Sounds like good place to find answer for replacing fuel shutoff solenoid on branson

[Usernam]

Help, i have a 2005 3820 Branson i bought new when the 06 models came out! I have 300 hrs. on it mostly from hauling bucket at a time of dirt from one end of my 9 acres to the other.Never had a problem until now.I think the lift pump went out some time before as i quit hearing the clicking but had been running fine. Tractor is always kept in enclosed barn and not used that often and except for lifting or moving something with the bucket or forks to save my 68 yr. old back and don't even mow with it.We have 2 kubotas for mowing, 23 hp Zero Turn and 22 hp 4x4, back to my problem i replaced the electric lift pump and had plenty of fuel going to theinj. pump but nothing going out ,thought it needed bleeding the found out the shutoff solenoid was not working , no click and could'nt feel anything by touching as i turned on /off ign. switch and i do have 12 volts on wire on top of solenoid after tapping on the side which made no difference. The solenoid has a slender metal cap sticking over the top where it would not have room to come straight up without removing the cap which i think i have found it to be the pressure adj. and capped from factory.I was told to break off cap and then remove adj. screw. This inj. pump is a Zexel VE and what i seemed to have learned is it is discontinued but may have found a place to buy the solenoid.I don't like the idea of opening factory sealed anything but may have to.Anybody run into this and if i mark the adj. and try to put it back will this work, and are there any flying objects that may shoot out. I've owned diesels for years just been lucky until now.Any advise????

 

[thepumpguysc]

I work on these for a living.. The black cap will be hard from heat exposer that's it.. if u wet it down it will become plyable, just use any type of pen. oil, diesel fuel, wd40..
I don't even bother w/ the oil.. just peel it back to expose the 8mm nut.. remove the nut & the wire & cap will come off. DONT LOSE THE NUT..
You can wiggle the cap from between the cover & the solenoid..
The hard part is getting a wrench to fit the sol..
I have a 15/16 wrench I cut down 1 side of the "open end" & it works flawlessly every time..
Its actually metric but who cares as long as it comes loose, right?
Theres a spring & plunger under the body along w/ an oring to seal it to the hydro. head..
The oring will more than likely get stuck in the hole so have a pick to get it out..
Its a DIY project so don't get discouraged..
There are afew diff. sol. manuf. Bosch, Zexel, Denso.. as long as u get the same voltage & correct operation.. get which ever is cheaper.
Good luck.. TPG

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To the TBN forum Useman. You are right, this is a great site to get answers as you already know now.

Enjoy.

 

[Usernam]

I work on these for a living.. The black cap will be hard from heat exposer that's it.. if u wet it down it will become plyable, just use any type of pen. oil, diesel fuel, wd40..
I don't even bother w/ the oil.. just peel it back to expose the 8mm nut.. remove the nut & the wire & cap will come off. DONT LOSE THE NUT..
You can wiggle the cap from between the cover & the solenoid..
The hard part is getting a wrench to fit the sol..
I have a 15/16 wrench I cut down 1 side of the "open end" & it works flawlessly every time..
Its actually metric but who cares as long as it comes loose, right?
Theres a spring & plunger under the body along w/ an oring to seal it to the hydro. head..
The oring will more than likely get stuck in the hole so have a pick to get it out..
Its a DIY project so don't get discouraged..
There are afew diff. sol. manuf. Bosch, Zexel, Denso.. as long as u get the same voltage & correct operation.. get which ever is cheaper.
Good luck.. TPG

Thanks for assurance that the solenoid has room to come up past the adj. screew.Plunger was stuck and only cleaned arround and replaced, have not tried starting because i'm replacing the batt. tomorrow, did test operation while out and seems to work fine, but if it don't i know now how to fix! By the way the size is 24mm and i happened to have one. The wrench was heated and bent 10% as close as i could to the open end and cut off about 2" of the box end.All went well once i took it back out and loosely installed wire,flat washer& nut,the boot slide off easy but not so easy going back but hope all is good !Thanks again !Will post again when it is finished!!

