Fuel Filter Issues - Model A Toolcat

yooperdave · Oct 3, 2020

I ran over a moss covered rock and really screwed up my fuel filter - see attached.
I knew something was wrong when my full fuel tank went empty in a half hour with an alarm to notify.
Was able to get the Toolcat in the shed and jacked it up to remove the damaged fuel filter.
The auto parts guy an hour away sold me a WIX replacement filter.
I have never had the pleasure of replacing a fuel filter for a diesel before.
The WIX filter had minimal graphics to aid in the installation. I have no internet up at the cottage.
When I got the filter on, I filled the fuel tank to 100% full and tried to start.
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The toolcat started for 2 seconds and died with alarms blazing.
I thought the filter would fill with fuel but apparently a very bad assumption.
The old damaged filter noted to fill the filter with fuel. Wish I woul have seen this prior.
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What can be done to get the Toolcat up and running once again?
Everything is hydraulic - so the back bed does not raise, and not able to load on a trailer.

TIA

Yooper Dave

ruffdog · Oct 3, 2020

Do you have the manual to show you priming the fuel pump? Look at this thread:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/toolcat/259842-bobcat-toolcat-priming-fuel-system.html

laurencen · Oct 3, 2020

there should be a primer bulb on the right side open the side cover and look around towards the front, area, you also need to bleed air from injectors when it starts

1965tontruck · Oct 4, 2020

For the “A” model, the primer bulb is under the passenger seat.

yooperdave · Oct 4, 2020

laurencen said:
there should be a primer bulb on the right side open the side cover and look around towards the front, area, you also need to bleed air from injectors when it starts

Is it difficult to access to bleed the air? Is this a 1 and done or req'd over and over? Thanks

SSdoxie · Oct 4, 2020

On the top of the fuel filter head is a brass bleed screw, loosen that screw then pump with primer bulb until fuel flows out then tighten screw. If it still will not start locate the bolt holding steel fuel line feeding fuel to injection pump, loosen the bolt holding that line on then pump the primer bulb until fuel flows without air. These 2 steps will purge air from fuel lines without pumping air through the injection pump.

yooperdave · Oct 4, 2020

SSdoxie said:
On the top of the fuel filter head is a brass bleed screw, loosen that screw then pump with primer bulb until fuel flows out then tighten screw. If it still will not start locate the bolt holding steel fuel line feeding fuel to injection pump, loosen the bolt holding that line on then pump the primer bulb until fuel flows without air. These 2 steps will purge air from fuel lines without pumping air through the injection pump.

Do I access the brass screw from below or above? If from above, how do I get the bed raised or removed? I did try to start several times so I may have air in the injection pump. Hoping I did not wreck everything.

SSdoxie · Oct 4, 2020

On top of the (filter head) steel part the filter screws on to.

laurencen · Oct 4, 2020

get to primer bulb thro right side cover

ruffdog · Oct 4, 2020

Here is a video of a guy with a older Bobcat mini ex and he is showing the procedure of purging the air from the fuel system after a filter change. It has the primer bulb but bleed screw parts may be different.

yooperdave · Oct 4, 2020

Can I access what I need from below the jacked up Toolcat, or do I need to access from above with the rear bed lifted or removed?
Is there a manual over ride to raise the bed if needed? I only have 1 day off per week from my job and trying to reduce the learning curve before it gets cold outside.
Thanks

ruffdog · Oct 4, 2020

I don't know what the A series is like as my G has a different engine etc....but I do know that there is lots of stuff crammed into a small area. My G has small access panels behind the legs of both the driver and passenger. My fuel filter is behind the passenger's legs. Also if you remove the seats, that opens up larger access panels under the seats. I have a feeling that Bobcat did not expect the owner to bleed the fuel system while laying underneath. You need to know where the primer bulb and the fuel supply hose to the fuel injection pump is to bleed the air out.

1965tontruck · Oct 4, 2020

1965tontruck said:
For the “A” model, the primer bulb is under the passenger seat.

The primer bulb is accessed through a cover under the passenger seat. Remove the seat, remove the cover and look for the primer bulb.

laurencen · Oct 4, 2020

on my A series
i could access the primer bulb from the right side cover, to reach the bleed knob on the injection pump it was easier to remove the passenger seat and cover you can do it with the box up but its a pain doing so, once the primer bulb is pumped up it will run you may be lucky as far as bleeding, I never was

laurencen · Oct 5, 2020

this may help

yooperdave · Oct 5, 2020

Went up north on my 1 day off. 31 degrees in the morning. 61 degrees when leaving. Attached are some pictures of the situation.
I loosened the 19mm nut just above the pumping knob and pumped away for longer than my hands could handle.
To pump, the knob needs to be twisted while pulling back - a real pain. Stroke length was ~ 1/2" at best.
I hope I loosened the right thing. No fuel or air bleeding out yet. I re-tightened the nut before leaving.
Unable to find a simple bleeder screw or similar. Hope the pictures help. Wondering how many pumps it will take to see some fuel bleeding out.
I have more pics if necessary.
Thanks again for the input.

Yooper Dave

ruffdog · Oct 5, 2020

I don't think that has anything to do with fuel. That looks like a hydraulic valve body of some sort with a bypass valve? The fuel injector pump will be on the side of the engine and will look like the video I posted.

Also, notice that laurencen posted the manual and look at the 2nd picture closely. They are pointing at items NEAR what you are working on.

laurencen · Oct 5, 2020

what you have there is the bypass for the hydraulic circuit believe the dump box but have to look at the manual, on the right side feel around the fuel tank, there is a feed tube thinking 5/16 that comes from the bottom front left of the tank, follow it and you will find the primer bulb, it then goes to the pump then injector block, the bulb is same as a boat motor bulb, mine was hard as rock from age and replaced it with a marine one,

pump this up and you will feel it harden, locate the bleed and air will come out but at this time it should start, if it will not run smooth you need to bleed the injectors either by the bleed knob or loosen the line to the injectors

laurencen · Oct 6, 2020

yooperdave, here is a better picture from the manual also the page showing the knob you figured may be the primer bulb, the manual says to lower the lift arm, I think its the bed but could be the front arm when the motor may die and arms raised, on my A series I could reach the bulb to prime the fuel thro the side cover it was a stretch but possible the bleed knob on the injector pump I could do from the raised box reaching into the machine but one needs to know where it is as its not visible, remove the seat and you are on top of it

Laurence

yooperdave · Oct 10, 2020

Thought I would give it another go today given the wonderful sunny day.
Found the priming bulb well tucked away under the passenger seat. It still worked well so I did not need to replace.
Had to jack up the toolcat again so I could get to the bleed off screw from underneath.
My wife was able to pump the bulb from above while I watched lots of air and a mist of fuel leave from below.
When the bleed was all fuel spewing out, the bleed screw was retightened, and the toolcat lowered and ready to go.
The toolcat refused to start after 4 attempts.
Do I need to squeeze the priming bulb after tightening the bleed screw?
Hoping this issue gets fixed before winter sets in.

Yooper Dave