GrandL4060 won't start

[dclauria]

So, I'm hoping I can get some help. I've run into this the last few winters, but this time I can't get my tractor restarted. Just FYI, I keep the fuel tank fuel, and I add antigel to every container. I replaced the fuel filter and water separator filter last fall. Yesterday I was snowblowing in about 5 deg. F. weather. The engine ran great at full throttle for about 45 minutes, and then started "dogging" down for a few seconds like it's done before. This has even happened in much warmer weather. When it happened last fall, I wondered if it was getting air into the lines. When it happens in the winter I understand it can be fuel gelling. Yesterday it throttled down for a few seconds, then back to full throttle, then again, and finally would usually stall out. I was always able to get it restarted. I parked it in my enclosed unheated pole barn overnight. This morning I turned on the block heater, and then it wouldn't restart - it turns over but no fire. After work I set up a propane heater for about 2 hours, and tried again. I got the engine to start once, but within 5 seconds, it stalled. I removed and reinstalled the water separator, and fuel filter. I went through the fuel line priming procedure. I'm getting fuel through the water separator, and I can hear the "electromagnetic pump" running when I turn on the key. But when I remove the fuel filter bleed screw, I don't have fuel bubbling up through the bleed screw. BTW, I prefilled the fuel filter. From the Work shop manual page. 1-M6, the fuel line from the electromagnetic pump doesn't go directly to the fuel filter. It goes through a check valve, fuel sub tank, fuel cooler, and feed pump. I don't think I'm getting fuel to the fuel filter because I don't see any air/fuel coming up through the bleed screw.
Has anyone else has this problem? Anything else I can try or check - possibly the check valve?
Thanks, - snow keeps piling up here in Northern Michigan so its stressing me out.
David

 

[GreensvilleJay]

yeesh, after reading your post, I'll never complain about the fuel system on my BX23S !!

I'd start at the tank and slowly confirm EACH 'thing' from there to the fuel filter/sep. is getting good fuel flow. Sounds like maybe 1 of those 4 could be the problem. maybe the 'check valve' ? it could be 'stuck' ?

hmm, maybe you back disconnect the '4', back blow LOW pressure air, see if anything comes out ?

The fact that 'it's done this before', does have me thinking 'semi floating junk in tank'. Maybe there's a stoppage in that 'subtank' ? My BX23S has a sliver of plastic, IN the 'exit spigot' of the tank,so no fuel coming from the tank.

Hopefully you'll FIND the reason,soon.......

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Look at the AIR filter, I'm betting you will find it full of snow or ice.

NEVER pre fill a fuel filter, you're just asking to send contaminates to the High pressure fuel pump.

Start pulling lines,. before and after the electric fuel pump and see where it stops flowing at.

DO NOT pull any lines after the spin on filter housing.

 

[pokey1416]

Sure sounds like gelling but could it be an algae problem? I'm not verse enough but I treat every container with something depending on warm or cold weather.

 

[dclauria]

OK - so after a few false starts - I ran my tractor for about 45 minutes before it shut down again, I think I finally have come across the problem.

I was able to start my tractor last weekend and snowblow for about 45 minutes before it shut down again. Since then I was able to start it twice I think - both times it stalled within 1 minute.
Today the local Kubota dealer - Ginops of Alanson, MI stopped by. He quickly determined that no fuel was getting to the air bleed valve in the fuel filter because the 90 degree fittings in the water separator was blocked ..... dead flies.
I saw online that others had posted to check the 90 degree fittings, but I didn't see any in the fuel lines. For those less experienced than me - there's not many - it turns out that the 90 degree fittings are in the top of the fuel separator - not in the black fuel lines - I had looked. My service tech took the fuel separator off the tractor and cleaned the blockage - at least 2 dead flies in the 90 deg. fittings - and now the tractor seems to run well.

I have checked for these 90 deg. fittings before but could never find them -

Here's a picture - for those that may have trouble like I did -

If you have sudden "bogging down" of the throttle, check these, as others have said before.
Simply remove the fuel lines, - remove the water separator, and use a small screwdriver or something to clean them out.

When reinstalled, go through the procedure to bleed the fuel lines of course.

Thanks for your input.

I want to give a shout-out to my local dealer - Ginops Sales of Alanson, MI. Their field tech gave me his personal business card with his direct # so I can contact him at any time with any issues.

 

[BAP]

Glad you posted back with the results of what was found. Good it was a relatively simple fix.