BX25D runs rough when left side uphill?

[millsan1]

I have very hilly property. If I have to operate on a side slope, I have noticed that the machine seems to run rough when the left side is uphill vs no change if the right side is uphill.

I haven't dug into the guts yet, as I am a new owner, but this seems odd ot me.

Is the fuel pickup on the left side of the tank or something?

The first I noticed it, I was low on fuel and figured that contributed, but I have 3/4 of a tank and it did it again.

Any guidance is appreciated.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Might be that you have some condensation in the bottom of the tank and it gets to the fuel line intake when your in that position. There should be a petcock on the bottom of the tank you can drain some fuel off the bottom into a glass jar so you can see if there are any water droplets in the bottom. There should also be a drain under your fuel filter where you can do the same. You should check them both on a regular basis.

 

[millsan1]

I'll check, but I hope not, this is a brand new machine.

 

[vtsnowedin]

I'll check, but I hope not, this is a brand new machine.

That makes no difference. just a few days sitting on a lot with the temperature and humidity both going up and down can create condensation. Especially if it is below freezing at night and warm and humid during the day. Lets hope that's all it is as that is an easy fix.

 

[GolfAddict]

I have a couple of very steep spots that I can just manage to mow going sideways on the slope. I've found that if my fuel gets down much, it will do the same thing - run fine in the one direction, start to stall out in the other. Topping up the fuel fixes the problem every time, so I'm sure it's running out when tipped steeply the one way. In one case it died altogether and I walked back and got the fuel can, added diesel, started right up and away I went.

I've noticed the fuel gauge will reflect this also. The one direction it shows completely full, the other it shows pretty much empty when it starts stuttering and running out of fuel.

 

[RaydaKub]

I have a couple of very steep spots that I can just manage to mow going sideways on the slope. I've found that if my fuel gets down much, it will do the same thing - run fine in the one direction, start to stall out in the other. Topping up the fuel fixes the problem every time, so I'm sure it's running out when tipped steeply the one way. In one case it died altogether and I walked back and got the fuel can, added diesel, started right up and away I went.

I've noticed the fuel gauge will reflect this also. The one direction it shows completely full, the other it shows pretty much empty when it starts stuttering and running out of fuel.

I will assume that the BX25D hasn't changed all that much for the fuel tank from my 11 yr old BX2230.
The fuel comes out of the low point in the tank right between your legs. There is no valve there at all, it just flows to the first filter under the floor pan, then into the electric lift pump. It would take quite a tilt to have 3/4 tank of the fuel drained away from the output; I'm not sure if that is even possible. The fuel gauge on the other hand is up on the top of the tank way back behind your left elbow. So if the left side is high, the gauge will read empty even at 3/4 full. If the right side is high, it might read full even on 1/2 tank.

 

[millsan1]

Useful stuff, thanks guys

 

[GolfAddict]

I will assume that the BX25D hasn't changed all that much for the fuel tank from my 11 yr old BX2230.
The fuel comes out of the low point in the tank right between your legs. There is no valve there at all, it just flows to the first filter under the floor pan, then into the electric lift pump. It would take quite a tilt to have 3/4 tank of the fuel drained away from the output; I'm not sure if that is even possible. The fuel gauge on the other hand is up on the top of the tank way back behind your left elbow. So if the left side is high, the gauge will read empty even at 3/4 full. If the right side is high, it might read full even on 1/2 tank.

I can't be sure if mine has had a full 3/4 tank when this happens, probably not - but I'm sure it has read better than 1/2. And it will do it consistently. Diesel stored indoors, tractor kept indoors, never below 50-55 degrees, use Seafoam regular. I don't really think it's any water issue or anything like that. I've gotten to where I just always top it off prior to mowing my very steep slopes, and I never have this happen anymore.

These couple of areas are really quite steep - with loaded rear tires, and hanging my butt half off the seat on the uphill side, it is still is very slow and careful going.

 

[kraker1]

Milsand--- left side uphill?, I would be suspecting the seat safety switch, may be cutting out a little ,due to some bouncing. May be easily fixed with a little adjustment (bending the mounting tabs).
Report back please , if this ends up solving the problem.

