BX1850 dies after working hard for an hour or so.

[Slyfoxdon]

Hi, this problem began about a year ago and the dealer could find nothing wrong.
It happens sooner when the weather is hot but the temperature gauge shows normal. I keep the air cleaner clear and nothing is blocking the radiator.

Strangely tho, I swear I can get more work out of it by running with the hood up.

 

[cerlawson]

I had this problem and really could not find the true problem. Blamed in on the fuel gage reading high when near empty. Also thought the fill cap was plugged and put a partial vacuum on the tank. Because after looking in the tank it then ran OK. Finally figured it was the fuel pump (a small cheap looking thing) and when the fuel level got down lower than the injectors, it wanted to quit. Also, the fuel filters are very fine and tend to clog easier than my experience with larger tractors. Took care of that by using a funnel that was very fine, fine enough to filter out water. Of all of these, I think the main culprit was a bad fuel pump from the beginning, new.

I now have a device home made to measure the drop of fuel in a container in seconds, attached to a used filter, to measure flow resistance. If the time is twice what a new filter shows, it is time to change the filter.

 

[85Hokie]

Hi, this problem began about a year ago and the dealer could find nothing wrong.
It happens sooner when the weather is hot but the temperature gauge shows normal. I keep the air cleaner clear and nothing is blocking the radiator.

Strangely tho, I swear I can get more work out of it by running with the hood up.

How does it die? slowly choke out or like someone turned the key off? Will it start back up? or you have to wait 10,20,30 or more minutes?

When it quits, do you see fuel in the top filter? have you checked the fuel filters to make sure they are clean? Answer these questions and maybe someone can pin point the problem. I am thinking a vapor lock or some kind of fuel starvation.

 

[Slyfoxdon]

Lots to check out thanks to Cerlawson and 85Hokie - thanks so much!
As for the questions, when she dies, she sputters and then chokes. But it will start back up fairly easily and will sometimes run for a few minutes before quitting once again. Then as I said sometimes I'll open up the hood and it will operate for a longer period - perhaps a half hour.
I always fill my tank before starting so in an hour it still appears to be almost filled. As for the fuel filter I haven't looked at it recently and I may be awfully naive but I would think that the dealer's mechanic would have checked that system most carefully.

Thanks again guys, I'll back after checking out your suggestions.

 

[cerlawson]

Before too long consider adding a valve in the fuel line, before the first filter. Then, it will be easier to change filters. filters are cheap and my dealer has a bunch (apparently since the clog a lot and folks buy them frequently).

The diameter of the fuel hose is 8 mm or 0.3". However, the Briggs and Stratton valves for 1/4" lines work if you use a tight hose clamp. Some do the sme by pinching the hose while you work with filters, but in time that sounds not so good.

I find changing filters is better accomplished by taking off the left rear wheel.

Your problem sounds more like a bad fuel pump. Let the fuel run down to less than half ans see what happens. Then gravity won't be feeding the fuel and it takes the fuel pump to do it. Taking the hot wire from the fuel pump then will tell if it is working. As I recall the newer fuel pump is a different design, possibly due to problems found.

 

[Billdog350]

Make sure you're changing BOTH the fuel filters, the one on the side of the motor and the one before the fuel pump. If filters and fuel level aren't the issue, could be your fuel pump OR the relay/fuse for that. I have seen relays fail when they're warm but work fine when they're cold.