Kubota B1700 runs and stalls

[rem3mber]

I have a Kubota B1700 which has run fine for 14 years. The other day it stalled on me. It seems to start fine (sometimes) and run for about 10 min, then sputter and sometimes dies. After about 10 min of cranking it will start back up and run fine for another 10 min or so. It does this even if it is parked. If it does not die, then it will pick back up on its own and run fine again for another 10 min. I checked the fuel filter and it had a bit of ice in it. I cleaned out the ice and replaced the filter. No change. I even disconnected the fuel line from the filter (pump side) and submerged the hose in a cup of diesel, so i have bypassed the filter and tank completely. No change. I am baffled because in the 10 min it does run, it is fine. Any ideas would be very much welcome!

 

[Yandaddy1110]

What about the air filter?

 

[Coyote machine]

Welcome to TBN.
You have to determine whether it is fuel or electrical. Seems you have some water in your fuel, which you may have addressed, but not completely until there is no water present in your fuel supply. Just as a winter checklist item make sure your battery and cables, ground connections etc. are solid, clean and no corrosion whatsoever. Make sure all your fuses are intact and no corrosion in the box, and all connections to relays, temp sensors, etc. are solid, no corrosion....
Your injection pump may have possible water/particulate matter in it; when was the last time you changed your fuel filter prior to just now?
Did you CHANGE the fuel filter or use the same one? Your statement is unclear? Either way, if you didn't replace it with a fresh one you need too now.
Post back findings.

On a further read of your post, it seems maybe your pump is failing and works and then dies, such that so does the engine when the pump stops. you may have a lift and a secondary fuel pump, (I'm not familiar with your tractor's specific fuel system, but it seems this could be one of your issues especially due to the tractor's age).
Someone here with more specific knowledge about your fuel delivery system can comment on what you have and how to check it out.

P.S. Don't crank it for anywhere near 10 minutes! At best crank it for 10-15 SECONDS at a time, otherwise you will burn out your starter windings and overheat the wires to and from your starter/ignition.

 

[rem3mber]

Welcome to TBN.
You have to determine whether it is fuel or electrical. Seems you have some water in your fuel, which you may have addressed, but not completely until there is no water present in your fuel supply. Just as a winter checklist item make sure your battery and cables, ground connections etc. are solid, clean and no corrosion whatsoever. Make sure all your fuses are intact and no corrosion in the box, and all connections to relays, temp sensors, etc. are solid, no corrosion....
Your injection pump may have possible water/particulate matter in it; when was the last time you changed your fuel filter prior to just now?
Did you CHANGE the fuel filter or use the same one? Your statement is unclear? Either way, if you didn't replace it with a fresh one you need too now.
Post back findings.

On a further read of your post, it seems maybe your pump is failing and works and then dies, such that so does the engine when the pump stops. you may have a lift and a secondary fuel pump, (I'm not familiar with your tractor's specific fuel system, but it seems this could be one of your issues especially due to the tractor's age).
Someone here with more specific knowledge about your fuel delivery system can comment on what you have and how to check it out.

P.S. Don't crank it for anywhere near 10 minutes! At best crank it for 10-15 SECONDS at a time, otherwise you will burn out your starter windings and overheat the wires to and from your starter/ignition.

Thank you for your response and welcome!
I change the filter at least once a year and the Air filter is new as well. I do believe it is fuel related the way it dies off. I am kinda wondering about the fuel pump seeing how it does the same thing when I tried to use the fuel line in a can of diesel, but you could tell it was being pumped up, just no way to figure out if it was enough. I think the next step is to replace the fuel lines, and then the pump. Opinions?

 

[Coyote machine]

I don't know why you would think the lines have anything to do with it unless you haven't mentioned something about their condition. It still sounds like a fuel delivery issue. Try a clear plastic container with diesel, that you can watch being drawn up by the pump and see if it stops drawing fuel as it starts to die. If it's an electric pump it may be heating up internally after about ten minutes and shutting down. If so you might be able to see a voltage spike or drop by connecting a VOM to the fuel pump circuit. If the fuel pump(s) are run through a relay on the firewall or elsewhere that might be causing the pump to drop out too.
If I were you I'd be looking for electrical and mechanical schematics for your specific tractor, and study what's where, etc.
Don't just replace things like fuel lines because you think they're the problem, instead troubleshoot in a logical step by step method until you find the cause.:thumbsup:

BTW, it's OK to bypass the tank, but not the filter. You don't want to take a chance to damage the injection pump from any fuel issues, water/particulate matter etc., so I would keep the clean filter in line and let the fuel pump suck the diesel through it on the way to the IP.

 

[Egon]

If my recall is working you should have one safety switch on the clutch for starting.

Consider draining and cleaning the fuel tank, the filter and all lines to the injection pump. (Again) check for flow from the injectors. Make sure the glow plugs are working.

 

[grandpa468]

You mentioned changing the fuel filter at the tank, but did you check the fuel filter at the injector pump? It is the same type of filter and if you have water in your fuel it probably has ice also. I find that the filters will also get a flakey residue that will float and block the filter momentarily. After changing the filter(s) did you bleed the air out of the fuel system?

 

[rem3mber]

I think the problem is fixed! (hopefully I didn't just jinx myself) I ended up purging all the fuel lines, pump and tank then bled the system. Added new fuel from a different source and it fired right up and wont miss a beat! It looks like I got a batch of bad diesel fuel. I purged the system before but kept using diesel from the same source.
I want to thank everyone who responded and helped!