L 3200 fuel filter housing breakage

[lonegunman]

Yesterday, I was out in the woods dragging a few logs and clearing a trail with the box scraper and a random chunk of 2" broken pine branch kicked up by the front tire stabbed into the clear plastic bowl for my fuel filter. It promptly stabbed thru the cheap plastic and ended my workday. It ended it in the woods, 40 miles from home and 45 minutes from the nearest parts store. NAPA had a metal fuel filter with and "in", "out" and a 1/4" return line so we bought it and drove back into the woods to find my tractor.

I have always looked at the poorly located and cheaply made fuel filter and wondered if it would be a problem, the answer is a yes. It took a while to prime and start the tractor. Opening the air valve and turning the engine worked after 30 or 40 tries and she fired up. After a few minutes of sputtering while the air worked thru the injectors everything was back to normal.

Today, I ordered a part I never knew I needed from a company I never heard of and I'm hoping it works. http://coupersproducts.com/kubota-l3200-l3800-fuel-filter-protector/
A powder coated metal cage for the filter and bowl. Apparently, it happens more often than you think.

O'Reilly's auto parts has a "special price" for their fuel filters. The $14 dollar filter for my tractor was $43.00 bucks because it was Sunday and I was in a pickle. I declined and headed for the NAPA five miles farther down the road. At NAPA, I said nothing and it was,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$14 dollars.

 

[k0ua]

Yesterday, I was out in the woods dragging a few logs and clearing a trail with the box scraper and a random chunk of 2" broken pine branch kicked up by the front tire stabbed into the clear plastic bowl for my fuel filter. It promptly stabbed thru the cheap plastic and ended my workday. It ended it in the woods, 40 miles from home and 45 minutes from the nearest parts store. NAPA had a metal fuel filter with and "in", "out" and a 1/4" return line so we bought it and drove back into the woods to find my tractor.

I have always looked at the poorly located and cheaply made fuel filter and wondered if it would be a problem, the answer is a yes. It took a while to prime and start the tractor. Opening the air valve and turning the engine worked after 30 or 40 tries and she fired up. After a few minutes of sputtering while the air worked thru the injectors everything was back to normal.

Today, I ordered a part I never knew I needed from a company I never heard of and I'm hoping it works. http://coupersproducts.com/kubota-l3200-l3800-fuel-filter-protector/
A powder coated metal cage for the filter and bowl. Apparently, it happens more often than you think.

O'Reilly's auto parts has a "special price" for their fuel filters. The $14 dollar filter for my tractor was $43.00 bucks because it was Sunday and I was in a pickle. I declined and headed for the NAPA five miles farther down the road. At NAPA, I said nothing and it was,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$14 dollars.

Judging by the fact that "Mr. Couper" took the time to design and market the fuel bowl protector, it has happened more than once!

 

[tempforce]

i went through 4 filter assemblies on my L3200. the oil filter got stabbed a couple times as well. they need to protect these components better when they design a unit.

 

[mddorange]

I had less than 10 hours on mine when a stick took out the fuel filter. I carefully drove mine out of the woods and back to the barn while the fuel level got below half full so I could change it without the fuel flowing during the change over. I then had to drive 33 miles one way to get more filters and bowls. Since I now have extras, it has never happened again.

 

[holeycow]

They make equipment designed for the woods...

 

[mdhughes]

I'm glad they moved the separator on the L3901, I use my tractor a lot to cut fire wood and am in the woods all the time. It being up front like that has to make it easier to hit it with something. The picture I looked at it looks like it sticks out past the plastic cover.

 

[teg]

...A powder coated metal cage for the filter and bowl...

Looks cheap and doesn't look like it would protect anything....

Let us know how it works out for you...

Long Long ago, someone on TBN made a protective shield for the filter.... (too bad the search feature stinks on TBN....)

 

[number two]

Looks cheap and doesn't look like it would protect anything....

Let us know how it works out for you...

Long Long ago, someone on TBN made a protective shield for the filter.... (too bad the search feature stinks on TBN....)

That was Gomer who made a fuel filter guard for his B series tractor-SW Michigan if I recall.
Try a search!

 

[k0ua]

Looks cheap and doesn't look like it would protect anything....

Let us know how it works out for you...

Long Long ago, someone on TBN made a protective shield for the filter.... (too bad the search feature stinks on TBN....)

That was Gomer who made a fuel filter guard for his B series tractor-SW Michigan if I recall.
Try a search!

Here you go.. took me about 15 seconds to find that one..

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...0-b3030-fuel-filter-guard.html?highlight=fuel

 

[herringchoker]

I shamelessly copied Gomer's design for my B7800, after having a broken filter housing incident. Pretty simple to fabricate. Mine has a square corner and I made it so I had enough finger room to service the filter. I haven't tested it yet, and I don't plan to, but things happen.