2011 B2920 HST engine loses power

[Smoke&Belles]

I was raking pine needles for about an hour at 1700 rpm and the 3 cyl engine with 210 hrs started to lose power and rpm dropped to 1000. The engine rpm would hunt from 1700 to 1000 and then smoke when increasing rpm. If I kept rpm under 1400 it would run better for awhile and then almost stall out until I reduced the throttle. I slowly drove back to my shop and drained fuel filter and cleaned filter bowl since I didn't have a replacement fuel filter and returned to raking pine needles. Worked fine for awhile then rpm hunting from 1700 to 1000 started again wit smoving and enine alost dying. I then drained and flushed tank completely and cleaned fuel bowl again and put in new diesel fuel. Same problem, barely runs above 1400 rpms. Feels like it's running on 2 cyl instead of 3. I'll get a new fuel filter installed when I can. Injectors or fuel pump issues? Thanks for any help.

 

[Russell King]

There may be something clogging the fuel flow from the tank to the injection pump. It could be debris in the tank (rust, leaves, bugs foil bottle seals…) or clogging the lines or the filter. Starting with a new filter is a good idea but you may want to start looking for good fuel flow at the tank and work towards the injection pump to see if there is something clogging up things other than the filter.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Have you looked at the air filter?

 

[John D 2]

Maybe your fuel cap isn't venting causing a vacuum.

Just a guess.

 

[Smoke&Belles]

I drained the fuel and had good flow out of the fuel filter. At my shop I removed air cleaner and had fuel cap off and ran engine and got the same engine bogging down with hunting and smoke like trying to go up a hill in high. I'll remove rubber hoses and verify flow. My Dad sold Olivers 50 years ago and working with diesel again reminds me of him. Appreciate the help.

 

[Tx Jim]

Many years ago I had a M4900 that acted similar to your B2920. After changing fuel filter & blowing out fuel lines several times & problem still existed I contacted local Kubota dealer service manager. He advised me to check to determine if a tiny screen in fuel control valve in water separator housing was clogged. Tiny screen was clogged so I cleaned screen & solved that tractors starving for fuel problem. Your tractor water separator housing may or may not have that tiny screen.

 

[BAP]

So have you actually put a new fuel filter on at this point? Hard to tell from your write up. If you haven’t, then that’s a must because there is no way to tell if a filter is restricting flow just looking at it. The microscopic particles it can catch aren’t necessarily visible unless they are dark looking.

 

[Smoke&Belles]

I have not had a chance to get a new fuel filter from dealer 45 miles away, but I will. I will also ask about the screen in the fuel control valve. I was thinking about the muffler being clogged. The tractor now barely runs and the engine dies if I increase rpms above 1000. Sure indicates a fuel or air blockage. I'll keep you updated.

 

[BAP]

If you have an auto parts store close by, a Wix 33830 or NAPA Gold 3830 will fit.