intermittent loss of power in 1st gear

[RedTailHawk]

I was using my Kubota L3430 and a box blade to fix up my dirt/gravel road. Everything worked great for about 3 hours. I even was able to pull the box blade up a steep grade. However, shortly after I was using it on the steep grade, I started losing power in 1st gear. So I raised the box blade and just tried to drive up the grade and the tractor struggled and would stall after a few feet. I left that section of the road and worked on another flat section without any issues. I went back to the steep grade, and was able to drive up it (without using the box blade). I went back down the hill and tried to drive up it again and started losing power. Can't figure it out.

Any suggestions?

 

[RedTailHawk]

hmm... 19 Views and no responses yet. Either this has everyone stumped or I'm doing something so basically stupid that nobody believes this is a real question..

 

[Lil Foot]

Put me in the stumped category..... is the grade steep enough that some debris in the fuel tank is shifting and blocking the fuel pickup? That's all I've got....

 

[olthumpa]

When you are using the box blade are you turning and lifting off the seat? Could be a safety switch. Other thought is same as Lil Foot, fuel issue. My money would be on a fuel issue.

 

[Tx Jim]

How much fuel is in the tank? How long since fuel filter was changed?

 

[Daren Todd]

Sounds like a minor fuel issue of some sort.

 

[skeets]

A dumb question, but when was the last time you serviced the fuel filter. A partly clogged filter would give you fits under a load. Also like someone said if your working on a grade there may be crap in the tank blocking the out let, June bugs dirt grass leaves all kids of stuff finds it way in the tank and only gawd knows how it gets in there

 

[Bluegill]

How much fuel is in the tank? How long since fuel filter was changed?

This & that...

 

[85Hokie]

I was using my Kubota L3430 and a box blade to fix up my dirt/gravel road. Everything worked great for about 3 hours. I even was able to pull the box blade up a steep grade. However, shortly after I was using it on the steep grade, I started losing power in 1st gear. So I raised the box blade and just tried to drive up the grade and the tractor struggled and would stall after a few feet. I left that section of the road and worked on another flat section without any issues. I went back to the steep grade, and was able to drive up it (without using the box blade). I went back down the hill and tried to drive up it again and started losing power. Can't figure it out.

Any suggestions?

I am with all the other people, sounds fuel related - change those filters!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Group consensus, start with fuel and fuel filter then if it's still doing it look at adjustment of the seat safety switch.

 

[RedTailHawk]

I had the tractor serviced one year ago. I only use the tractor about 6 times a year (grade road, cut/maintain ATV trails, etc)

I'll try it out again next weekend to see if I can reproduce the problem.

 

[85Hokie]

I had the tractor serviced one year ago. I only use the tractor about 6 times a year (grade road, cut/maintain ATV trails, etc)

I'll try it out again next weekend to see if I can reproduce the problem.

sounds like fuel that has been sitting and could be "bad" like algae or something like that .........

 

[coachgeo]

sounds like fuel that has been sitting and could be "bad" like algae or something like that .........

Im whith Hokie. which goes back to what others are saying for this will cause fuel filter issues. Diesel is Hydroscopic. It attracts moisture from the air. It settles toward bottom...... microbes grow in it. (Algae).

 

[RedTailHawk]

Does it need to be flushed out, or will it eventually burn off?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

No it needs to be both drained and then new fuel needs to be treated to clean the tank.
You need to get a diesel fuel biocide treatment.
I just ran into this on mine and I use Soltron to treat my fuel and tanks, but there are many other products that will work too.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I would drain tank bone dry. Bet its H2O. New filter(s) and a load of fresh fuel.
Never mentioned exhaust or color of it. That may indicate something too

 

[Ezlife45]

Are you driving around with your parking brake on?

 

[Dave_eng]

How about backing up the hill with the blade down to see if the same symptoms appear. It sure sounds like a fuel delivery to the injectors issue.
Dave M7040