Oil & Fuel Fuel Filter leak/changing and bleeding

[Anonymous Poster]

Yesterday, I started my L2050 after it had sat in the barn for four weeks (it started on the first crank) I noticed fuel shooting a steady stream our of the bottom of the fuel filter. How this hole formed, I have no idea. It may be the original filter since the 1990 tractor has only 445 hours on it. (I bought it with 235 hours in 1998). There was no shut-off valve and we put a finger over it until I could siphon the tank and redirected the stream into a large funnel into an empty fuel can. What a mess. I bought a new filter AND a shut off valve to go below the fuel tank and I plan to tackle this mess sometime this week. I have read the manual which says to loosen the air vent plug on the filter two or three turns ( I guess until fuel comes out) then do the same on the air vent plug on the injection pump ( I suppose until fuel comes out). Also, I will hack the hose in two below the fuel tank and install the shut-off valve. I would REALLY appreciate any pointers if I am missing anything. Also, I was on my way to a wedding (I do professional video work taping weddings and other things) Thank heavens I didn't have my tux on because I got fuel all over my arms and smelled like a fuel oil delivery man all day even after numerous washings. How can you get this stuff off? Tomato juice? (or is that for skunk only) Have any of you ever heard of a fuel filter springing a leak like that? It was as if somebody had poked a hole in it after it was started. Thanks for any advice in advance,
Thanks
Jesse

 

[njrqs]

If it was indeed the original filter, perhaps it did its job quite well and trapped some water, which inturn (over 12 years) rusted out the filter at the bottom where the water sits.

Good practice to replace fuel filters on a diesel often as clean fuel is vital to the longevity of a diesel engine and its injection system.

I do mine annually on my truck and tractor, regardless of how many miles/hours I do.

You should already have a shutoff valve (My old 1980's model has one although it doesn;t work).

I suppose we will all ask, what the heck were you doing on your tractor on your way to a wedding /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Cheers

 

[Bird]

Jesse, there's been some discussion in the past about getting rid of the diesel aroma and several people said something called Simple Green works, and my brother says it's a good cleaner, so we recently bought a gallon at Sam's Club, but I haven't tried it yet.