Tractor Problem (help!)

[OregonTom]

Guys: I need your help. My tractor (a BX 2200) has been running great. On Friday I greased my tractor, checked the transmission fluid, found it to be low, and added some, filled the fuel tank, attached my brush hog and began to mow. All was fine for a short time. Then the engine began to run a bit rough, the power dropped off some and some white smoke started coming out of the exhaust pipe. Because the problem wasn't too bad, I finished mowing and let the beast sit over night. When I fired it up on Saturday, I had the same problem.

Do any of you have any intelligent guesses as to what might be wrong or any suggested approaches to figuring it all out?

 

[Bird]

Tom, I don't know what the problem is, but the first thing I'd check is the fuel and fuel filter. Does it have a little water in it?

 

[OregonTom]

Bird:

Thanks.

How do I check it? And how can I tell if there is water in it?

 

[upgw]

Is the coolant tank still full? Sounds like water in the combustion chambers either from the fuel or from the coolant (hopefully not). If it's coolant, (e.g. bad head gasket) you'll notice it quickly in the level if it's smoking white.

- Patrick W.

 

[OregonTom]

Patrick:

The coolant level has not decreased. In fact, I have the coolant a little too full (over the full line) as a result of a mistake and I know for sure that it has not gone down.

Would that make you think its water in the fuel?

 

[kubmech]

Sounds like you starving for fuel and may be getting some air in the system. Check the fuel filter bowl. Should be filled to the top. If there's an air gap at the stop you may have a restriction in the fuel line or at the pickup. Also if there is water in the system you'll be able to tell by looking at the fuel filter bowl. The water will seperate and sit at the bottom of the bowl. Another possibility is the electric fuel pump may be running intermittent or not at all. In a quiet place turn the key to the run position (dash lights will be on) don't start it, just listen. You should be able to hear the pump running.

 

[Charliebrn]

I think you'd have a good chance of solving it by draining the fuel out of the tank, gettign fresh diesel from a different supplier (hopefully from someone who sells a lot of it, so it is fresh) and refilling the tank. Sounds like water, and since you had just recently filled it, I'd guess it came from whoever you bought the diesel from.

If that doesn't get it, call your dealer...you still in warranty?

Good luck and keep us posted, will ya???

 

[OregonTom]

Guys:

Thanks for all your help on this. I write with an update.

On Monday afternoon I went to the dealer to discuss the problem with him. His thoughts were the same as most of yours - bad diesel. He sold me two new fuel filters, gave me a diagram as to where they were and told me to drain the tank, replace the filters and refill with good new diesel.

On Monday evening I purchased new diesel. When I got home I compared it to the diesel I put in the tractor. The two were no where near the same. The "bad" diesel was really dark and had a little bit of a gas smell, but not a lot. The "good" diesel was straw colored and smelled nothing like gas.

I then got under the tractor and looked at the fuel filters. They were dark and had air or water (I assume water) on the bottoms.

I then tried to figure out how to get the clips that hold the fuel tubes on to the fuel filters off (and to figure out how, once I got them off, I was going to get them back on). Never did work that out.

So, I finally decided to punt. I emptied my utility trailer of planting mix, drove the BX into it and secured it. I plan to drive it to the dealer this afternoon (with the "bad" and "good" cans of fuel) and let him deal with it. I have some other minor repairs which are needed anyway (the HST pedal is sticking a little and one of the rubber booties on front tie rods is ripped) and I am close enough to 50 hours to have that service done too.

 

[TresCrows]

That is always a good preflight item---look at your fuel. Diesel should be straw colored very slightly and clear. Opaque, dark, or off color or the smell of gasoline and water droplets and debris are not acceptable. Yeah, I figured the friendly local Kubota mechanic could fix you up. Soon you will be flying high again. J

 

[MrP]

Off Road Diesel is died red in color. However, it should never be opaque and should smell like regular diesel.

 

[longway5]

I once ran into a problem with "bad" diesel once a few winters ago...turns out it was unleaded gas. I was at work during a snow storm, and had been moving snow with our L2850 all night. I went into the shop around 5am after the tractor had been running all night, and after a small break filled the tractor with "diesel" and headed back out. There was enough diesel in the tank that the gas didn't start to really affect anything for about 40 min, then I started loosing FEL power and the tractor would stall like under a heavy load. I ended up getting pulled back to the shop by our backhoe, and after the tractor sat for a few days over a holiday weekend, the mechanic drained the tank and changed the filters and she started right up. He told me that gas burns hotter than diesel, and after 40 min or so, the whole block had heated up and essentually locked up. After cooling down, it was fine.
When I had filled it with "diesel," I had actually grabbed the gas hose. I blame it on the early morning hours, that I hadn't filled anything up at those tanks in months, and the tank lables were covered in snow. All of our tractors have been filled with gas several times before by just about everyone on the crew, although it is usually caught before they head out. Look for the foam in the tank: diesel foams a lot more than gas.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You have bad fuel or dirty filter or clog air filter. check and replace.