Power loss under load..

[2TonCommon]

Quick update: After much diagnosis, all indications are that the electric fuel pump is the bad actor. I blew out the supply lines between the output side of the pump and the banjo-fitting at the injector group, then reconnected the hose to the pump only and when powered up, the fuel pump sputtered, snorted and belched mostly air and very little fuel for about 3 minutes. My guess it's a broken diaphragm inside the pump.
The Mahindra dealer has agreed to test it to see if it meets spec for output volume and pressure and to replace it under warranty of it doesn't. It went out in the mail to him today. I'll keep y'all updated until this is resolved in case someone else has the same problem.

 

[2TonCommon]

Problem solved! Well, I'm embarrassed to admit it, but to save someone else the grief of figuring this out the hard way..... here's what I learned. Yes, this was a fuel starvation problem. And during my search for the culprit, I noted in my maintenance log that my fuel filter only had 5 hours on it..... so I kept telling myself that just couldn't be the problem. After the dealer informed me the fuel pump was just fine, I hooked it back into the system and then decided "what the heck, let's change the fuel filter while we're here." Lo and behold, all my issues with trying to evacuate the air from the system, the sputtering of fuel from the tank, through the pump and up to the banjo fitting all went away. The tractor runs like a champ now. The moral to this story is even if you've changed the fuel filter within a few running hours but you notice a performance problem..... start your problem-solving journey by replacing the filter again and keep 2 or 3 on hand. I didn't realize these engines were so 'touchy' when it came to any reduction in fuel flow, but I do now!

 

[mguitas]

So what was the problem with the 5 hour filter that you could see. Dirty.

 

[MarkF48]

Did you perhaps have a cold snap that gelled the fuel and plugged up the filter. This happened to me during one of our cold spells that I had to attempted to remove snow and had power loss to the point of a stall. Put additive in now.

 

[2TonCommon]

So what was the problem with the 5 hour filter that you could see. Dirty.

There was no outward sign that the filter was clogged. No dirt or water that I could see either in the bowl or on the filter. That's why I was actually so surprised when the darn thing started moving fuel in a steady stream. Bottom line, filters are cheap.... so from now on if I have any fuel performance issues, that's the first thing that will get changed out regardless of how short of a period it's been in service.

 

[2TonCommon]

Did you perhaps have a cold snap that gelled the fuel and plugged up the filter. This happened to me during one of our cold spells that I had to attempted to remove snow and had power loss to the point of a stall. Put additive in now.

Mark: Good advice and I always use a high quality fuel additive. We did have a cold snap and you may be on to something with the gel-up. That would explain why I could not see any obvious signs of blockage like dirt or water. I will look to see if there's a quality fuel additive that addresses the potential for gelling. Thanks again.

 

[robbieo11]

Ya i gelled her with and with out additive

 

[mguitas]

There was no outward sign that the filter was clogged. No dirt or water that I could see either in the bowl or on the filter. That's why I was actually so surprised when the darn thing started moving fuel in a steady stream. Bottom line, filters are cheap.... so from now on if I have any fuel performance issues, that's the first thing that will get changed out regardless of how short of a period it's been in service.

Someone on the massey forum just had a problem with starting, the massey gc2600 needed a filter change also. They check everything but that.