Trash in the fuel tank? (L3560 HST)

[Russell L3560]

First time poster here. I have a 2020 L3560 with 200hrs. Occasionally the machine starves for fuel (seems to happen more with <1/4 tank). It tries to run but dies. Ive replaced the fuel filters and emptied my separator without luck.

The only thing that works is loosening the fuel cap and taking the line off the separator and blowing air back into the line until I can hear bubbling in the tank. From there it may run for a week or a hour. Not sure if there is a filter/sock in the tank, but that seems to be where my clog is. Curious if I should drain/flush the tank (not sure if there is even a drain plug). Also, not sure if my “clog” would even loosen up by pouring in fresh diesel/re-draining.

Im trying to avoid taking it to the dealer to drop the tank, etc. All suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[DustyRusty]

Something is blocking the fuel pick up line in the tank. You have a couple of choices depending on your ability to tackle the repair yourself or pay the dealer a lot of $$$$ to fix the problem (notice the 4 dollar signs!). This is what I would do if it were my tractor, but not being familiar with your tractor, I don't know if this will work.

I would also consider a cold coffee filter in your tank inlet for the future. Buy it on Temu dot com to save a lot of $$. Search for cold tea filter

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Sure sound to me like you have found the problem.

If it were me, I would take the tank off and clean it out real well.

I would probably replace the fuel line from tank to filter, just to eliminate the possibility of it being the problem from "breaking down" (cheap insurance)

 

[BAP]

1 simple thing you can do before pulling the tank off to clean it, is to make sure that the vent in the fuel tank cap is working properly. You might get lucky and find out that the vent is not working causing a vacuum in the tank when the tank gets low, not trash plugging the line. It’s a small chance that is the issue but an easy one to rule out. Easiest way to check is to loosen the fuel cap and let air into the tank when this happens and see if it solves the issue. The other thing you can do is to pop the rubber piece out of the cap and make sure the little hole is clean and not plugged.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

wrench turning time !
fun !!
sounds like you've got some semi-floating-trash so
you'll need to pull the tank, properly clean it, reinstall
'properly ' clean means flushing the tank several times(5-6) with water,inspect with GREAT lighting, mirrors..whatever it takes to see the all the inside walls and top of the tank. when you're satisfied it's CLEAN, slosh some winter ww fluid in, drain, then 'blow dry' with compressed air, sit tank in hot sun for an hour or two,just to be 100% sure ALL the water is out.
also add a 'Mason jar cold brew ss filter' to the fuel inlet

I did this at 200hrs on my BX23S(random blockage was a sliver of black plastic), have 1300hrs now , ZERO fuel issues.

Is it a PITA job ? Maybe, ok yes, but treat is as a ONE time 'project', book 3 days, do it in 2 and done right, YOU won't have to do it again.

Not a wrench turner ? Dealer may charge 8-10 hours for the job(call and ask ! ), depending on what has to come off and back on.....Around here ,that's $130 per hour plus 13% to the guvs ! I figure I SAVED $150 per hour doing it myself.

 

[Elliott in GA]

You might want to survey the situation before you commit to a plan of action. A borescope with a illuminated head on a cable that attaches to your smart phone would let you see inside the tank in detail. The scope is submersible, and it costs about $50. You can watch live and take photos/video. It could be you only have a small blob of stuff that could be sucked out.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Klein-Tools-Borescope-for-Android-Devices/5014303441?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-tol-_-ggl-_-PMAX_TOL_000_Priority_Item-_-5014303441-_-local-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw4_K0BhBsEiwAfVVZ_32_oIUxew4g-iqKAqI_GE5PVpxkCk2KHpO98BRz4Ydml3eBatDwlhoC7xwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[RCW]

You might want to survey the situation before you commit to a plan of action. A borescope with a illuminated head on a cable that attaches to your smart phone would let you see inside the tank in detail. The scope is submersible, and it costs about $50. You can watch live and take photos/video. It could be you only have a small blob of stuff that could be sucked out.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Klein-Tools-Borescope-for-Android-Devices/5014303441?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-tol-_-ggl-_-PMAX_TOL_000_Priority_Item-_-5014303441-_-local-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw4_K0BhBsEiwAfVVZ_32_oIUxew4g-iqKAqI_GE5PVpxkCk2KHpO98BRz4Ydml3eBatDwlhoC7xwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Good suggestion. I used one of those scopes in the tank of my old Moline while back. Worked great.

