Fuel / Stalling problem....... Help!

[BarnieTrk]

Well Fellas,,,,,,, still no improvement.

-- I opened the bleed screw until fuel spewed out - no apparent air bubbles - just fuel.

-- I snaked a section of 1/4 hose into the tank and send air pressure into it. I could hear the air bubbling in the tank.

It was 30*F. I started the engine and let it idle for maybe 3 minutes. I then drove it about the back yard, loading up a few wood blocks into the front bucket, then returned to my shed. The throttle worked fine - for probably 10-15 minutes. Then while I was unloading the blocks of wood, the idle started to faulter & surge. I hurried to move the tractor and I made it about 10 ft,,,and it died.

I guess I'm left to do as I suggested earlier - remove the filter and drain the fuel tank..... We'll see what comes of that...... :banghead::banghead:

BarnieTrk

 

[kirkawilson]

Have you checked the vent in the fuel tank cap? If its plugged, it doesnt take long to form a vacuum in the tank and can cause a problem such as you describe. Loosen the cap so it can draw air around it and test. If the problem goes away, you know its a tank venting problem

 

[dave1949]

Have you checked the vent in the fuel tank cap? If its plugged, it doesnt take long to form a vacuum in the tank and can cause a problem such as you describe. Loosen the cap so it can draw air around it and test. If the problem goes away, you know its a tank venting problem

That's a good guess, I should have thought of that earlier. Hope that fixes the stalling.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Your problem is in fuel delivery. if you still have summer fuel in the tank, it can jell at ~28F +/-. Check the strainer at the bottom of the fuel tank and make sure the fuel lines are not pinched or damaged. Make sure all the fuel delivery line fittings are tight so it can't suck air.

 

[Halftrack]

As I have posted on 3 previous threads, it sounds like the classic gasoline in the diesel fuel, which is cured by draining the tank and filling with "premium" diesel this time of year. Give it a try.

 

[BarnieTrk]

Thanks for all the support and advice, Fellas! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Yeah, I should have thought of the 'possible plugged vent' too...... I'll give that a close eye tonight.

Regarding gasoline contamination.... I know I discarded that notion earlier, but now I'm not as sure that the last fuel I added to the tank was indeed diesel. The tag on the 5-gallon can says, Diesel; but maybe I refilled that can with gasoline sometime this summer and did not change the tag at the time....... ullinghair: ..Hmmmmmm....

I'll report back with my actions and findings, Guys. Thanks again for all the help! :drink:

BarnieTrk :tractor:

 

[zzvyb6]

You have a weak fuel pump. It can't keep up with the required supply flow.

 

[eddie48]

Don't know if this might apply but, is the fuel filter bowl staying full when the engine acts up? I had a problem with mine draining down til the engine would die. I was advised to blow out the return line to the tank. I disconnected it at the tank and blew air through it from the filter side. A big chunk of junk came out and all has been well, since.

 

[BarnieTrk]

....it sounds like the classic gasoline in the diesel fuel, which is cured by draining the tank and filling with "premium" diesel this time of year. Give it a try.

Just as Halftrack suggested & Dave1949 suggested earlier, my problem turned out to be contaminated fuel.

I went back to the same 5-gallon can that I last used to add fuel to the tractor. I removed the spout and gave it a careful sniff....then I dribbled out a bit of the remaining ounce or so - sure as heck - it was gasoline! :banghead:

So I loosened the hose clamp securing the fuel inlet hose at the filter housing. This action allowed the fuel tank to drain completely from the hose. I used a tall funnel which reached down from the detached fuel line into the spouted lid of a clean 5-gallon pail. It took the better part of two pails to contain the entire 8.5 gallon tank contents. I'm not sure just yet what I'll do with the removed diesel/gasoline concoction, but I'll do something with it....maybe dump it into my ol' truck a 1/2 gallon per tankful..... I don't know yet.

Well, once the fuel tank was empty, I re-attached the fuel line and proceeded to remove the fuel filter housing cup. I drained the fuel from the cup and re-attached the cup securely. I obtained a 5-gallon can of fresh diesel, added a couple ounces of PowerService (white) fuel treatment, and poured it via a funnel into the tank. I loosened the bleed screw to allow fuel to push the air out of the system and then re-tightened the screw once a clear fuel stream was evident.

With a bit of sputtering at first, the tractor came to life and purred wonderfully!

After about 4-5 minutes of 1000 rpm idling, I took the tractor for a drive around the back yard & then loaded up up some firewood in its front bucket. I drove it to the wood pile and preceded to unload the bucket. Then engine never missed a beat! I ran it for over 20 minutes and it never indicated any desire to sputter, surge, putter or loose throttle response.

A few days ago, I would have lost a significant amount of $$ betting that it was NOT my fault by putting gasoline into the tank. But I make mistakes - and this was just another one of those examples. :banghead:ullinghair::irked:

I want to THANK ALL OF YOU that shared & provided your assistance, guidance, suggestions, thoughts, ideas, help and support in finding & curing my tractors' ailment! :drink: :thumbsup: :cloud9:

BarnieTrk :cool2:

 

[dave1949]

Good! Running tractors make everyone here happy.

The important thing is you worked your way through it and didn't give up.