pt425 shutting off

[smilindave]

Lately my machine has been shutting off after running for a while. I have changed the air filter and fuel filter, and plugs. Problem seems to be getting worse. Fuel line is clear. I am thinking maybe the fuel pump may need replaced. Any ideas?

 

[Marks481]

What brand engine do you have?

Loose wire in the wiring harness to the engine? That seems the usual suspect for an intermittent problem like this. I seem to recall some thread about an inline fuse holder in the engine compartment. The next most likely is either the ignition switch or the wiring under the dash to the ignition switch. Quite a few poorly crimped spade terminals there.

Is the low oil pressure shutdown wired on your engine? That could be a source of the problem, but unlikely. It doesn't come that way by default; positively a crime in my book, PT should have at least wired it to a buzzer.

 

[smilindave]

I thought about the oil so I changed it and still the same problem. Put a new switch in about a year and a half ago. I did have a problem twice with the fuse being bad, but I will check it again. Thanks

 

[smilindave]

Sorry its a Kohler command 25

 

[woodlandfarms]

Vapor lock?

 

[Marks481]

Pin hole leak in fuel pump diaphragm?

 

[cqaigy2]

bad fuse holder?

 

[Marks481]

We could play this game for hours.... "Name the top 50 things that would cause a PT to sputter and stall..."

 

[washita]

mine was the snap lock (stak-on) style fuse holder, I replaced it with a marine grade fuse holder with solder shrink wire connectors have not had a dying/sputtering problem since , but keep in mind I have the Subaru engine

 

[Clumber]

Lately my machine has been shutting off after running for a while. I have changed the air filter and fuel filter, and plugs. Problem seems to be getting worse. Fuel line is clear. I am thinking maybe the fuel pump may need replaced. Any ideas?

My PT 425 was doing the same. Finally traced to tiny bits of debris in the fuel just big enough to block the intake hole in the fuel filter, but not be visible. A suggestion is to remove the fuel filter again and blow compressed air into the out-take end to blow any debris out the other end. There was bits of debris in the fuel tank -- had to drain and vacuum it out. One of my old fuel cans was the source.

The PT would run for a while then quit when the filter was blocked. Minutes later debris would dislodge and the PT would start and run for a while then stop again... I now keep spare fuel filters in the tub to keep it running when I am using the tractor far from the shop. The issue has not repeated since.

 

[smilindave]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I checked the fuel pump and it seems to work, but not sure if its producing enough pressure. I did change the fuel filter and it didn't seem to help. Today I filled up the gas tank and ran it for a good 2 hours without a hitch. Maybe the pressure from the extra gas helps? Tomorrow I am going to check to see if the fuel is getting into the heads and maybe clean the carb.

 

[Marks481]

Clumber's advice about looking for debris in the nipple on the bottom of the fuel tank is a good idea. It seems almost every PT user here at one time or another has had an issue with plastic shavings stuck in the plastic 90 degree nipple on the bottom of the fuel tank. You can't see them until you take it apart.

Of course, that should be noticeable, since the fuel filter would be mostly emptied when the engine stalled.

 

[BobRip]

My PT 425 was doing the same. Finally traced to tiny bits of debris in the fuel just big enough to block the intake hole in the fuel filter, but not be visible. A suggestion is to remove the fuel filter again and blow compressed air into the out-take end to blow any debris out the other end. There was bits of debris in the fuel tank -- had to drain and vacuum it out. One of my old fuel cans was the source.

The PT would run for a while then quit when the filter was blocked. Minutes later debris would dislodge and the PT would start and run for a while then stop again... I now keep spare fuel filters in the tub to keep it running when I am using the tractor far from the shop. The issue has not repeated since.

I have had all of these, bit I have the robin engine.

 

[SpringHollow]

On my PT1850, kept dying on me. After a while, I could start it back up. Ended up being crud in the diesel tank. Blew back the line and it has worked fine since.

Ken