B7500 sputtered out

[Anonymous Poster]

Was using my B7500HST, 36 hours, yesterday. Moved some large rocks around for about 20 minutes,
filled up the diesel tank to full (was at 1/4), ran it for about ten minutes moving gravel with the FEL.

Was digging into a pile of gravel when it started to stall out. I assumed it was because the load was too
much, so I backed off a bit (was running around 2000 rpm). It was not running hot (temp gauge was
just above "C").

Engine started sputtering, revved a bit, then sputtered a bit. Moving the throttle did not seem to have
any affect. Then the engine died. I cranked it but it wouldn't start.

I let it sit for about a half hour and cranked it again. After a few long cranks, it started, but just barely.
The rpms were about 800; moving the throttle had no affect. I let it run like that for about 10 minutes,
then stopped it. Did it again about 15 minutes later; same results.

I pulled the fuel filter bell off; it seemed to be clear. I don't have an extra filter, so I just stuck it back
on. I let it sit for about an hour and started it up again. This time it did start, but ran relatively roughly
and there seemed to be more smoke than usual from the exhaust at the beginning. This time, then engine
did respond to the throttle and the engine did have much more power, but still ran rougher than normal.

I ran it long enough to get move it into the garage, then shut it off.

I'll get a new fuel filter today (my dealer went out of business, so I have to drive about 100 miles now).

I wouldn't think that it was the fuel filter, because the diesel that I added came from a
container that wsa half full, with the other half already having been in the tractor when it was rinning
fine. However, when I filled it, I used up what was left in the container.

My question - if there was a bit of water in the container that got into my tractor tank, does that
"dry out"? In other words, since eventually the engine started and seems to be coming back to normal,
if water was the problem, as long as the engine is running okay now, is the filter okay or does water
permanently damage it? Does water sink to the bottom of diesel fuel? If so, it may be that there was
a bit of water in my containter and when I emptied it into the tractor tank, the bit of water went with it.

Just curious if anyone else has experienced this. Hopefully it's nothing more than bad fuel.

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Snowman sounds like you have water in your fuel. Yes water does sink to the bottom, thus causing the engine to starve of fuel when the filter stoped up with water. No it will not dry out by itself, however there are some fuel additives that will help and the filter will need changing first. The white smoke came from the watery fuel. You should be able to get the fuel additive at any automotive parts store.

 

[Bird]

snowman, it does sound like water in the fuel, and a clean filter and an additive might do the trick, but the only time I had that problem, I drained the tank and lines, changed the filter and started over with fresh fuel; that would be my preference.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I had 23 hrs on my B7500 when it did exactly the same thing. I also added fuel that had been in a container since last winter. After I cleaned the fuel filter and ran out the bad fuel, the tractor has been starting and running fine.

 

[r0GuE]

Obviosly water in the fuel. Heres a hint for future reference. There are two issues here. One is that you fueled the tractor from a container that was half full. That means the container had half air in it. Air contains some amount of water and it will condense on the inside of a container when the conditions are right. As a part time pilot, we always fuel the planes all the way up in the evening so that condensation does not occur in the morning. This would be a good practice for us to observe with our tractors.
The second issue is that there is not a good way (i.e. bleed valve) for us to drain off water. On an aircraft there is always a valve at the lowest point in the fuel system where fuel can be drained off. Perhaps one could be added on our tractors (TRESCROWS is our resident A&P, what do you think buddy). Then again, maybe its not that big a deal. Tractor dies, get off and have a beer. Airplane dies, so do you. ;^)

Rogue

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

I changed the fuel filter on Saturday. Unfortunately, I didn't realize/think about the o rings on the filter
until after I stuck it on and it was dripping. I looked in the manual and saw that it showed two o rings.
I remember seeing the small o ring on the top of the old filter, but didn't recall seeing the larger one that
sits in the bell housing. I pulled the old filter from the trash and didn't see the larger o ring on it. I have
no idea where it went.

The dealer is a 100 mile round trip away, and, of course, this happened on a holiday weekend. I picked up
some o rings at an auto dealer, but they don't appear to fit right, so I'm going to have to get them from
the dealer. I don't know why Kubtoa can't/doesn't include the o rings with the filter.

I also added some additive to take water out of the diesel.

Because of the missing o rings, I can't tell if the additive works. The tractor did start a few times and
seemed to be "getting better", but it would always then eventually die off again. Once again, I'm
guessing that the problem now is the missing/improper o rings in the fuel filter, as that is probably
causing some air to get into the enginer.

Nothing's simple. At least it rained most of the weekend so I don't feel too bad about not having the
use of the tractor.

Thanks again.

 

[jdkid]

Hi ya's
for my tractor i have a filter on the tank which is ok if you are filling from the tank but as i do alot of contracting i have been carting fuel in containars and even i have been hit by bad fuel heres a tip or 2 for you if you have fuel in drums or containars
1.. only get enff fuel for a month or so dont keep it for years fuel gose off ,it gets a bug in it not just water, dose not burn and tractor run like crap on it
2.. you can buy fillers that have a mesh in the bottom very very fine it will stop dirt and pure water so don't shake your fuel tins
3.. pour from the top and leave the dregs in the drum ,use for fires or dump
4.. if in dout dump it!!!fuel's cheap stuffed pumps and injectors aren't
5..look to see if theres anyway of adding a inline filter between tank and filter should not cost heaps all my tractors i have owned have had them most had drain taps on them
6.. tap/pour your old filter out in to your hand it may show up whats wrong dirt/rust/water even cut then in 1/2 to have a better look (use a hacksaw not gasaxe!!)
additives cost money if fuels stored well you should not need them like i said before if it looks a bit funny toss it out
catch ya
JD Kid

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The fuel that I put in was only two weeks old. I originally just had one 5 gallon container of diesel; during
the winter, I only went through maybe 10 gallons. With summer, I'm using more fuel so I now have two
5 gallon containers and I cycle through both of them every two weeks (so I seem to use abut 5 gallons
per week). Of course, I can't tell how old the fuel was out of the gas station pump.

The fuel pump bell jar was clean; didn't see any particles of anything.

I'm hoping this was just a fluke.

I agree with you on the filters; basically, the more filtering the diesel goes through before it gets
in the tank, the better.

 

[RPM]

Snowman,

You might also want to check out this thread. The last few messages are probably most relevant. I have a filter funnel on order and will post a message when I have experimented with it - but based on prior use of these thingss they do a good job.

Patrick

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Can anyone tell me where the larger O ring that goes inside the fuel filter bell jar goes specificially?

Does it sit on the inside lip of the bell jar where the filter rests? I can't tell from the drawings and I
don't have a genuine Kubota O ring; I have to get one at an auto store but I can't size it because
I can't figure out where it goes.

I didn't see this inside O ring on the old filter that I pulled. The diagram in the manual isn't much help.

Thanks.