Fuel Filter Issues - Model A Toolcat

laurencen · Oct 10, 2020

I would think you need to pump it to prime the fuel pump and injection pump

ruffdog · Oct 10, 2020

laurencen said:
I would think you need to pump it to prime the fuel pump

I think you pump it until the bulb gets harder...like the video.

Peter 315 · Oct 11, 2020

On the trucks and loader at work I pump the hand primer and have somebody start the truck at the same time.....keep pumping till it starts...

yooperdave · Oct 15, 2020

Tried again to get the toolcat running today. Put the space heater on and pumped the hand primer well over 500 times to no avail.
The primer bulb never got 'hard' and the toolcat never found fuel to start with. Engine was nice and warm with no glo plugs required.
Had the wife try to start after 500 pumps while I continue to pump the bulb. The fuel tank is 100% full.
Even at a quarter ounce per pump, there should have been plenty of fuel pushed far enough and available.
Going to call my country mechanic to see if he is willing to make a house call. Otherwise I am S.O.L. this winter.
Yooper Dave

ruffdog · Oct 15, 2020

Hmmm, maybe the bulb just ain't working like it should. Good luck!

Xfaxman · Oct 15, 2020

Could the new fuel filter be causing the problem?

Put diesel in a spray bottle, remove the air filter, let the starter spin the engine, spray fuel into the intake manifold.
The engine should run. If it does you will have to find out why the fuel system is not working.

laurencen · Oct 16, 2020

those primer bulbs have a ball in them to allow low then close off for the pressure out, have seen then stick if crap gets between the ball and seal, I would pull the hose from the bulb at the pump or filter, then try pumping, if no fuel its the bulb or how cold is it there? with running the tank dry you could have water in the hose and cold enough could have froze

yooperdave · Oct 17, 2020

I bought a new primer hand bulb from my local 'Toys' dealer.
I will replace the bulb regardless as it is over 15 years old.
It is getting cold, but in the shed helps. The torpedo heater keeps the rubber flexible.
Wondering if I broke the fuel injection pump.
Yooper Dave

Peter 315 · Oct 17, 2020

You can try loosening the fuel filter and put a little air pressure in the fuel tank, stick a blow gun and cover the opening with a rag until fuel comes out the filter.........

laurencen · Oct 18, 2020

doubt running it out of fuel would do any damage and the primer bulb will still pump fuel, should get hard pumping once lines are full and take new hose clamps

yooperdave · Oct 18, 2020

laurencen said:
doubt running it out of fuel would do any damage and the primer bulb will still pump fuel, should get hard pumping once lines are full and take new hose clamps

How many pumps? The novelty wore off after a couple hundred pumps.
Was able to get the air out above the fuel filter with the bleeder. Fuel came out of the bottom of the filter as well when I opened the valve for a second.
Any other (simple) ways to get the air out further downstream of the bleeder? I am no mechanic.
Yooper Dave

ruffdog · Oct 18, 2020

I would be questioning if the primer bulb is working after 20 pumps. Most times you should barely feel/hear the check valve in the bulb shutting if it is working properly too. Also, it should feel like there is liquid in it vs just air. If there is fuel and the bulb is operating correctly, it doesn't take long to bleed out the air.

SSdoxie · Oct 21, 2020

The primer bulb has an arrow showing direction of flow. Take the hose off from the inlet end of the primer bulb then put your thumb over the end of the bulb and squeeze the bulb and release it. If the bulb expands back then the check valve is stuck, if it stays collapsed until you release your thumb bulb is working.

Worded this out of sequence. Remove the inlet hose, squeeze the bulb, then hold you thumb or finger over the inlet end before releasing the bulb. If it expands bad bulb,

yooperdave · Oct 22, 2020

I already bought a new primer bulb, as the original bulb is over 15 years old. I feel fuel in the old bulb, but hundreds of pumps is not working. Was able to pump the air out of the bleeder screw. However, maybe there is more pressure needed to finish the job which might be challenging the check valve portion of the old bulb. Will be going up again this Sunday to replace the bulb and to see if that works. Running out of options.

yooperdave · Nov 9, 2020

Update: Bought a new primer bulb and installed it. Verified that the original primer bulb no longer worked as a check valve so I felt optimistic as I could prove fuel was leaking back. I then verified again that the bleeder valve was releasing fuel instead of air. I double verified the direction of the new primer bulb relative to the old. When pumping the bulb for a very long time, we felt there was some fuel movement, but the bulb was always very slow to recover with a new load of fuel in hopes of pushing it towards the engine. I even removed the fuel cap to release any possible pressure while attempting the primer bulb to pull a vacuum.

Later after more hand pumping, I had the wife try to start while I continued to pump. There is still no hint of the engine trying to catch.

The fuel tank is 100% full of fuel.

Do not know what else I can do.

Tried to pull the Toolcat with the 3/4 ton pickup to no avail. Is there a hydraulic release so I can try to load a trailer?

Not too far from giving up for the Winter.

Yooper Dave

laurencen · Nov 9, 2020

if you take the outlet of the bulb and pump does fuel come out freely?

bnold · Nov 9, 2020

Is there a rag covering the fuel screen or something in the tank causing a restriction on the suction side? You mentioned the bulb is slow to recover.

Are you sure fuel isn’t at the injection pump, but the high pressure injection lines just need to be bled?

laurencen · Nov 9, 2020

what is the temperature? mine I am sure water got into either the bulb or the hose from the tank, fuel should flow freely from the tank to the inlet of the fuel bulb if tank was full

yooperdave · Nov 10, 2020

laurencen said:
what is the temperature? mine I am sure water got into either the bulb or the hose from the tank, fuel should flow freely from the tank to the inlet of the fuel bulb if tank was full

Was a very nice weekend - 70 degrees and sunny. Most likely the last warm weekend of the year.

ruffdog · Nov 10, 2020

yooperdave said:
Tried to pull the Toolcat with the 3/4 ton pickup to no avail. Is there a hydraulic release so I can try to load a trailer?

The toolcat's brakes come on with the lack of hydraulic pressure so, no, there is not a release valve. I have read that the early TCs could be pushed easier by screwing in special brake release tools. Maybe your dealer has these?