L3540 engine slowly dies

[JOHNINMA]

Anyone have any idea why my engine would run fine for varying lengths of time and then slowly loose power and rpm's until it stalls. It does this even when parked in neutral with no pto or any load on the engine. I checked inside the fuel tank for anything foreign that could restrict fuel flow and see nothing obstructing the intake, ran engine with fuel cap off to eliminate vent problem, and checked all lines for kinks. Tractor now has 180 hours on it and has had regular service. The engine acts like it wants to stay running but can't. The rpm's go down then jump up a little then go down more then jump a little until it just quits. It does not smoke or make any unusual sounds and if I let it sit a minute I can restart it and run it for a few minutes.

 

[moored4]

They have 2 fule filters have you changed both?

 

[Deano]

They have 2 fule filters have you changed both?

Ditto

 

[JOHNINMA]

I had the service done at a dealer and believe the fuel filter was done. I will check it just to be safe. I looked in my owners manual and only see one fuel filter shown right under the fuel cock. Manual makes no mention of a second filter on my tractor.

 

[Deano]

My BX has two and calls for them to be changed at 500 hours. I change mine at 100 hours. Cheap insurance. If maintenance schedule did not call for it to be changed, then I doubt they changed it.

 

[JOHNINMA]

Thankyou everyone for the quick response. I will clean the fuel filter per the owners manual procedure and see if that helps.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

They have 2 fule filters have you changed both?

Have yet to see an L series with two filters, the BX and my G2160 mower do have 2 inline filters, but the L seriers usually has a large self bleeding water seperator filter as does the one I added to the RTV1100.
Also double check that the valve on the filter is turned on, if it was off as I did last week after the filter change, the tractor died on me after 15 minutes of use.

David Kb7uns

 

[kuboman]

Make sure you have full flow of fuel to the filter. You can check that as you replace the filter.:thumbsup:

 

[moored4]

Have yet to see an L series with two filters, the BX and my G2160 mower do have 2 inline filters, but the L seriers usually has a large self bleeding water seperator filter as does the one I added to the RTV1100.
David Kb7uns

Your Right Just one fuel filter! I was thinking/not about the oil filters!

 

[mattridessleds]

Recently rented a Cat D3 dozer. I know its not a kubota but i experienced the same issues. Ended up being that the drain on the bottom of the sediment bowl was allowing air to leak into the fuel system causing the system to airlock while the motor was running. Just something to think about I had changed the fuel filter and cleaned all the crud out of the lines and it would still die out. No sure if the kubota system is self purging or not.

 

[JOHNINMA]

Thanks again everybody for the help. I think I found the problem. I cleaned the filter although it seemed very clean and checked fuel flow from the fuel cock, again no sign of flow problems. I then put everything back together and when I went to bleed the system I discovered the bleed valve which is supposed to be closed normally was partially open. I checked my owners manual and it states that if the bleed valve is left open it can cause eratic engine operation and stalling. So far it seems fine now, but time will tell if this was the whole issue. I ran the tractor about 45 minutes with no stalling.

 

[kuboman]

Thanks again everybody for the help. I think I found the problem. I cleaned the filter although it seemed very clean and checked fuel flow from the fuel cock, again no sign of flow problems. I then put everything back together and when I went to bleed the system I discovered the bleed valve which is supposed to be closed normally was partially open. I checked my owners manual and it states that if the bleed valve is left open it can cause eratic engine operation and stalling. So far it seems fine now, but time will tell if this was the whole issue. I ran the tractor about 45 minutes with no stalling.

That will do it.:thumbsup: