Jd 320 fuel starvation?

Gumby542 · Jul 29, 2012

So I spent some time on the tractor today. I cleaned the carb, new fuel filter, checked fuel around all components. Had wonderful fuel before pump. Good fuel after pump to carb.. Thought I had it. 3 minutes of running, stalled out again. Got it back inside, not much fuel coming from pump anymore. Also got black junk in gas as I drained the fuel pump. Took pump off. Once I got it off and ran it by hand, I was shocked at how hard it was to actuate the pump.
How hard should it be to push the arm in the pump. Sometimes it takes me all the pressure I can with my thumb to actuate it. The only reason I'm questioning is because it is completely mechanical. The push rod has to put its force into something, and everytime I push the arm, I do get a pulse that would move fuel. I'm sure my issue is between the pump and carb, and think I'm going towards the pump. However, it's a $100 fix so I want to make absolutely sure this is it.

JAY AND EBBEN · Aug 5, 2012

Hi all,
I don't know if you resolved your fuel starvation problems but I have been working on my sons tractor (same model #) and I clearly found that the needle would periodically stick in the seat and cause it to starve out. I took some 400 grit sand paper to polish the film of of the entire needle (top and bottom) and it now slides nicely. Spray cleaned the seat after i took a fine dremel tool bit and polished the hole as best I could. Seems to run fine now! Like you... lots of time to figure this out. I can now see the needle drops out on its own every time - this can be seen by just pulling the bowl off. Lift the float a bunch of times and watch... I think you will see yours stick too. Get in there and hone it out. The cost is only time.

Good luck!

J

Gumby542 · Aug 5, 2012

I had played with the fuel pump long enough to firmly believe it was not the issue. I had turned toward the carb as well. I will give this a shot tomorrow. Thanks!

JAY AND EBBEN · Aug 5, 2012

This thread has been helpful for me... I am glad to have come across it. I mowed my lawn today (son is away) and the details I posted above seem spot on. The machine ran for a long time without a sputter. After reading about the rust issues from the pump being in line after the fuel filter, I am going to buy one of those very small filters and place it just before the carb to catch the rust particles as they will likely continue to sluff off. FYI - I had cleaned this carb twice before and it ran for a while and then the issues would be back, stalling, not starting, wait a while and it would run for a short period - the time span of running out one full bowl of fuel. Hope this is helpful for you. Good luck. Great forum here - helpful from dozers to tractors... large and small!

Jay

Gumby542 · Aug 6, 2012

Nailed it! I've been mowing for about an hour. Longest I've mowed with it since this started. This machine is running beautiful!

Thank you fr the info, It saved me a bunch more head scratching and swearing.