the spring...Make sure it is half of ring and not half of the spring.
Quick and easy tip to keep your old style bowl from cracking.