 

[thepumpguysc]

You "could" put it back in w/o the plunger & spring & use the manual shut-off lever on the side of the pump..?? {90% have one}
A rusted/stuck solenoid doesn't sound good.. but u prob. figured out u have a fuel quality issue..
I hope she starts for ya.. & the insides aren't rusted/stuck too..
I knew what the size is.. its just "most people" don't have that larger size metric wrench redily available. and some of the places I have to go/get into,{boats} believe it or not, wont work w/ the correct sized wrench..
Heres hopin for the best..

 

[Usernam]

You "could" put it back in w/o the plunger & spring & use the manual shut-off lever on the side of the pump..?? {90% have one}
A rusted/stuck solenoid doesn't sound good.. but u prob. figured out u have a fuel quality issue..
I hope she starts for ya.. & the insides aren't rusted/stuck too..
I knew what the size is.. its just "most people" don't have that larger size metric wrench redily available. and some of the places I have to go/get into,{boats} believe it or not, wont work w/ the correct sized wrench..
Heres hopin for the best..

My metric wrenches are limited mostly up to 19mm, but i was at a yard sale months ago and they had several wrenches for sale with all being std except 1 12" long 24mm open/box end for $2.I must have known i would need it some day. I have found a solenoid on EBay for $11. free shipping delivered in 2 days says 12 volt VE pump fits cummins several trucks & tractors Branson not mentioned but pic. looks same.The plunger stayed and had to move back & forth before coming up, like it was stuck, not bad but enough to keep solenoid from being able to pull it up.The whole thing looks good including the rubber cone on bottom of rod but it stuck and did'nt release for some reason,i'll probably change it out for the new one because next time may not be in a shed.I think i heard the Branson fuel system will bleed its self, except for bleeding up to the inj. pump would it help to bleed any where else, the pump may have a bleeder but the dealer said there was a banjo fitting on top of pump where the fuel comes in from filter but mine has nothing there!I miss my tractor now more than ever, with 3 trees down and needing to make brush piles.Don't miss the water till the pump runs dry or something like that ! Thanks again for all the advise!!

 

[thepumpguysc]

Not being familiar w/ the Branson set-up but I am very fluent in "VE"..
Just loosen the fuel inlet line AT the pump.. if u have an electric supply pump, turn the key on..
it will pump all the air out at the inlet fitting.. tighten it up..
You shouldn't have to bleed the injectors..?? Just bleed the air out of the fuel inlet..
Good luck..

 

[ptsg]

Branson uses a Doowon VE pump with a electric supply pump to feed it. So typical VE pump, with the solenoid mounted in the most weird place of the pump.

 

[Usernam]

Tractor doing great! I bled the fuel line to the inj. pump, as soon as the glow light went out it fired up and maybe stumbled 5 seconds then ran great. I used the tractor 3 hrs. while cutting limbs ,piling on the 4' forks and hauling 100 yds. away to brush piles. I probably stopped/started a dozen times and so far so good. I should receive the new solenoid fri. or sat. i'm not sure i'll change it as well as it's running now, but then my luck it will be 4 acres away in really bad weather when it shows out again, anyway i'm a happy camper now ! Thanks for all the input, i'll still visit this site for good information and great folks willing to share !

 

[DavesTractor]

Not being familiar w/ the Branson set-up but I am very fluent in "VE"..
Just loosen the fuel inlet line AT the pump.. if u have an electric supply pump, turn the key on..
it will pump all the air out at the inlet fitting.. tighten it up..
You shouldn't have to bleed the injectors..?? Just bleed the air out of the fuel inlet..
Good luck..

We are very fortunate having a top notch FIP rebuilder willing to take the time to help us out. You walked me through a rebuild once and every piece of advice was spot on.

Thanks again.