Losing power, then it comes back

[EddieWalker]

I'm having some issues with power loss. I'll be out mowing just fine with everything working perfectly, then the engine drops down to a rough idle. Surging up and down. I disconnect the PTO and take it out of gear and wait a couple of minutes. While this is happening, nothing happens when I push down on the peddle. It's like there isn't any fuel getting there and it's starving to get enough fuel to keep idling. Then everything comes back to normal and I'm back to mowing until the next time. This seems to be happening every ten to 45 minutes.

A couple years ago I replaced my mechanical fuel pump with a Mr Gasket electric diesel fuel pump. If it was the fuel pump, wouldn't it be constant? I'm at a loss why it happens, then starts working again on it's own.

I'm going to replace the filter, but also question how it could cause the problem, then work again without me doing anything?

This is on my Century 2535. But I doubt it has anything to do with brand.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[deerefan]

I'm having some issues with power loss. I'll be out mowing just fine with everything working perfectly, then the engine drops down to a rough idle. Surging up and down. I disconnect the PTO and take it out of gear and wait a couple of minutes. While this is happening, nothing happens when I push down on the peddle. It's like there isn't any fuel getting there and it's starving to get enough fuel to keep idling. Then everything comes back to normal and I'm back to mowing until the next time. This seems to be happening every ten to 45 minutes.

A couple years ago I replaced my mechanical fuel pump with a Mr Gasket electric diesel fuel pump. If it was the fuel pump, wouldn't it be constant? I'm at a loss why it happens, then starts working again on it's own.

I'm going to replace the filter, but also question how it could cause the problem, then work again without me doing anything?

This is on my Century 2535. But I doubt it has anything to do with brand.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Eddie

Sounds fuel related. Definitely replace the filter, as particles can "float" around then become a blockage when settling over smooth terrain. Also check the fuel tank for any trash where the fuel line ties in. also check all o-rings, you could possibly be taking in a small amount of air, especially at the filter.

 

[charlz]

Is the filter before or after the pump? If it is before and not passing enough fuel it might be starving the pump.

 

[Billrog]

Eddie since it's an electric fuel pump there may be a poor connection, maybe the ground ??

 

[AaronS]

My money is on a fuel filter. I used to have similar experiences with a Kubota BX2200. It had 2 fuel filters, so check to make sure how many your Century has.

 

[EddieWalker]

Is the filter before or after the pump? If it is before and not passing enough fuel it might be starving the pump.

There is one filter before the pp that screws into.the pump, and then there is an extra in line filter after the pump. I'm going to replace both of them first and blow out the fuel line with air. The tank is plastic, so I dont have a rust issue like I do in my other tractors. I'm guessing that if this doesn't work, next is to replace the pump. I'll double check the wiring first, but I don't see how a loose wire will fix itself after two minutes of sitting still every rime it happens.

Thanks
Eddie

 

[moriboy]

Another thing to check is that the fuel cap is venting properly. As you use fuel, you could possibly creating a bit of a vacuum in the tank which can make the pump work harder getting fuel to the injection pump.

 

[farmer2009]

Eddie. Do you have steel lines or rubber? Rubber lines can separate and cause this same problem. Also as said fuel filters can do it to.
What it sounds like is something is letting some fuel through and your usage gets ahead of it. Then you idle down and it's more flow than you are using so it seams to go away. Sediment in tank, fuel filters and collapsed rubber hoses can all give these same symptoms.

 

[EddieWalker]

Eddie. Do you have steel lines or rubber? Rubber lines can separate and cause this same problem. Also as said fuel filters can do it to.
What it sounds like is something is letting some fuel through and your usage gets ahead of it. Then you idle down and it's more flow than you are using so it seams to go away. Sediment in tank, fuel filters and collapsed rubber hoses can all give these same symptoms.

I didn't think of the hoses, but if my memory is correct, there was some issues with the hoses when I converted it to the electric fuel pump. Just to cover my bases, I will buy some fuel line too.

Thanks
Eddie

 

[JRobyn]

Consider the possibility of a semi-floating glob of algae in the tank. Does it do it any less with a full tank? When mine did this, I confirmed it by pulling the fuel line coming from the tank and directing it into a clean 5 gal bucket. Would flow great for a bit and then nearly stop. Never saw much evidence in the filter.

- Jay