Oil & Fuel But what if I run out of fuel?

jblackwell · Mar 5, 2003

I have had my BX2200 for over a year and been warned by several people to not let a diesel run out of fuel. When I ask what I do to get it back going, they say just don't let it run out.
What if I should let it run out? What do you do to get it going again?

nitronut1 · Mar 5, 2003

The user manual for my BX22 says that the fuel system is auto-bleeding. What you would need to do is refill it with fuel, then turn the key to the run (not start) position for 30 seconds. After that, it should fire right up. If not, you may have to open a line by one of the injectors to get the air out, but the book does not say that - only to turn it to run and let the pump do its thing. It would probably be a good idea to change the fuel filters after that as well as you may have stirred up some debris at the bottom of the tank.

If you have your user manual, check out the section on bleeding, it is probably similar.

Gregg

ronjhall · Mar 5, 2003

I don't know if the BX is the same.
My B2910 WSM says:
1.Fill fuel tank with fuel.
2.Start the engine and run for about 30 seconds, and then stop the engine.

Must be self bleeding. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

My B7100 had little screws that had to be opened up until fuel came out of each one.
It got to try this out when my youngest son ran it out of fuel. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Started up with no problems after following instructions in the owners manual. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Dozernut · Mar 5, 2003

What they are referring to is on the older tractors. When you ran out of fuel, the system would get air locked. You would have take a wrench and loosen the fuel line at the injector pump output. Then you would crank the engine untill bubbles quit coming out of the line. You would then retighten the line and attempt to start the tractor. Some times you would have to do this more than once. The new tractors do not have this problem when you run out of fuel and will purge themselves.

Dozernut · Mar 5, 2003

ronjhall
I forgot about the bleeder screws on the Kubota. I had a B8200 years ago that had them. That was a good little tractor, wished I still had it.

boustany · Mar 5, 2003

Everybody's right so far, but my experience is that even with old machines this is overblown as a problem. I had to replace a blown head gasket on my 1970s Case 580C and was really worried about restarting it. All I did was fill her up, wait a while, crank the engine a bit, then losen the injector fittings until fuel flowed, tightened them back up, and starter her.

Pretty much the same drill as if the furnace runs our of oil.

Much more hassle than a car, but no big deal.

Rick Jay · Mar 5, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My B2910 WSM says:
1.Fill fuel tank with fuel.
2.Start the engine and run for about 30 seconds, and then stop the engine. )</font>

I remember reading that in the WSM and I thought it was a bit strange.

Do you have to stop the engine after 30 seconds? And if so, how long does it have to be stopped?

If it's running, then what's the big deal with keeping it running?

Not trying to be funny here, but I think those instructions could be a bit more complete.

Anybody know for sure?

~Rick

Anonymous Poster · Mar 5, 2003

My JD 2210 is also supposed to be self bleeding. I wanted to make sure everything functioned on my tractor while it was still under warranty, so I let it run out of fuel on purpose. I refueled, turned the engine over, it started in less than 10 seconds, and was running normally in under a minute.

CTyler · Mar 5, 2003

On mine it says:
Fill tank with fuel and open fuel cock
Open the vent cock on the fuel injection pump.
Start and run tractor about 30 seconds.
Then shut it off and close the vent cock.

Running for 30 seconds is probably to purge all the air out.
Shutting it off is probably for safety reasons.