Tractor keeps stalling

[Racer]

I have an old 50's Ferguson. It starts fine and runs for about 5-10 minutes and then stalls. It sounds like its running out of Gas. It seems like a fuel problem. It has fresh gas. What else should I look for? If I let it sit for a few minutes after it stalls, it will start right back up, but will do the same thing again.

 

[slowrev]

Fuel filter/strainer in sediment bowl, rust in fuel line, etc. I would take the fuel line loose from the carb inlet and see how well the gas comes out. Ues a can to catch it with of course /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[pruntyc]

If you find its getting gas alright, then I would check the coil, and then condenser. It just about has to be one of the three.

 

[WVBill]

I don't know how to check for it, but could vapor lock be the problem?

 

[mikim]

Had the same problem with my old 8N - turned out to be trash in the gas tank. It would settle to the bottom and tractor would start - then trash would get sucked to the outflow screen and block the line. Let it sit just for a minute - and it would start right back up again and stall again - fuel bowl / filter looked OK - drove me nutz for a good hour -- I was lucky in that the tank was near empty so I was able to see clear to the bottom and see the leaf (or whatever it was) moving around in there. took a little longer to clean it out as I remember.

 

[cowboydoc]

Ditto with my skidsteer. I would say you've got a blockage somewhere.

 

[s1120]

Also check thee fuel tank vent. Start it up, and remove the fuel cap. If it keeps running the vent is plugged. If not I would bet a screen is plugged. I know the N's have three screens. Pickup in the tank, filter bowel, and at carb inlet, I would bet the ferggies do also.

 

[s1120]

Also RichZ had a simmler problem with his TO20 last year.

Rich's Ferggie problem

Some good info in that thred.

BTW Rich, what ended up being the problem?

 

[frank_f15]

has to be a restriction in the fuel system, when it sits fuel seeps in the bowl and as soon as u start it ,it runs out of gas.. appears someyhing is blocking the fuel flow .

 

[gator]

When that exact same thing kept happening to my 62 Allis D-12, I finally took the fuel line off to the carb to drain the tank. Started out as a stream, slowed to a trickle, then to a drip. Hmm... full tank but no fuel coming out. Drained and removed tank. Looked inside and saw rust patches and loose rust chips. The chips were to big to get through the petcock to the sediment bowl, but plugged the petcock up cause its at lowest point in tank. There was no screen on tank side of petcock so what I did after cleaning the gunk out of the petcock was put a 1" long piece of 1/4" copper tube into the petcock and put a stainless steel screen bonnet on it. Put petcock back in, refilled tank and problem tractor ran fine. This was just a jury rig though.
The only way to "cure" the problem is to get the rust out of the tank then coat the inside with liner.
Hope this helps.

 

[elmerinva]

Had a similar problem with Sears garden tractor. Turned out there was fine dust, dirt in carburetor float bowl. When it was off, the dirt would settle to the bottom of the bowl. Once you started the engine, the dirt would clog the intake tube to the carb and cause hestitation. If you moved the tractor, the dirt would really get stirred up and cause the engine to sputter and quit. Let it sit awhile and it would start up again. Took the carb apart and cleaned it and works fine now.

 

[Racer]

First off, thanks for all the advice. I went through the tractor today. The float bowl was filthy, as was the carb. I cleaned out the float and have the carb soaking in carb cleaner overnight. I also took off the tank and drained it. It appeared to be clean inside, but there was some sort of catch tray in there. Is that normal? I dont know how it got in there if it isnt?

If for some reason this does not work, what should I ck next? Its a Fergy T-30, I believe a 1952. Is there a fuel pump on this? It looks like its just a gravity feed. I also took off the oil filter catch. The wet filter looks a bit dirty, but I couldnt figure out how to get it out. Is it a one piece until? I am a bit in the dark about that.

 

[pruntyc]

I don't remember for sure, I use to have one of those. But I don't believe it has any kind of fuel pump. If you find you are getting fuel, like I said in the beginning, the next step is to check the coil, as they can also act the same way. Then if you are getting fuel and the coil checks OK some auto parts places check them. The next thing would be the condenser, they do go bad sometimes. We use to carry a extra one with us in the old days. But they have got a lot better, and don't go bad that often anymore. But it can still happen. Like I said in the beginning it just about has to be one of the three things mentioned.

 

[DVerbarg]

If the fuel theory does not solve your problem try looking at the coil. I have an old 1947 Ford 9N that suddenly started showing similiar behavior, would run fine for 10 minutes then start to sputter and then die. I cleaned the fuel line/bowl/etc and problem did not go away. Checked for a spark, when "cold" it was fine but when warm the spark was sporadic or non-existant. "Borrowed" a coil from friend and that fixed the problem. Swapped the borrowed coil with the original and the problem returned. Returned the coil to my friend and bought a new coil, been fine ever since. Never took the time to figure out what was wrong with the coil, just threw it away.