BX2660 Fuel Tank Blockage

[Fxfymn]

I am having a fuel delivery problem with the BX2660. It runs out of fuel and when I disconnect the hose from the rear filter very little fuel flows from the hose. When I blow air back through the hose the fuel flows freely, so it is pretty obvious that I have something blocking the fuel line on an intermittent basis.

I have searched the forums, so I know this is not uncommon, but I did not see any solutions short of removing the tank. Has anyone come up with a way to clean the tank out without removing it?

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Which side of the filter are you disconnecting? Dumb question I know, but it has to be asked. If yours is like the BX 25 removing the tank is a bear. Let the fuel run down, jack up the left side. Open the filler, strong flashlight. Bang on the tank and see what floats or rolls down under the filler pipe. Use one of those snatcher tools to pick out what you see. If it is too small to grab it should flow into the filter. At 300 HRS my filter at the tank was plugged solid with black gunk and grit. I always pump into the tank through a 5 micron filter and water trap.

Ron

 

[jb62901]

This happen to Me a few years ago, pulled the fuel line before the filter. Put a vacuum pump on the line and what ever it was come through the line.

 

[Fxfymn]

Back (fuel tank) side of the filter. I tried draining and fishing around with a clean rag tied to a rod and a piece of heater hose on the end of the shop vac. We'll see.

I also tried to pressurize the tank with the vent to push the obstruction through. No luck.

I don't get why Kubota didn't put a pick up of some kind in the tank that would prevent this. A horizontal tube with slots would work.

This happened on the 3430 as well, and frankly I'm at the point where I will not buy another Kubota product. A $14K machine that is 3 years old should not be unreliable, but that is what the 2660 is.

 

[aczlan]

I don't get why Kubota didn't put a pick up of some kind in the tank that would prevent this. A horizontal tube with slots would work.

But it would also suck in air when the fuel is low or could get clogged with algae in the tank which is why nobody does it anymore

This happened on the 3430 as well, and frankly I'm at the point where I will not buy another Kubota product. A $14K machine that is 3 years old should not be unreliable, but that is what the 2660 is.

Never had a problem with our almost 4 year old BX2660 (other than the hard line that runs across the back springing a leak and it had to be replaced), or our older L3830 or B7500 that wasn't caused by the loose nut behind the wheel.

Before pulling the tank, I would do as jb62901 suggested and hook a vacuum pump on the line before the filter and try to suck the crud through the line that way.

Aaron Z

 

[wawajake]

This happened on the 3430 as well, and frankly I'm at the point where I will not buy another Kubota product. A $14K machine that is 3 years old should not be unreliable, but that is what the 2660 is.

Seems to me is that it is not your Kubotas that are unreliable , it is the fuel or fueling habits you are using that is unreliable

 

[Fxfymn]

Seems to me is that it is not your Kubotas that are unreliable , it is the fuel or fueling habits you are using that is unreliable

Sorry, not trying to get into this, but when the builder puts a 3" wide fill on the tank, the occasional small bit of crap is bound to get in sooner or later. This is a poor design and the number of posts that relate to this issue show that. No system should be designed that will allow a small item to block fuel flow before it reaches the filter. If nothing else they should incorporate a screen into the fill.

OBTW I'm looking for help not to be slammed. Not helpful!

 

[aczlan]

Sorry, not trying to get into this, but when the builder puts a 3" wide fill on the tank, the occasional small bit of crap is bound to get in sooner or later. This is a poor design and the number of posts that relate to this issue show that.

Better let Deere, Cub Cadet, Exmark, Huskvarna and most any commercial ZTR maker know then as they all have wide filler necks like the BX2660 does. IIRC, the idea is that you can fill from a 5 gallon can without needing the spout.

No system should be designed that will allow a small item to block fuel flow before it reaches the filter. If nothing else they should incorporate a screen into the fill.

Please look at the other brands out there and try to find one that ISNT setup virtually the same as the Kubota (ie: drain on the bottom, then a hose, then the filter).
Screens in the fill for a tractor would require either a huge screen or very slow filling and most of the time the problem comes not from objects getting in, but bad/watery fuel which grows algae and blocks the outlet... The only ting that till stop that is a water block filter on the tank you are filling from.

Aaron Z

 

[GolfAddict]

...
OBTW I'm looking for help not to be slammed. Not helpful!

Looking for help from Kubota owners, while slamming our choice of tractor, but you're not looking to be slammed. ok...

 

[Fxfymn]

Fellas; Chill out. Look at my profile. I've owned three Kubota's, but facts are facts; they have a design problem. Not a slam just a fact. When a machine is unreliable it is worse than useless; Period. They are a tool to me, not a religion.

