2538 HST Won't Start

[duffer]

On the fuel filter on the left side of the tractor (should be black canister near firewall) is where the water separator is (supposedly). On the bottom of the fuel filter is the sensor assembly. There is an electrical connector. Unplug it. You should then be able to unscrew the filter and remove it. You might lose a little fuel from the line draining, if it continues, take a pair of vise grips or a clamp and pinch the line shut.

Then you can work on the fuel filter to remove the fuel and water. The bottom of the filter should screw off from the main canister. Be careful NOT to lose the "O-ring" when you remove it. If you can just invert the whole filter and remove the fuel and water that way, it would be preferable IMO.

Reinstall the filter, plug in the connection, release your fuel line clamp. You'll probably have to crank the engine a little to get the fuel into the filter, create a reservoir, and get the fuel to the engine. Hopefully this will eliminate your water issue.

If you park the tractor outside, make sure your fuel tank cap is tight, to prevent condensation and rain from getting into the tank. Also try to keep the tank full of fuel.

 

[PapaRoo]

There isn't a drain or petcock on bottom to drain of the water? Mine don't have a separator, just fuel bowl that unscrews off. Hopefully someone else can chime in for assistance. At least you've made it through the electrical issue!

Hi yes there was, just being overly cautious. Found a pic of the filter online and drained as instructed. However I do not see any water in what drained out. Looks like diesel to me and it痴 been sitting in a jaw for a few hours.

Got it started again and the light was still flickering. Would be on at low RPM and go off higher. Ran it for awhile then started to misfire and CEL came on. Think it痴 getting above my pay grade now to fix.

 

[PapaRoo]

On the fuel filter on the left side of the tractor (should be black canister near firewall) is where the water separator is (supposedly). On the bottom of the fuel filter is the sensor assembly. There is an electrical connector. Unplug it. You should then be able to unscrew the filter and remove it. You might lose a little fuel from the line draining, if it continues, take a pair of vise grips or a clamp and pinch the line shut.

Then you can work on the fuel filter to remove the fuel and water. The bottom of the filter should screw off from the main canister. Be careful NOT to lose the "O-ring" when you remove it. If you can just invert the whole filter and remove the fuel and water that way, it would be preferable IMO.

Reinstall the filter, plug in the connection, release your fuel line clamp. You'll probably have to crank the engine a little to get the fuel into the filter, create a reservoir, and get the fuel to the engine. Hopefully this will eliminate your water issue.

If you park the tractor outside, make sure your fuel tank cap is tight, to prevent condensation and rain from getting into the tank. Also try to keep the tank full of fuel.

I didn稚 take it all the way off, just opened the drain on the bottom. So I guess a next step would be to take it off, but if there wasn稚 any water in the run out would that help?

 

[3gunr]

You should have 2 fuel filters on that tractor , i beleive duffer was talking about the other one on the other side of the tractor.

 

[PapaRoo]

You should have 2 fuel filters on that tractor , i beleive duffer was talking about the other one on the other side of the tractor.

I think it痴 the same one as the one with the petcock is on the left and a black canister.

 

[sspenst]

yes there is two fuel filters on that machine. i looked at my 2638 and can confirm there are two.
one on the right side near the firewall which is the prefilter which for who don't know is a WIX 33993.... the main filter with sensor is on the left side near firewall with the connector on bottom.... SADLY it is a DEALER only ITEM at the moment, and i have googled it lol nothing.....but it does look like a drain near the electrical connector...

 

[PapaRoo]

Just wanted to follow-up for anyone that ever finds this thread in the future. The issue in my case turned out to be paint on the new terminal connectors I壇 bought. They came painted red and black and the black had a tiny spot of paint on the end of the wire, thus the bad ground and trouble starting. This was also why I had the fu filter light on as it was just not a proper current flowing through the system.

 

[ding beep]

Thanks for the follow-up PapaRoo. Glad to hear you're up-and-running again.

It's always satisfying to get to the bottom of these frustrating issues.

And I also learned some other valuable troubleshooting skills.

Thanks to everyone else for all your valuable insight.

:tractor: ding beep