L5240 HST dying, fuel or HST?

[ChrisHoward]

I got my filters all replaced with Kubota filters, thanks to the help I got here. L5240 HST has been working fine since then, 2 months or so.
Since then, tractor has been used for plowing, 2-18 mounted, 6 ft rear mounted tiller(PTO driven), 2 row 3pt planter, 2 row 3 pt cultivator, PTO driven tedder, rake(hydraulic open & close); all normal activity. It's been running fine until about 2 weeks ago when it started dying on the rake.
I'm trying to figure out what direction to take, putz around with fuel lines or just call the shop. At first, I thought it was like when I got clogged fuel lines last fall, except it will restart now so I really don't think it's the fuel. Starting cold and just driving with no load, it starts to bog down and sputter within about 500 ft. If I clutch it, most of the time it recovers without dying. If it dies, I can restart, usually with no problem. Activating the 3 pt or PTO seems to have no effect, good or bad. Using the HST lever instead of the pedal seems to have no effect, good or bad. The first day it died I did get an error message 'HST Neutral', so I'm inclined to think something with the HST is not working as it should.
Any ideas on what to look at?

 

[MOOTS]

Sounds like a safety switch to me. I'd start there and check the seat and HST switches.

 

[Russell King]

When it restarts is it able to go to high RPMs and run well or is it like you are getting a low fuel problem? It could be a fuel pproblem with clogged filter, something floating around in the fuel.

Do you use something in the fuel to fight biological growth?

 

[ChrisHoward]

When it restarts is it able to go to high RPMs and run well or is it like you are getting a low fuel problem? It could be a fuel pproblem with clogged filter, something floating around in the fuel.

Do you use something in the fuel to fight biological growth?

Yes, it goes on up to wherever I've got the throttle set, usually between 2500 & 3000 as I'm trying to figure out my problem.
I do not use anything in the fuel to fight biological growth. I have had a problem in the past with my IH 766 and clogged fuel line. I've never had a problem with my IH 1086. I had a problem with the L5240 last fall & clogged fuel line. It died several times within 15-20, then wouldn't fire again.

 

[Russell King]

After it starts and gets to speed, can you use it normally or does it stall out in short order. I think you will get better advice if you can fully describe how it is operating over about an hour of time, after it has sat overnight.

I would assume you have biological growth in the tank. There are some treatments that break it down so the filter can catch it. I think you have to start with a new filter so you get maximum flow until it clogs again. Then change it again.

Other people simply empty the tank and clean it if possible. Then fresh fuel that is treated to prevent any biological growth.

I guess I would start by seeing how much fuel is flowing out of the fuel filter.

Good luck

 

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[William1]

Debris mass in the tank too, will behave like that. Engine off, it is free to move about on the bottom of the tank. Running engine, fuel flow, the mass 'finds' the point of the fuel line and gets sucked over the hole.Shut off engine, wait a minute, it repeats.
Fuel additive 'might' break it down to where the filter can catch it, you may have to drain and clean the tank.
Five years ago, my little BX started to run poorly at WOT. Filter 1 was back and crusty with biologics. Change both filters (filter 2 was pretty clean) and have used a strong-sh does of biologics since and kept an eye on filter one, so far so good. I think I was lucky.