TC33 started running rough and dying.....

[Dieselwench]

Hi all,
Sorry for the social blunder of my first post being about a problem, but here goes anyway...
Bought a brand new TC33D last May, with a bunch of goodies. Had the 50 hour service done and it now has about 60 hours. Everything has been fine with it.
Well, yesterday I was taking loads of dusty sawdust from the pile and dumping them in front of the stalls. I noticed on the last load that it suddenly seemed to have a slightly different tone to the motor, a rough edge. I parked it and my husband jumped on to do something. He fired it up, drove 20 feet, and it died. It turns over and runs, but as soon as you get into the throttle at all, it tries to die.
It doesn't do it in reverse.
It is worse when the wheels are turned one direction or another, as opposed to when they are straight.
There was about 1/4 tank of fuel in it and we added another 4 gallons.
He blew air on the motor and air filter because of the fine dust everywhere. He also hosed it off.
I will say that the sawdust had a lot of fine particles to it. And it's kilndried so it was everywhere.
After he did the above things, he drove it a little and it seemed to get better. So he dropped the brushhog and mowed a swath. It was fine for 10 minutes, then started again. You have to get completely off the throttle so it doesn't stall out.
So....am I looking at dust clogging the fuel lines somehow? An issue with the hydraulics/transmision? A switch or relay? Or what?

 

[390GT]

Welcome, tractor has two elements to the air filter. I would start there, clean well or replace if you find them clogged after removal. Clogged air filter does not explain all symptons but is a good starting point. If you find this too be the case you should worry about yourself breathing all that dust also. Hopefully you have owners manual because you can damage the filters if you are not careful about how you clean them. Greg

 

[TrippleT]

If it were me I would check the fuel cap and see if the vents are stopped up. If you can get the tractor away from the dust, pull the fuel tank cap and see if it runs. Then I would check the fuel filter. I know you said that you had a 50 hr service, but would check the filter anyway. Don't know if you had trouble starting the thing after the service; did you have to bleed the fuel system? I would check these things first. I can't imagine why it would run rougher in one direction or the other, unless there is something that causes an open circuit in the switch or something like that from inertia. I wonder if you have checked the inner air filter too?
Good luck, and if you have warranty I would call the dealer.

 

[guyw]

I would also check for water in the sediment bulb. I have had similar kinds
of problems in the past with my TC18 and water in the fuel/sediment bulb
was the culprit.

Guy.

 

[Soundguy]

Fuel is my first thought... Sometimes those gauges aren't accurate.

The fuel gauge on my 7610s is like that.. 1/4 tank means.. "almost empty'.. and just under 1/4 means.. add fuel and bleed lines.. ask me how I know.

Next thought would be air... A weak stumbling diesel that stalls and restarts usually is starving or has breathing problems.

Turning the wheel uses the ps pump.. thus more load onthe engine.. thus easier to stall.

When you ran low on fuel.. junk and water may have been sucked into the filter(s) and traps.

I'd refuel, get new filters.. and service traps.

Air filter? If it's time to chage.. then do it.. no need to sacrafice a machine to a dirty air filter. luckilly.. if it has outter and inner.. the inner ones last a long time with the outter taking all the beating.. etc.

3rd guess is plugged fuel tank vent.. though this is very unlikely in your case.

soundguy

 

[Dieselwench]

Thanks for all the tips so far. Can anyone tell me how to bleed the air out of the system? I knew how to do it at one time, and it was simple. Darned if I can remember what to do though.
The air filter was clean looking when we pulled it last night. But maybe we should replace all filters again anyway. Especially the fuel filter. It very likely could have water in it.
This tractor has ticked along like a clock since we got it, so I was surprised to have it bog out.
I have to move this dusty stuff around on a periodic basis. I clean everything I can reach on the TC33 when I am done. Is there anything else I can do to protect the tractor? (I use glasses and a dust mask) I'd hate to kill it. (especially after waiting for as long as I did to get it!)

 

[thcri]

The fact that you just put fuel in it could be a hint. Is this fuel out of the same tank you have been using or is it possible it has water or containminents in it. You blew out the air filters, which I would be very careful of. I would go right to the fuel filter and change it out. As far as bleeding you can bleed the system by loosing a small hex head bolt on the injector pump. If this does not bleed out then you have to go right to the injectors. My guess is fuel or your cap not letting air in as soundguy has posted.

I filled my TC29D up a while back at a fuel station, took it home and off the trailer and just about got it to my garage. Did the same thing yours is doing. We finally drained all the fuel out, new filter and new fill and it chugged a bit and then came out of it.

One other thing is did this tractor sit on the lot with a empty tank over a winter. This was the case with mine when I first got it. It ran for a bit and then all of a sudden the crap in the tank came down at once. Same symptons as yours.

murph

 

[daTeacha]

Everyone has pretty well covered the logical possibilities. Your manual should show you and hubby how to clean all the fuel lines and filters involved. Bleeding the fuel lines is also covered, I think.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Hi all,
So....am I looking at "stuff" clogging the fuel lines somehow?

Yes.
Bob

 

[Soundguy]

I like the easy bleeding system on my NH.. just turn key on and then unscrew a plastic plug on the fitler assembly tillair escapes and fuel bubbles... drain 2 water traps.. then crank up.

Still.. even having to crack lines athe injectors on the other diesels I've had wasn't too bad... It made you really think about NOT running out of fuel, and NOT putting bad fuel in!!

Soundguy