Bad running tractor

[DBT780]

I have a deisel tractor thats been acting up. Thought I had bad fuel so I changed the filters, pulled and cleaned tank, but still having trouble. She will fire right up and run fine. May run for 10 minutes or 3 hours before she starts to stumble and die. The engine will race then die down, barely run, a few times then just die and not restart. If she sits for a day or two she will fire right back up. At a loss as to the problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Robert Feenstra]

Have you cleaned the fuel lines? You might also check for collapsed, or pinched line. Bob

 

[DBT780]

Other than making sure fuel flows thru them, no. What do you think the best way to do that is? Have you ever heard of an injector pump doing this?

 

[old]

Yep if the injector pump is going bad it can in fact do that. I know the rosomaster pumps had a seal that would when it was going bad clog things up one time then the next time be fine for a long time again all depends on where the piece of the seal would move to when running

 

[DBT780]

I was afraid of that. After everything I've already done I guess the next step is to pull the injector pump and have it rebuilt. Was hoping it would be something cheap, oh well the joys of tractor ownership! Thanks

 

[old]

Ya that is why I stay with the gas tractors. When you have a problem with a gas engine most of the time it is a simple $25 fix but on a diesel they either run good or cost a lot to repair. But also look at it this way when you catch an injector pump early a lot of times the repair is a lot cheaper because it hasn't hurt it badly yet

 

[Anonymous-0]

It sounds more like a fuel delivery problem than an injection pump problem if it runs fine for a while till it starves for fuel. I think if it was an injection pump problem it would act up all the time. Knowing what tractor and what engine would help a lot. Don't just pull the injection pump off. It has to be timed and might be best to have a qualified mechanic look at it. Dave

 

[DBT780]

I hope your right. I have put numerous filters on her and a lot of time trying to figure it out. Someone else had said it could be the injector pump and with your input I bet you are both right. I've never pulled or tried to get the timing set when putting it back on. Guess thats something else I will have to learn. Ah, the fun we have with our toys. LOL

 

[RodinNS]

Most likely there is a restriction in the fuel line supplying the pump. Check at the filter first with the filter removed and see what flow is there. It should be fast and steady. No slow/trickle stuff...
If you don't get good flow trace back to the tank including removing the tank valve and cleaning that.
Install another new filter and try that...

Rod

 

[sotxbill]

are the return lines clogged up .. still sounds like fuel deliviery problem.. but why>> when it dies, pull the drain immediatly and see if you have a nice fuel flow.. how did you clean the tank??

 

[Sean in PA]

Is the fuel tank vent clogged? Since you don't say what model it is, the vent could be a pin hole in the fuel cap or a vent tube out the top of the tank, but there has to be a vent of some sort or eventually the fuel pump will be sucking a vacuum.