L3540 hydro power questions

[jonsstihl]

I have a write up about how to do the valve clearance check. the tank should come out for better access so you can clean it out at the same time. it is not a 30 minute job but it isn't 8 hours either. unless you run into trouble breaking stuff. what does the fuel filter bowl look like when the problem happens. any air bubbles .

the fuel tank comes out with the steel frame that surrounds it and I took the hood off as well to have room. I think I had to disconnect the clutch rod so I could slide the tank out the left side.

I would start with the fuel tank cleaning and valve adjustment while the tank is out. Do you have all the o-rings on the fuel filter housing I think there are two.

 

[hunt4570]

I have a write up about how to do the valve clearance check. the tank should come out for better access so you can clean it out at the same time. it is not a 30 minute job but it isn't 8 hours either. unless you run into trouble breaking stuff. what does the fuel filter bowl look like when the problem happens. any air bubbles .

the fuel tank comes out with the steel frame that surrounds it and I took the hood off as well to have room. I think I had to disconnect the clutch rod so I could slide the tank out the left side.

I would start with the fuel tank cleaning and valve adjustment while the tank is out. Do you have all the o-rings on the fuel filter housing I think there are two.

And where is that write up? Filter bowl looks fine, I never noticed any bubbles in there. And yes, two new o-rings last week with the filter change.
And thanks.

 

[jonsstihl]

grand L4740 valve adjustment

Finally got around to adjusting the valves. remove muffler, remove hood (it comes off with the hood only a little lifted up) if you raise it too high you scratch the paint with the wiper arm, and it hits the fuel tank frame if the angle is too steep. drain fuel tank, remove fuel line from...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[jonsstihl]

Reading my write up again the tank came out the right side, I just had to remove the clutch rod to slide the tank with frame out.

Are you sure you took the old o-rings out. Maybe they got doubled up and are causing air to get in.

You can try just draining the tank by disconnecting the hose at the filter housing, You can watch the flow and see if it slows down noticeably at any point. that would isolate the fuel tank and hose from the filter and housing.

 

[howardjohn]

I had a similar problem on my 240 jd skid steer I know you said you changed the fuel filter. Did you drain the fuel tank? I did both filter and drained the tank. Problem went away

 

[Flogger]

If it was me I would check the fuel pressure from the primary pump. That would be easier than going into the tank. If the output is low move to the input side and make sure there is not negative pressure.

 

[ras5309]

Haven't seen this question, sorry if I missed it; what transmission range are you mowing in?

 

[rScotty]

I still agree with your dealer, it's fuel delivery.
From what you have looked at, not much is left. All that is left is to drain the fuel tank, check that the vent cap is venting properly (it has a sponge in it), maybe replace the fuel lines because the ends do get aged and can cause a suction air leak, and then....
wait a minute......is that a diaphram type cam-operated fuel lift pump I see in the parts manual? If so, I'd sure suspect that enough to just replace it.
All these things are inexpensive and easy. You've either got a blockage, bad fuel, or air being sucked into a fuel line...or maybe tha lift pump.
rScotty

 

[hunt4570]

Haven't seen this question, sorry if I missed it; what transmission range are you mowing in?

Probably medium high.

 

[hunt4570]

I still agree with your dealer, it's fuel delivery.
From what you have looked at, not much is left. All that is left is to drain the fuel tank, check that the vent cap is venting properly (it has a sponge in it), maybe replace the fuel lines because the ends do get aged and can cause a suction air leak, and then....
wait a minute......is that a diaphram type cam-operated fuel lift pump I see in the parts manual? If so, I'd sure suspect that enough to just replace it.
All these things are inexpensive and easy. You've either got a blockage, bad fuel, or air being sucked into a fuel line...or maybe tha lift pump.
rScotty

On my tractor I don't believe there is a fuel lift pump, Straight line from the elevated fuel tank right down to the fuel filter.

 

[hunt4570]

So I'm headed out to mow some flat land to use up some of the fuel in the tank Then I'll drain the rest and have a look in there... I'll let you guys know. Thanks for the help!

 

[rScotty]

On my tractor I don't believe there is a fuel lift pump, Straight line from the elevated fuel tank right down to the fuel filter.

On another look at the parts manual online I agree. No lift pump...., just gravity feed past a shutoff, through a typical fuel filter...and on to an injection pump. Then a fuel return line.

So ignore that lift pump idea.
But I'm still putting my money on fuel starvation - we just don't know where.
Yet.

 

[hunt4570]

On another look at the parts manual online I agree. No lift pump...., just gravity feed past a shutoff, through a typical fuel filter...and on to an injection pump. Then a fuel return line.

So ignore that lift pump idea.
But I'm still putting my money on fuel starvation - we just don't know where.
Yet.

Yes, everyone I talk to says fuel starvation, including the dealer mechanic!

 

[hunt4570]

I had a similar problem on my 240 jd skid steer I know you said you changed the fuel filter. Did you drain the fuel tank? I did both filter and drained the tank. Problem went away

So you just drained the tank, or did you clean it as well? And if so how did you go about cleaning it? I plan to drain it in the morning!

 

[rScotty]

Yes, everyone I talk to says fuel starvation, including the dealer mechanic!

See. Great minds DO think alike.
Now it just remains to see if we are right, as well as alike.

 

[hunt4570]

Going to see about draining the tank today and seeing what's in there... More to come!

 

[jonsstihl]

how did the mowing go yesterday?

 

[hunt4570]

how did the mowing go yesterday?

Bout the same, starved of power, going slightly uphill and with tall thick grass.

 

[jonsstihl]

once you get the tank empty I'm pretty sure you can see the bottom with a flashlight. you should be able to see if there is sludge at the bottom blocking the outlet.

 

[hunt4570]

Ok, just drained my tank and put an inspection camera in there and cannot really see anything in there, I can not find the outlet screen with the camera unfortunately to see if anything is blocking it.
Now I have a full workshop manual for this tractor and NOWHERE in it does it mention the fuel tank, or how to go about flushing it, or how to remove it! Heck it does not even show how to remove the hood, the hood doesn't look too difficult to remove but you would think it would at least be in the manual!!
I was hoping it would show how to remove the screen in the tank but the manual says nothing about it.
IDEAS on how to flush out that tank without removing it?? If not, any pointers on removing it? I figure if I can get it out, I can slosh some fuel around in there and dump it a couple times or something unless someone has better ideas...
Thanks for the help!