Fuel Heating for Jelling Fuel oil

[Don87]

I do have a spare filter and I should just R&R ,,,, just a few questions on 911, is too much a bad thing? The fuel tank on this compact tractor is just about 6 gallons.

I've never used the 911 personally, but the amount needed should be on the back of the bottle. As RFB said, 911 is only used to 'ungell' the fuel, it isn't intended for continuos use. I use the Power service in the white bottle, and mix it to the max concentration as listed on the bottle.

 

[RBA50]

My Power King used to be a bear to start in winter, even though it was a gasser, and in the garage. I started putting a tarp over the entire unit, loader, back blade and all, then sticking an electric heater under the tarp. When snow was forecast, I'd fire up the heater the night before. By morning it would be hot under the tarp, and the tractor would fire off after about 1/2 a rev. If I needed to ungel diesel now, I'd do the same thing, cover and a heater. Probably only take an hour or two to warm the whole thing. Then add some treatment to prevent future probs.

 

[Dr Dirt]

Thanks RFB !! My wife talked me out of going back out yesterday.

Anyway,this morning, I am going to remove the filter bowl and see what the fuel condition is. If I can get it to flow at all it will be a big step as the pump [ bleed screw ] is dry. The fuel does have a dose of 911 [white bottle ] so it should not be frozen. It might be a plugged tank vent, the wind was howling and fine powder snow flying. I might use an air gun and rag on the filler pipe to slightly pressurize the tank to help with the flow. I have at least 6 hours of loader work ahead of me. We, here in Eastern New England just had record breaking snow. The local meteorologist just reminded us that currently [Boston] is the coldest city in the US and we are usually 10-20 degrees colder than Boston. Do I sound like a wimp?!!

 

[Dr Dirt]

Thanks Don & RBA50, Gee, they said the wind gusts yesterday was over 90 mph!! There could be things blocked anywhere on this machine! Now it's calm but very cold, probably 10 below. I am still suspecting a blocked air vent somewhere on the tank. Like a real dummy I do not have a service manual for this machine.

 

[MikeInEburg]

I think you're going to find the fuel filter full of ice. R&R to resolve

 

[Dr Dirt]

I think you're going to find the fuel filter full of ice. R&R to resolve

Thanks Mike, Actually the fuel filter which is a paper type with a clear plastic bowl was free of ice albeit a tiny amount of water at the bottom. I just R&R'd the filter with a new bowl [i had a whole assembly on hand] Before I did this I got the engine to run but it kept running way below idle with me applying heat via heat gun to the fuel line before the filter. The fuel system is gravity feed to the filter and then still gravity to the timing pump. There is a bleed screw on top of the bump at a mini gooseneck fitting where the hose barb meets the pump. I moved the throttle handle back and forth as it seemed tight [ ice of jelled fuel? ] it is now free. I opened the bleed screw and am warming up a little. I am just going to let the fuel trickle into an oil pan and go try it again! Thanks for the reply, Dan

 

[Dr Dirt]

I now have isolated the fuel restriction to the fuel tank to filter line. The filter bowl drains faster than it can be filled with the engine running. Does anyone out there know if there is a primary filter in the fuel tank of a New Holland "Boomer" tractor?

 

[RFB]

Re-read the post I sent last night.

I think that you want to get the old fuel out of the tank. It very well could have precipitated parafin floating in chunks, and it will not go back into solution until it is considerable warmer.

Siphon through 5/8 or 1" vinyl hose, pull the supply line from the tank to filter and run into a catch bucket, put warm fresh fuel treated heavey with while bottle and a normal dose of red bottle into tank and ensure free flow into catch bucket before reconnecting.

Clamp with vise grips or clamp, reconnect, unclamp, fill bowl, restart.

 

[leonz]

Hey, I am a brand new member! I also recently moved from a coastal area to a higher and much colder area and for the first time since I owned my 2005 New Holland 24 HP small compact tractor I have a major jelling problem. I just spent about an hour with a heat gun trying to warm the fuel from the filter ro the injector pump and fuel lines to no avail. The bleed screw on the pump is dry. The only question is " does NH have a fuel heating add on"? A block heater probably would not provide enough BTUs to warm the fuel lines. If there is a fuel tank heater that would work. Maybe one of the members has solved this issue. Thanks! Dan

If you have a kerosene fired space heater-salamander that will work very quickly for you too.
The propane fired units need to be kept inside rather than being left in an unheated area at all
times like a kerosene fired unit can due to the low pressure regulators becoming frozen.

 

[Dr Dirt]

Thanks RFB, I will indeed do what you recommend especially the white bottle and red. I never noticed that there was a difference in the bottle colors being such distinct products. I managed to keep it running but I only ran it at 1,500 rpm and the filter volume never sucked any air. I will strongly consider removing the tank and cleaning it real good [ if it is not a real bear ] otherwise I will purge it like you suggest. Thank you for the advice! Dan