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 black and crusty with biologics. Change both filters (filter 2 was pretty clean) and have used a strong-ish dose of biologics since and kept an eye on filter one, so far so good. I think I was lucky.

 

[ChrisHoward]

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

This looks like the answer. I started it tonight and got off. Within a minute or two it had started running rough. Instead of increasing the throttle, I throttled back and got off just to observe. The fuel level in the bowl was low and I could see fuel running in. Throttled back, fuel filling the bowl kept up with fuel consumed. When I shut it down, the fuel continued to fill the bowl. It didn't take long to refill, about the time it would have taken me to get down & walk around. I'll look around to see what additives are available on the shelf.

 

[BAP]

Pull the fuel line off going into the fuel filter assembly and observe the flow amount coming out from the tank. If a lot then no plug, if slow then you have something in the line or over the end of it. Also, the fitting going into the filter assembly is notorious for catching junk causing reduced flow and running problems. Pull the filter assembly apart and clean it out good. Use something to pinch off the line coming from the tank so you don’t loose your fuel.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

While it may be a 'PITA', I'd remove the tank and properly clean it. That way you KNOW there's NOTHING in the tank ! In my case a tiny sliver of black plastic found it's way into the exit 'spigot'. NO $$$ camera would have seen that, and 'back blowing' would only TEMPORARILY 'fixed' the problem.

 

[ChrisHoward]

While it may be a 'PITA', I'd remove the tank and properly clean it. That way you KNOW there's NOTHING in the tank ! In my case a tiny sliver of black plastic found it's way into the exit 'spigot'. NO $$$ camera would have seen that, and 'back blowing' would only TEMPORARILY 'fixed' the problem.

I'll have to look at my bill from last fall when it quit on me. It was a clogged fuel line and I think the shop cleaned out the tank.

 

[ChrisHoward]

I got a bottle of BioKleen yesterday. I put the shock treatment amount in the tractor tank yesterday, After a half hour I srarted and ran it. It ran better but still quit on fuller throttle. Ran twice today, and each time ran longer and at higher throttle. I'll give it a workout tomorrow.
Question about putting it in the fuel tank. After I do, should I run the fuel fill hose back into the tank to mix it with the fuel, or is that not necessary?

 

[ChrisHoward]

Another question about the fuel filter. Is the filter inside the glass bowl the only fuel filter on this tractor? My other tractors are larger IH diesels and both have 2 canister screw on fuel filters. Is it normal for the fuel level to drop in the bowl while the tractor is running?