Maybe the other builders have the same issue, I don't know since I have been a loyal Kubota owner up until now, but I did not spend the kind of money I spent on this machine for it to crap out with a problem that is basically not fixable unless you replace the tank, (4 to 6 labor hours per the dealer plus the tank)carefully screen each fuel fill after that, and pray that a bug doesn't happen to fly into the tank while it is being filled.

And you can't tell me that it is a good design that requires you to remove the mower deck just to change the fuel filters.

I do use a water filter and fuel treatment. I use so much fuel that I have never had an algae issue.

Before everybody gets their a.. on their shoulders read the original post; Has anyone come up with a good way to clean the tank without removing it?

 

[jb62901]

When this happened to me it was a 15 minute fix, vacuum pump did the job what ever it was. I am not talking a vacuum cleaner but a vacuum pump.

 

[94BULLITT]

This happened on the 3430 as well, and frankly I'm at the point where I will not buy another Kubota product. A $14K machine that is 3 years old should not be unreliable, but that is what the 2660 is.

It sounds like your fuel can or tank is dirty or you are buying dirty fuel.

If you buy clean fuel and store it in a clean can or tank you will not have this problem.

 

[DT86]

With the tank as empty as possible take a Shop Vac, duct tape a 3' piece of flexible hose to the end and go fishing through the filler neck.

 

[wawajake]

Seems to me you have been given lots of advice on how to overcome the error you made when fueling your otherwise reliable BX2660.
I for one would not want a smaller filler neck opening or else 5 gallon jerry can filling would be very messy. I applaud Kubota on their design. As for fuel filters under mowing deck, so how long does it take to take off mower deck , five minutes? and fuel filters get changes once every two years maybe (assuming your careful at using clean fuel) ...and many of us don't use the tractor for mowing at all. ...but Golfaddict said it best "Looking for help from Kubota owners, while slamming our choice of tractor".................is not the best tact.

 

[Don87]

As DT86 posted, try the shop vac method to clean your tank. As others have stated, investigate your fueling habits.

What is happening to you now, happened to me. Turns out that spiders were in my fuel nozzle on my can and they ended up in my tank. Some of them broke apart and ended up in my filter, 1 blocked the fuel flow almost completely.

Good Luck, and let us know what you find.

 

[GolfAddict]

My first impression was "I let junk get into my fuel tank and now the line is clogged, so Kubota makes crappy tractors."

Re-reading, I think the OP is just venting a bit and I can imagine it's pretty frustrating. We all know we should take care to avoid contamination getting into our fuel tank, but obviously it can happen to the best of us. Hopefully some of the suggestions offered will help.

I'd be pretty upset too if my only final solution was to tear the machine half apart to get the tank off to clean it out...

 

[wawajake]

I guess it was his implication that all Kubotas were unreliable that got under my skin.

My 2008 BX2660 has almost 400 hours on it now, those are hard hours using the FEL, or at high RPM with the messy job of brushhogging fields and ATV trails, and dirty bumpy rototilling….and of course winter snow removal, but snow is relatively “clean” work” like lawn cutting would be.
Just last week my reliable Kubota worked three days straight spreading 55 yards of inch and half crushed rock for my daughter’s home building project and the road into her property. This was in 90 degree summer heat, and the BX2660 did not skip a beat.
It is exactly that reliability that has me glad I bought a Kubota.
That is not to say that problems over the last years have not occurred. (just look at my posting history) with hydraulic valve defect and a different hose placement concern, but Kubota dealer fixed these issues and I saw no reason to “blame” Kubota and to think “never buy again” , ….these things happen in all things mechanical ……….we fix and move on. Lessons learned and even yes shared with TBN fellow tractor owners. Sorry for being so tough on you Fxfymn . But having the exact same tractor model as you and having no fueling issues whatsoever, and me liking the filler and filter design, I had to say my piece too.
cheers and goodluck

 

[BXinNH]

Vacuuming up combustible liquids or combustible liquid vapors (like those found in your diesel tank) with a standard shop vac will give you a decent chance of meet the doctors at your local burn center. Vapors + atomized fuel + plenty of air + heat and sparks = ooops I would strongly recommend against this idea.

Matt.

 

[DT86]

I would strongly recommend against this idea.

You are kidding right? :confused2:

We are talking about diesel?? Well, diesel / diesel vapor won't "go boom" like a dynomite cigar on the Looneytoons show.

It's not an idea, it's an established practice I picked up from the shop guys at the dealer. They have had the described set up for a long time and have been using it successfully, without any visits to the burn center. H*ll, they haven't even set a shop vac on fire in two months! (J/K)

 

[BXinNH]

I didn't really think it would go boom, but if someone was unfortunate enough to find the right fuel/air mixture on a hot summer day the potential is there for a pretty good fire. All the pieces are present: fuel, oxygen, heat. I'm just saying I wouldn't do it.

Matt.