tc30 just died, won't start

[Jerry/MT]

Well, I wish I'd talked to you guys before now - I use some old plastic gas cans, I wasn't aware that the yellow cans had a filter built-in -

BTW, my wife did find the manual, in her office (but it was still my fault, of course! and I bled the fuel system per the instructions, but when I open the bleed valve, nothing comes out until I crank the engine - then the engine will catch and some fuel will come out. It runs for about two minutes and then seems to be starving for fuel again and dies. I suspect that there's junk in the bottom of the tank, but this manual doesn't have instructions for removing it, etc. I guess I'll just have to try to figure out how everything bolts on, then remove the tank and clean it.

Thanks for all the help, guys, at least I was able to get it started and drive it back to the house (well, it took three tries!) and I know what's causing the problem - I sure would have thought that the fuel filter would have caught any junk in the fuel, but I guess it may be in the tube from the tank to the filter or in the bottom of the tank itself. Actually, that makes sense, because the engine dies when I run the tractor on an incline - I just thought of that.

Don't take the tank out! Remove the fuel valve and drain the tank. Most likely the tank valve screen is clogged. Algae can grow at the fuel and water interface at the bottom of most fuel tanks. It's doubly bad if you live in a warm humid climate. This crap clogs the screen on the valve.

 

[rayikeo2]

Well, I wish I'd talked to you guys before now - I use some old plastic gas cans, I wasn't aware that the yellow cans had a filter built-in -

The screen is not part of the yellow can. The screen is in a seperate funnel that you can buy at tractor supply stores or hardware stores.

 

[jsm555]

No valve at the bottom of the tank - I tried taking the tank off, but my owners manual doesn't cover that, and it was evident that I was over my head trying to do it - took me an hour to get the metal shrouding back on, still have one bolt that I can't get to go into the sheet metal - oh, well, it's not an important one. I bled the system again and it ran for about two minutes, then died again. And I bled it again to get it started and back to the house before it died once more. I did drain all the fuel and it looks fine to me, but I'm thinking that the filter must be pretty bad - I blew it out with compressed air, but I don't think that did it, so I'm going to run up to the tractor store and get a new one tomorrow. If there's water in the fuel, does it float, or does the diesel fuel float on top of the water? Should I be able to see the water in a clear jug of fuel?

 

[JC-jetro]

No valve at the bottom of the tank - I tried taking the tank off, but my owners manual doesn't cover that, and it was evident that I was over my head trying to do it - took me an hour to get the metal shrouding back on, still have one bolt that I can't get to go into the sheet metal - oh, well, it's not an important one. I bled the system again and it ran for about two minutes, then died again. And I bled it again to get it started and back to the house before it died once more. I did drain all the fuel and it looks fine to me, but I'm thinking that the filter must be pretty bad - I blew it out with compressed air, but I don't think that did it, so I'm going to run up to the tractor store and get a new one tomorrow. If there's water in the fuel, does it float, or does the diesel fuel float on top of the water? Should I be able to see the water in a clear jug of fuel?

water is heavier than the oil and it will sink, that's why on the bottom of filter /glass bowl assembly you find a drain plug/valve to expel the water out on some tractors. Not all bowls have drain valve such as my 1700. Bleeding air out of the air out of the fuel system from the filter section to injector pump and up to injectors.

JC,

 

[Jerry/MT]

No valve at the bottom of the tank - I tried taking the tank off, but my owners manual doesn't cover that, and it was evident that I was over my head trying to do it - took me an hour to get the metal shrouding back on, still have one bolt that I can't get to go into the sheet metal - oh, well, it's not an important one. I bled the system again and it ran for about two minutes, then died again. And I bled it again to get it started and back to the house before it died once more. I did drain all the fuel and it looks fine to me, but I'm thinking that the filter must be pretty bad - I blew it out with compressed air, but I don't think that did it, so I'm going to run up to the tractor store and get a new one tomorrow. If there's water in the fuel, does it float, or does the diesel fuel float on top of the water? Should I be able to see the water in a clear jug of fuel?

Certainly there is some sort of removable fitting at the bottom of the tank! I've never seen a diesel fueled tractor that did not have a fitting and a shutoff valve at the bottom of a gravity feed tank. How are you supposed to change a filter if you can't shut off the fuel supply at the tank? can you send a picture of what your tank fuel connection looks like.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Certainly there is some sort of removable fitting at the bottom of the tank! I've never seen a diesel fueled tractor that did not have a fitting and a shutoff valve at the bottom of a gravity feed tank. How are you supposed to change a filter if you can't shut off the fuel supply at the tank? can you send a picture of what your tank fuel connection looks like.

I just looked at the NH parts drawing for your tractor and, as you say, there is no valve. Drain the tank by removing the fuel hose at the filter housing and drain the fuel into a clean, suitable container. Blow out the fuel line with the fuel cap off the tank if the fuel exit from the tank is clogged. I would buy a small valve to put in the hose to make it easier for you to change the fuel filter and you should get into the habit of changing the filter often because it's the only protection from crud you have in this fuel stystem.

 

[sweettractors]

I just looked at the NH parts drawing for your tractor and, as you say, there is no valve. Drain the tank by removing the fuel hose at the filter housing and drain the fuel into a clean, suitable container. Blow out the fuel line with the fuel cap off the tank if the fuel exit from the tank is clogged. I would buy a small valve to put in the hose to make it easier for you to change the fuel filter and you should get into the habit of changing the filter often because it's the only protection from crud you have in this fuel stystem.

Ditto what Jerry says about adding a valve. Real good idea! Ken Sweet

 

[jsm555]

yes, there's a valve in the housing for the fuel filter, but nothing between that and the tank - that's a good idea about the valve, though - i'll see if i can't find one that will work - and i have drained the tank, i know that the fuel supply was restricted somehow because when i tried bleeding the system, nothing came out till i started cranking the tractor. i hadn't thought about using compressed air to blow out the tank, though - that's a good idea. I'll work on it tomorrow after i get to the new holland dealer to get a filter - thanks for the tips!

 

[Jerry/MT]

yes, there's a valve in the housing for the fuel filter, but nothing between that and the tank - that's a good idea about the valve, though - i'll see if i can't find one that will work - and i have drained the tank, i know that the fuel supply was restricted somehow because when i tried bleeding the system, nothing came out till i started cranking the tractor. i hadn't thought about using compressed air to blow out the tank, though - that's a good idea. I'll work on it tomorrow after i get to the new holland dealer to get a filter - thanks for the tips!

Is the valve on the filter a drain valve? Often there is a valve to allow you to drain water out of the filter housing assembly at the bottom.

 

[rmully]

One of the things I did to clean out a fuel tank without removing it is drain all the fuel then make up what looks like a big Q-tip on the end of a clean dowel and scrape the inside of the bottom of the tank. Do this several times until all the gunk is cleaned up being careful to tie the fabric in tight so it will not come off...do not use tape as the adhesive will come off and so will the cloth. After years there is a lot of gunk at the bottom of a fuel tank.