Lack of power

[ToadHill]

I have a DK35 with about 1200 hours on it. Last winter it suddenly lost power and while it would run, it would not operate the snow blower . Later it wouldn't even start. We tried draining the fuel tank thinking that maybe we had some bad fuel. We drained it several times and suddenly it stated to run well and has until last weekend.

This past weekend I bush hogged about 15 acres and it ran just fine. I stopped for something to eat and when I got back on, the power was again down and I could just make it into the field. If I turned on the bush hog the tractor didn't have enough power to go up a hill.

I let it sit over night and started it the next morning and it ran fine, I bush hogged a few more passes, about 1/2 hour in total and it lost power again.

It had 3/4 of a tank of fuel, a brand new fuel filter and I'm at a loss of what to look for. Any ideas will be appreciated.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Toad,

See this post:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/181159-loss-power.html

I had the same issue. There is no filter between the tank and the pick up pump that supplies the injector pump. When I took the hose off the pick up pump there was a bit of crud and hay clogging the inflow. When you stop or start the tractor the crud flows out of the pump until the fuel is needed - the pump then sucks the crud back in and you loose power.

Keep us posted.

Lloyd

 

[ToadHill]

Lloyd thanks: When I go back to the farm this weekend I'll try looking at the line. When you put a filter between the tank and the pump did you use any special kind or just a clear plastic fuel filter?

 

[Lloyd_E]

Toad,

Just a clear plastic fuel filter. At the farm show I talked to one of the reps from Kioti about this issue. Not sure if the info got any further up the line.

Lloyd

 

[Army grunt]

Also check the air filter an blow out the radiator.Be sure you don't have a brake stuck.
Army Grunt

 

[ToadHill]

Well,the problem has been diagnosed but not yet fixed. The dealer told me to try a few things.

1. Take off the hose from the tank to the pump and see if fuel is coming out quickly or just a trickle. If it's a trickle take off the tank cap and check if the vent is plugged.

2. Take off the hose from the pump to the injector and hold it up in the air, turn the key and the fuel should come out in a great spurt. If not the pump is bad.

I started with #1 and the fuel only trickled out. Took off the tank cap and the trickle continued. I blew air through the line and into the tank and the fuel rushed out, sooooo something is in the tank.

I don't have a repair manual and if anyone can tell me what I have to do to get the tank off so I can get it cleaned out I would appreciate all the help I can get.

 

[rtimgray]

Not to hijack this thread, but I've got a DK 45 that is exhibiting similar symptoms. Last night I was hauling a trailer down the road, running top gear at about 2600 RPM. After about 15 minutes of driving, I started losing power and slowing down. After I sat and idled a few minutes, the RPMs came up and power returned for a while, then it lost it again awhile, etc.

I finally got where I was going and pulled of the side panel of the engine (while it was idling). The fuel filter bowl was only about 1/4 full. As it sat and idled, it slowly filled up.

So I'm guessing that when I'm running wide open, I'm pulling more fuel from the filter is getting from the tank. Does anybody know what is in between the fuel tank and filter that might be constricting fuel flow?

Thanks.

 

[ToadHill]

Try the fuel pump trick the dealer told me about. He said they have had a few pump failures. A new one is about $50

 

[rtimgray]

Isn't the fuel filter between the tank and the pump? If I'm drawing too much fuel out of the filter, doesn't that indicated a problem between the tank and the filter, not the pump?

I'll certainly try your suggestions when I get the tractor home anyway.

Thanks.

 

[rtimgray]

I'm sorry, maybe I misunderstood. I talked to the Service department at my dealer and they said the fuel gravity flows from an outlet ferrule at the bottom of the tank through a hose to a diaphragm pump. The diaphragm pump then pushes the fuel into and through the fuel filter bowl to the injection pump where it is pressurized and sent to the cylinders.

Toadhill - is this the pump you were referring to testing the diaphragm pump, not the injection pump?

Sorry for being slow on this.

Thanks for the help.

 

[ToadHill]

Yes, the diaphram pump. Take the line that goes from it to the injection pump off at the injection side, hold it upright and turn the key. The fuel should shoot out with force.

 

[rtimgray]

Good news so far - I tried the test that Toadhill mentioned: Fuel poured out of the line coming from the tank to the diaphragm pump (the dealer calls it a "pickup pump"). when I disconnected the line from the pump to the filter and cranked the engine I got nothing.

The good thing was I had to make a trip close to my Kioti dealer yesterday anyway and was able to swing by and pick up a pick up pump (he-he). Anyway, it was only about a 15 minute install and seemed to do the trick. I ran the tractor last night hauling hay for about 4 hours and had no issues. The pump and gasket were about $60, so as long as that fixes the problem, I'm pretty happy.

Thanks for the advice Toadhill - it was very helpful.

 

[MotorSeven]

Toad have you been using a biocide? Water in diesel grows microbes, which in turn can clog lines and filters. When I fill my bulk tank(300 gal) I always put proper biocide and a gal of Powerservice. So far so good...........

Biocide:
Power Service Products, diesel fuel additives, prevent gelling, clean injectors, disperse water, boost cetane, reduce emissions, improve fuel economyPower Service Products, diesel fuel additives, prevent gelling, clean injectors, disperse water, boos

 

[Lloyd_E]

I would still install a filter between the tank and the pick up pump...

 

[ToadHill]

Motor, no biocide, maybe I need to try that. I have been using powerservice.

 

[ProfPat]

I love this forum. I was having the same problem - lack of power when under load. After reading the posts I checked for debris in the lines and then took off the hose from the diaphram pump to the fuel filter canister. At low RPMs it just pumped out fuel but when I revved it up, a little less fuel came out and it was sputtering. I'm not sure this is recommended but not having a new pump I figured I could start by taking it apart to see if something had gotten inside. Sure enough there was the smallest piece (about the size of a flake of black pepper) of what looked like a flake of yellow plastic from the fuel can in the pump. I carefully picked it out, reassembled and it runs like new. I'll be picking up the in-line plastic fuel filter this week to try to prevent this from happening again. Thanks for all the good advice.