Fuel Filter Issues - Model A Toolcat

yooperdave · Oct 18, 2020

laurencen said:
doubt running it out of fuel would do any damage and the primer bulb will still pump fuel, should get hard pumping once lines are full and take new hose clamps

How many pumps? The novelty wore off after a couple hundred pumps.
Was able to get the air out above the fuel filter with the bleeder. Fuel came out of the bottom of the filter as well when I opened the valve for a second.
Any other (simple) ways to get the air out further downstream of the bleeder? I am no mechanic.
Yooper Dave

ruffdog · Oct 18, 2020

I would be questioning if the primer bulb is working after 20 pumps. Most times you should barely feel/hear the check valve in the bulb shutting if it is working properly too. Also, it should feel like there is liquid in it vs just air. If there is fuel and the bulb is operating correctly, it doesn't take long to bleed out the air.

SSdoxie · Oct 21, 2020

The primer bulb has an arrow showing direction of flow. Take the hose off from the inlet end of the primer bulb then put your thumb over the end of the bulb and squeeze the bulb and release it. If the bulb expands back then the check valve is stuck, if it stays collapsed until you release your thumb bulb is working.

Worded this out of sequence. Remove the inlet hose, squeeze the bulb, then hold you thumb or finger over the inlet end before releasing the bulb. If it expands bad bulb,

yooperdave · Oct 22, 2020

I already bought a new primer bulb, as the original bulb is over 15 years old. I feel fuel in the old bulb, but hundreds of pumps is not working. Was able to pump the air out of the bleeder screw. However, maybe there is more pressure needed to finish the job which might be challenging the check valve portion of the old bulb. Will be going up again this Sunday to replace the bulb and to see if that works. Running out of options.

yooperdave · Nov 9, 2020

Update: Bought a new primer bulb and installed it. Verified that the original primer bulb no longer worked as a check valve so I felt optimistic as I could prove fuel was leaking back. I then verified again that the bleeder valve was releasing fuel instead of air. I double verified the direction of the new primer bulb relative to the old. When pumping the bulb for a very long time, we felt there was some fuel movement, but the bulb was always very slow to recover with a new load of fuel in hopes of pushing it towards the engine. I even removed the fuel cap to release any possible pressure while attempting the primer bulb to pull a vacuum.

Later after more hand pumping, I had the wife try to start while I continued to pump. There is still no hint of the engine trying to catch.

The fuel tank is 100% full of fuel.

Do not know what else I can do.

Tried to pull the Toolcat with the 3/4 ton pickup to no avail. Is there a hydraulic release so I can try to load a trailer?

Not too far from giving up for the Winter.

Yooper Dave

laurencen · Nov 9, 2020

if you take the outlet of the bulb and pump does fuel come out freely?

bnold · Nov 9, 2020

Is there a rag covering the fuel screen or something in the tank causing a restriction on the suction side? You mentioned the bulb is slow to recover.

Are you sure fuel isn’t at the injection pump, but the high pressure injection lines just need to be bled?

laurencen · Nov 9, 2020

what is the temperature? mine I am sure water got into either the bulb or the hose from the tank, fuel should flow freely from the tank to the inlet of the fuel bulb if tank was full

yooperdave · Nov 10, 2020

laurencen said:
what is the temperature? mine I am sure water got into either the bulb or the hose from the tank, fuel should flow freely from the tank to the inlet of the fuel bulb if tank was full

Was a very nice weekend - 70 degrees and sunny. Most likely the last warm weekend of the year.

ruffdog · Nov 10, 2020

yooperdave said:
Tried to pull the Toolcat with the 3/4 ton pickup to no avail. Is there a hydraulic release so I can try to load a trailer?

The toolcat's brakes come on with the lack of hydraulic pressure so, no, there is not a release valve. I have read that the early TCs could be pushed easier by screwing in special brake release tools. Maybe your dealer has these?