Need Help! Tractor Won't Stay Running

keegs · Jan 18, 2019

I just fired up the tractor to do some snow clearing with the snowblower. It ran normally for about 1-2 minutes and then started to bog down on me. The idle is/was pulsing up and down until it completely shuts down. Haven't had any issues at all with the tractor as yet. I currently have a little over 1/2 tank of fuel. Yesterday I added 4 gallons of diesel and haven't had it running since. Could it be bad fuel? How do I troubleshoot this? We're getting a foot + of snow here tomorrow and I'll need to get it resolved or get out of town. Your thoughts please?

AWSubie · Jan 18, 2019

What is the outdoor temperature? Diesel starts to gel below 32’F but usually doesn’t start to impede the filter until around 20’F.

Jonmad · Jan 18, 2019

keegs said:
I just fired up the tractor to do some snow clearing with the snowblower. It ran normally for about 1-2 minutes and then started to bog down on me. The idle is/was pulsing up and down until it completely shuts down. Haven't had any issues at all with the tractor as yet. I currently have a little over 1/2 tank of fuel. Yesterday I added 4 gallons of diesel and haven't had it running since. Could it be bad fuel? How do I troubleshoot this? We're getting a foot + of snow here tomorrow and I'll need to get it resolved or get out of town. Your thoughts please?

You don稚 mention what the temp is there but you might want to disconnect the fuel line beyond the primary filter and see if you have good flow. My dealer tells me the paper in the filter holds water and then freezes. The biofuels make water like ethanol does. Good to use an additive for that. Hope this helps.

keegs · Jan 18, 2019

Jonmad said:
You donç¨š mention what the temp is there but you might want to disconnect the fuel line beyond the primary filter and see if you have good flow. My dealer tells me the paper in the filter holds water and then freezes. The biofuels make water like ethanol does. Good to use an additive for that. Hope this helps.

Thanks.. I had it parked outdoors last night and it was down to -15. It's hard for me to tell from looking at the fuel filter but it doesn't look like the color of fuel. Haven't had this trouble before but I'm not up here too much in winter. It's running now. I'm thinking it will resolve on its own now that it's warming up. Is that a safe assumption? Is there anti-gel additive already in the fuel at the pump? ... Any recommendations on additives?

mykleh · Jan 18, 2019

I agree I would get a bottle of Power Service 911 my guess is your gelled up also get TWO new filters. my experience is one won't do it.. then get the white bottle for the rest of the fuel treatment moving forward..

Jonmad · Jan 18, 2019

It may not be that the fuel gelled but there is water in the filter and it froze. I would put diesel additive in the tank and change fuel filters. Make sure the additive will take care of any water in the tank.

groundcover · Jan 18, 2019

Hate it when that happens ! Change fuel filter,911 to tank and if you have a torpedo heater or some way to heat things up throw a heavy tarp over the tractor and warm her up ! May want to add a couple of gallons of kerosene too. Got tired of playing that game, even with Power Service, changed fuel suppliers, end of problem !

Industrial Toys · Jan 18, 2019

I always have a mish-mash of summer and winter fuel, and never know what it really is, so the fuel dealer is not to blame. Both for clear and dyed. I start to add a low temp additive when fueling machines close to winter, so I don't get caught.

keegs · Jan 18, 2019

mykleh said:
I agree I would get a bottle of Power Service 911 my guess is your gelled up also get TWO new filters. my experience is one won't do it.. then get the white bottle for the rest of the fuel treatment moving forward..

I put 16 oz of anti-gel in the 1/2 full fuel tank and waited 15 mins. I wasn't sure what I was looking at earlier through the almost clear fuel filter container but now after running the tractor for an hour or so with the additive in the tank I can clearly see the filter cartridge. If I had to guess I was looking at frozen water. I bought a new gas filter cartridge for it as well. I was told that the cartridge container is threaded and that it should spin off. It's not coming off but it's pretty cold and the parts are plastic so I'm going to see if I can find a how-to online to confirm how it comes apart before I go any further. Thanks for the assist.