Not familiar with an L3560, but on some models a faulty lift pump can cause fuel starvation when the fuel tank is low.

 

[Russell L3560]

You guys are great, such good info! Someone mentioned the cap not venting properly. I lost the fuel cap a few years back (left it at the pump) and replaced it. Now that I think about it, my problems seemed to have started around that time. Talk about an easy (potential) solution! My tank is under the cab so would be a huge PITA to drop/flush, etc. I’ll take a look at the vent hole and see if there’s an obstruction and report back.

 

[jyoutz]

Good suggestion. I used one of those scopes in the tank of my old Moline while back. Worked great.

Not familiar with an L3560, but on some models a faulty lift pump can cause fuel starvation when the fuel tank is low.

I thought that tractors with tanks on top are gravity flow and don’t have lift pumps?

 

[Russell L3560]

I thought that tractors with tanks on top are gravity flow and don’t have lift pumps?

My tank is under my cab

 

[jyoutz]

My tank is under my cab

So you do have a lift pump.

 

[whitetiger]

I thought that tractors with tanks on top are gravity flow and don’t have lift pumps?

Almost every unit Kabota builds has a fuel lift pump no matter where the fuel tank is located.

 

[Russell L3560]

So you do have a lift pump.

im going to make sure the fuel cap is venting properly and report back

 

[jyoutz]

Almost every unit Kabota builds has a fuel lift pump no matter where the fuel tank is located.

Thanks. I thought the reason they put tanks above the engine was for gravity flow?

 

[kubotafreak]

Take the separator off and use a pick to clean out the inlet. Also the problem with blowing stuff back to the tank is it just comes back to clog the inlet. Let the system collect the trash at the inlet, then clean it out. The tank feed should be open. I don't recall it having a mesh pickup. The collection point is generally the separator inlet where it makes a 90' to the clear bowl. The separator should be full of fuel. Air is indicative of a clog. When refilling the separator, the electric lift pump should be able to fill the clear bowl in about 2 seconds. If it doesn't you may have a weak lift pump. The expensive oem ones are the only ones that seem to last...

Best tip of all is keep the system full, to prevent algae, water buildup. Also if you search my post, I found a filter to keep in the inlet tube to prevent bugs/grass from clogging the system.

 

[RickDebacker]

Take the separator off and use a pick to clean out the inlet. Also the problem with blowing stuff back to the tank is it just comes back to clog the inlet. Let the system collect the trash at the inlet, then clean it out. The tank feed should be open. I don't recall it having a mesh pickup. The collection point is generally the separator inlet where it makes a 90' to the clear bowl. The separator should be full of fuel. Air is indicative of a clog. When refilling the separator, the electric lift pump should be able to fill the clear bowl in about 2 seconds. If it doesn't you may have a weak lift pump. The expensive oem ones are the only ones that seem to last...

Best tip of all is keep the system full, to prevent algae, water buildup. Also if you search my post, I found a filter to keep in the inlet tube to prevent bugs/grass from clogging the system.

I recently purchased a L3430 and had the same problem. I do have the glass filter / water seperater and could clearly see black skum gobules in it. After cleaning that, then removing the tank to filter hose and blowing back into the tank, I could hear the globs clearing the hose.
To fix it I drained the tank directly from the tank hose, then I flushed it well. Each time the hose stopped up, I would pressurize the tank at the filler (air hose and rubber glove) and the gunk would blow out. I repeated this several times and finally cleared it all out. Unbeknownst to me, the black stuff was microbes 'growing' in the fuel.

Once clean, I started adding an anti-microbial diesel additive and have had no more problems. Good Luck!