Don

 

[GolfAddict]

Milsand--- left side uphill?, I would be suspecting the seat safety switch, may be cutting out a little ,due to some bouncing. May be easily fixed with a little adjustment (bending the mounting tabs).
Report back please , if this ends up solving the problem.

Don

This is a very good point! I've fixed that situation long enough ago to not think of it, but it was a real annoyance.

 

[vtsnowedin]

:laughing: That might be it. She probably doesn't have enough mass to her ... ahum to keep the switch closed.

 

[millsan1]

Milsand--- left side uphill?, I would be suspecting the seat safety switch, may be cutting out a little ,due to some bouncing. May be easily fixed with a little adjustment (bending the mounting tabs).
Report back please , if this ends up solving the problem.

Don

Don't think that is it, but will take a look. This was happening when I was back-hoeing as well. But I will give it a shot.

 

[millsan1]

:laughing: That might be it. She probably doesn't have enough mass to her ... ahum to keep the switch closed.

Trust me, I have too much mass. Pic is my GF, not me.

 

[millsan1]

I can't be sure if mine has had a full 3/4 tank when this happens, probably not - but I'm sure it has read better than 1/2. And it will do it consistently. Diesel stored indoors, tractor kept indoors, never below 50-55 degrees, use Seafoam regular. I don't really think it's any water issue or anything like that. I've gotten to where I just always top it off prior to mowing my very steep slopes, and I never have this happen anymore.

These couple of areas are really quite steep - with loaded rear tires, and hanging my butt half off the seat on the uphill side, it is still is very slow and careful going.

Yeah, I noticed that as well. When left side uphill, I was down to 1 bar, right side uphill near 3/4 tank. Level it was about half tank, but it did this even after I filled her all the way up.

 

[millsan1]

Well, it doesn't have anything to do with fuel. Checked the fuel, no water and ran it with a tippy topped tank and still happened.

I am beginning to suspect it might be low hydraulic fluid. I am going to go in and check levels.

Very odd.

 

[RaydaKub]

Well, it doesn't have anything to do with fuel. Checked the fuel, no water and ran it with a tippy topped tank and still happened.

I am beginning to suspect it might be low hydraulic fluid. I am going to go in and check levels.

Very odd.

Why would hydraulic fluid (in the rear end) cause the engine to run rough? The only connection they have is the drive shaft.

 

[millsan1]

I am not sure if it is rough running, or vibration from inside the hydraulics. I do not lose power or RPMs, but there is definitely vibration. Maybe I will try to video it and see if anyone has any ideas.

 

[ametcalf]

I have very hilly property. If I have to operate on a side slope, I have noticed that the machine seems to run rough when the left side is uphill vs no change if the right side is uphill.

I haven't dug into the guts yet, as I am a new owner, but this seems odd ot me.

Is the fuel pickup on the left side of the tank or something?

The first I noticed it, I was low on fuel and figured that contributed, but I have 3/4 of a tank and it did it again.

Any guidance is appreciated.

I couldn't figure out a strange intermittent vibration in our BX23 with 1100 hrs on it for about a year. When everything but the engine quit one day I found that the boots had come off the propeller shaft and both CV joints were running dry until they ate themselves up. I don't know if the tilt of the tractor would have anything to did with this or not but it is one more thing to check.

 

[millsan1]

I guess we can chalk this up to a nervous Nelly thing.

I called dealership with the concern and there was a mobile tech at my place this morning at 7:30 AM.

There is more vibration when in the left uphill position, but he was not concerned. He went over the tractor to see if he could find anything that causes it, but he seemed very unconcerned about it. Told me not to sweat it.

So I won't sweat it.

Thanks for all the input guys.

Sincerely,
Nervous Nelly

 

[tractorshopper]

I've noticed the same thing while mowing with left side on high side on my new BX-2370-1. It feels like some extra vibration, but no loss of power or difference in cut. I guess it's just a quirk.