Fuel Disappering FORD 641 Workmaster!

YODO · May 27, 2012

Hey everyone, I own a 1960 Ford 641 Workmaster, bought it used a couple years ago and it seems like I have one problem after the next with this old girl. Right now im having fuel problems and have a question about the sediment bowl and carb. How full should that sediment bowl be when I have fuel in the tank and the tractor is just sitting? I noticed last week that it was only halfway full, I was under the impression that it was supposed to stay full? Anyways I got it started last week and their seemed to be quite a delay filling that little jar up but it finally did and I had no problems running it. I cut the grass and had plenty of fuel left in the tank. Today I decided to get it running again and noticed the bowl half full again, then I looked in the tank and it was empty! I heard that sometimes they can leak gas into the engine? So I checked the oil but didn't find the fuel. So Its either leaking from the tank or possible leaking from the carb?? The motor doesn't look like its had fuel on it, but the oil filter directly below the carb looks like fuel has been pouring on it for awhile. if leaking for the carb what would I need to fix? And if that sediment bowl should be full Im thinking I might have a clogged line?? Hope Im not going crazy, I sware their was fuel in that tank last weekend!!!!

Also, where the carburetor attaches to the manifold I see their is a crack, and it was a little wet last week, could this cause me alot of problems, im thinking a little JB weld to patch it up?

Dr Dave · May 27, 2012

Sediment bowls have a shut off valve, you could turn off after use. If it has sat a while, carb may need rebuilt. Maybe somebody stole your gas? If it is an updraft carb [hangs below manifold] fuel wont run in engine. Sounds like an external leak, wash off and let dry, spray baby powder on and around carb, check the next day and look for a trail left in powder.

YODO · May 28, 2012

Dr Dave said:
Sediment bowls have a shut off valve, you could turn off after use. If it has sat a while, carb may need rebuilt. Maybe somebody stole your gas? If it is an updraft carb [hangs below manifold] fuel wont run in engine. Sounds like an external leak, wash off and let dry, spray baby powder on and around carb, check the next day and look for a trail left in powder.

Thankyou for the baby powder tip! I havent been shutting off that valve after use, perhaps thats cost me my fuel. I guess I could also sprinkle some of that powder around the tractor to see if some bucket head is suckin my fuel!!!

jinman · May 29, 2012

Inside your tank on the petcock assy, there is screen. If that screen is really dirty, it will slow or stop fuel flow. Many times it doesn't show up until the fuel is low and not sloshing around. I suspect you need to remove the fuel cutoff assy and clean that screen inside the tank. Here is an image of what yours should look like. From your description, I'd bet it is full of crud.

YODO · Jun 1, 2012

jinman said:
Inside your tank on the petcock assy, there is screen. If that screen is really dirty, it will slow or stop fuel flow. Many times it doesn't show up until the fuel is low and not sloshing around. I suspect you need to remove the fuel cutoff assy and clean that screen inside the tank. Here is an image of what yours should look like. From your description, I'd bet it is full of crud.

Thanks Jinman, it appears from the pic that the entire tube portion is screen. Im gonna pull it and see what it looks like.

strum456 · Jun 1, 2012

Actually, it is a good thing if your sediment bowl fills slowly. The reason for this is that the sediment bowl gasket is air tight, and the carb needle valve is closed becasue it is up to level. Becasue the air in the line has no where to go, the bowl does not fill right away.

Any time I take off my sediment bowl, I can tell if I put it back on properly by how fast the gas comes in. If it comes in fast, I run for the fuel shutoff becasue I know I have to make adjustments or I will have gas all over the floor.

Tracking down the leak: Take a big piece of cardboard and put it under the tractor. Maybe this will give you a place to start. I'd pull the air filter pipe off, so it will be easy to tell if the float is allowing the carb to overflow. Another thing to look for would be the shutoff valve mentioned by others. If it is the problem, you will have gas running all over the valve cover and who knows where from there. You could slip some cardboard between the fuel line/valve and the engine to see if it gets wet after sitting.

If you are loosing that much gas, the problem should be pretty obvious.

Edit: I just re-read your post. The bowl is filling slowly when running, not after you clean it out. Before messing with that valve (a big pain in the butt), just take the sediment bowl assembly off the carb and see how fast the gas runs out.

rambler · Jun 1, 2012

I see 2 different problems.

It sounds like you have a fuel leak on the carb - that could be extrnal - a gasket somewhere - or a float/needle valve issue internal. Fuel can leak into and fill the air intake hose. Need to figure out where and tighten or replace what the issue is. Many folk sidestep this fix by just shutting off the fuel tank valve when tractor is not is use - that works, but it's not a 'fix' really.

The other issue is the air bubble. That should go away. As mentioned, it is good your sed bulb is nice and tight and doesn't fill too fast, but - the gravity feed of those tractors means the air should not be there for long. There is a screen inside the sed bulb as well, one of your screens may be plugged and restricting fuel flow.

--->Paul