John Deere 325 garden tractor - won't start / bad fuel pump?

[Donl110]

I have a 1995 JD 325. Has run well for years. Have done just the normal maintenance to it all these years. Live in Minnesota and used both summer and winter. This winter there was no snow so didn't run it much. Went to start it last week and NO GO. Took off the fuel line to the carbuerator abpnd it was dry as a bone. Good guess that the pump is shot perhaps? I have never worked on that before. Seems like the logical solution. Any thoughts out there? Also would replace the filter as long as I was at it.

Don

 

[Donl110]

This fuel pump is attached on the engine. I assume it is a mechanical vacuum pump. Any way to check before I need to buy a new one?

 

[beenthere]

Pull a hose off and see how much it pumps. If a good stream, pump ok. If not a good stream, check the fuel filter for blockage, and if ok then check the tank for blockage over the drain hole.

Fuel plugging things up may be the main culprit.

New pump looks to be $50. Part no. AM109212
But if the diaphram is bad in this pump, looks like you could access it and possibly replace with a new piece of rubber. Might find a diaphram as replacement but seems unlikely as it is not listed as a separate part.

 

[buckshot721]

Looks like the same one I just changed out on my gator. About $50.00 on line. Not much to the insides, just a diaphragm. Could not find any rebuild kits for it. Guess you could pull it apart to check for debris.

 

[shortthrow50]

make sure you have enough fuel in your tank. You did say that when you pulled the line it was dry. I have had some good times with my 325 and put lots of hours on it. Sometimes that fuel tank can be picky. makes sure you have enough fuel

 

[Molerj]

Use an old two cycle oil bottle and fill it with fuel. Drill a 1/8 hole in the cap. Remove the air filter and squirt some fuel in the carb. When it fires up, keep giving it a squirt and see if it eventually picks up. I'm betting it will!

 

[Donl110]

Here is an update everyone; got it going. The old fuel filter was dry as a bone so no fuel there. Replaced that. Squirted fuel into carb and it fired right up but would not keep running. Took fuel line off the pump and it too was dry as a bone. Filled that line with fuel and then squirted some into pump itself and reconnected. Cranked her up and away we went. Apparently it lost its suction from the fuel tank? Back in business. Thanks everyone.

Don

 

[shortthrow50]

make sure the fuel tank vent isnt plugged

 

[Donl110]

Never looked for the vent. Where would I find that? Or do you think the cap is a venting style?

 

[shortthrow50]

Man i was just tryin to remmber where it was on my tractor. I think it may be in the cap itself