Tractor starts then dies

[Todd 8691]

My tractor will start but then die almost immediately. It is a Case model 300 gas engine. Any suggestions would be great this is my first tractor.

 

[g0rd0]

There are 3 things with a gas engine 1 air, 2 spark,and 3 fuel. If you remove or ****** any of the 3 there will be no joy. So, you have spark (if not the engine would not have started in the first place), next check air supply and then fuel
It sounds as if your problem is either in the carb or with the fuel supply.
I would first remove the air filter and start it. If it keeps running without the filter you have your solution.
If not is there enough preasure on the fuel line?
If it is gravity fed (no fuel pump) then take off the tank, drain it and check for obstructions in the tank, screen, bowl, and line. If it has a fuel pump you will need to check the preasure. Now that your tank is clean and there are no obstuctions in the fuel supply try a restart.
If there is still no joy see if the foat in the carb is sticking you may have a gummed up carb and it may need to be cleaned.
Let us know if this helps.

 

[Jerry/MT]

My tractor will start but then die almost immediately. It is a Case model 300 gas engine. Any suggestions would be great this is my first tractor.

For a spark ignition engine in reasonable mechanical condition to run properly, you have to have spark at the right time and the proper fuel to air ratio.

I'm not familiar with your specific tractor or engine, but here are some checks you can make.

Remove the center wire from the distributor, hold it near a good ground and try a start. You should have a FAT, BLUISH-WHITE SPARK, the color of lightning. A bluish, reddish or yelloish spindly spark doesn't cut it. If you don't have the resquisite spark, there is some thing wrong in the primary ignition circuit (the circuit from the battery through the key switch through the coil to the distributor and then to ground). It could be a improperly set points, burned, dirty, oily, corroded points, bad condensor, bad ground, bad coil, bad ignition switch), etc. If you have a ballast resistor in a "bypass circuit" and the engine repeatedly starts when you crank the starter but dies when you release the starter switch or key, then that ballast resisitor has an open circuit and needs replacement.

If you have a FAT, BLUISH-WHITE SPARK, then check for fuel delivery and make sure that your mixture adjustments on the carb are correct. make sure that the fuel tank vent is unclogged.
Systematically make thse checks and you'll find the problem.

 

[solarkowboy]

try cleaning float bowl and checking to see if fuel enters bowl. if it doesn't check pin in fuel line at entrance to bowl

 

[solarkowboy]

try cleaning carburetor float mechanism. sometimes the float sticks and only runs on gas in bowl.

 

[Todd 8691]

Checked the spark all good fuel lines all good there is gas filling the carb and the tractor will start right up,and then die almost instantly. it will also stay running as long as you are spraying carb cleaner into the carb. It is gravitry fed but when you pull the fuel line gas pours with no problem. Thanks everybody.

 

[Egon]

Is there a choke?

Have you tried adjusting the idle screw on the carb?

 

[LD1]

IF it will continue to run with a constant spray of carb clean, air and spark are not the problems.....it is FUEL.

Getting fuel to the carb is only half the battle. It has to get from the carb to the engine AND IN THE RIGHT AMOUNT.

You might need to take the carb appart and clean/rebuild it. IT could have a passageway or jet plugged up.

I am also not familiar with that particular model, so you may want to do a little more research to see if you can find a parts diagram and/or rebuild kit if you dont feel comfortable tearing it appart.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Check for water in line and in tank... doesn't take much.

 

[JJZ 109]

so you may want to do a little more research to see if you can find a farts diagram

Well, he did say it was getting gas. :laughing:

 

[Bladehauler]

Most carbs have an idle circuit with either a fixed orifice or an idle screw. this circuit pulls fuel from the main jet well and mixes with air from the idle air circuit. the passages in question are small at around .30 thousands. you might get lucky, but personally I would pull the carb and clean it thoroughly !

Your engine will thank you !!

 

[Don87]

Well, he did say it was getting gas. :laughing:

And I for one would appreciate no 'farting' in this forum.............I live here also ya know:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[Don87]

From what I've seen from this 'new crap gasoline', I would clean the carb before I ever checked anything else..............:thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

Well, he did say it was getting gas. :laughing:

There, I fixed it.

Long day at work. I dont know how I missed that one. The P and the F are on complete opposite sides of the keyboard:confused2:

 

[Jerry/MT]

Checked the spark all good fuel lines all good there is gas filling the carb and the tractor will start right up,and then die almost instantly. it will also stay running as long as you are spraying carb cleaner into the carb. It is gravitry fed but when you pull the fuel line gas pours with no problem. Thanks everybody.

So you have eleimiated the ignition as the problem. How do you know gas is filling the carb? Where did you check the fuel delivery? Does the carb have a drain plug at the bottom of the fuel bowl? if it does, do you get a CONTINUOUS FULL FLOW of fuel when you remove it?

 

[Johnp33]

I take it this is an older unit, with points & condenser. If it starts OK and then dies there is a resistor on the run side cutting the voltage to the points. that could be bad.

 

[duke7595]

!0 to 1 it is electrical I have a 820 J.D. and it acted very similar to yours .
On the J.D. 820 though it is diesel the key switch controls power to the
injector pump.
And that is what it turned out to be a bad key switch. it would turn power off to the injector and stall.

Most problems on gas engine like the one your experiencing usually is electrical
not gas.

Good Luck

 

[JJZ 109]

From what I've seen from this 'new crap gasoline', I would clean the carb before I ever checked anything else..............:thumbsup:

Always a good possibility these days, especially if the tractor has sat for any length of time. Ethanol creates moisture issues.
I always make sure that any of my small engine stuff, as well as my Mustang and Harleys have the fuel treated before they're put up for the winter. I use K100 but there are a multitude of products out there like StaBil, Star Brite, etc.

 

[vabiker23518]

I'm not familiar with your tractor, but I've had the exact symptons twice on vehicles. FWIW, my experiences:
First time: fuse for the fuel pump burned. Replaced fuse and worked fine.
Last time: Battery went bad. No warning at all.
Good luck!

 

[Todd 8691]

Rebuilt the carb,and she runs like a top! Thanks everybody!