mx842
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2011
- Messages
- 819
- Location
- Richmond Va
- Tractor
- Kubota L3301, PowerKing 2414, John Deere 316, Gravely ZT HD 52
I've been working on this tractor for a couple weeks now. At first all I had to do was change a leaking fuel shut off valve. I ordered three different valves and they were all wrong, so I took the guts out of one of the wrong ones and fixed that problem. I changed the filter and finally got it going again. It would sit there and idle all day but after about 10 minutes under load it would lose power and shut down. Long story short I finally figured out that the tank was rusty so I cleaned it the best I could. At that point I had not removed the shut off valve completely because I was afraid I would break off the fuel line going to the filter as it was really tight and hard to get to. I just opened the valve and let what fuel that was in the tank drain out into a bucket. Once it finished draining, I dumped about a half-gallon of clean fuel back into the tank and took a coat hanger with a rag on the end and sloshed it around hoping any remaking loose stuff would be cleaned off the sides and bottom of the tank. I could look in and it looked fairly clean.
Once that was done, I changed the filter again and before I got it started, I could see I had another leak this time it was coming out the bottom of the tank. I guess me cleaning the bottom of the tank that it rubbed off enough material to rub through.
So, I went on to yesterdays tractor and ordered a new tank and a few other things I wanted to replace. I got the tank and started the project, and it was a real pain to get all that stuff off. Before I put the new tank on, I replaced that old valve and fuel sender and that is when I found out what the problem really was in the first place, well other that the hole in the tank. There was no screen on the valve and the opening was packed full of rusty stuff. It would allow just enough fuel out to get it running but not under a load.
I got 4 bolts lined up to where I could get the bolts back in. I went to put the 5th bolt, the one that is at the bottom and that bolt hole was off by a full 1 1/2". After looking at it for a while I decided to just leave it out and deal with it later. I got the rest of the hood, steering wheel and wiring bolted back up. I called yesterdays tractor to see what they would do about the bolt hole that would not line up and they were not much help. At first, he said to send it back in and they would look at it to determine what could be done. I asked just how long that would take and the guy said probably about a month maybe two. Then he called me back and told me that since I had installed it, it couldn't be sent back. I raised a little fuss and he finally said well take a picture of of it and he would relay it to some other department. I sent him the pic and I haven't heard nothing else from them. Even if they would take it back, I would rather eat a dried-up piece of dog poop than take that stuff off again. The main reason I called them in the first place was to find out if I could re-drill the hole without causing another leak and he said he knew nothing about that. Anyway, I have no intention of taking it back off no matter what they decide especially after they told me they would not even pay for the return shipping let alone giving me any help for all my time. Now, after all that I want to tell about what has happened now. I guess getting all that other stuff fixed allowed a lot more fuel get through the system and once I got it running, every place on the pump that has a seal or gasket, is now leaking when it's running. A few years ago, I would have attempted to take it off and reseal it but now not so much. I guess I'll have to at least take it off and send it out to have it cleaned and re-sealed. The Lord only knows what else will screw up before I get this thing done. I already know I'll have to replace the muffler because it's loose and when I took it off to do this job I found a piece of metal had come off where it fit down onto the manifold just sitting there waiting to fall down into the manifold. This is why I hate working on old stuff. sorry about the long rant.
Once that was done, I changed the filter again and before I got it started, I could see I had another leak this time it was coming out the bottom of the tank. I guess me cleaning the bottom of the tank that it rubbed off enough material to rub through.
So, I went on to yesterdays tractor and ordered a new tank and a few other things I wanted to replace. I got the tank and started the project, and it was a real pain to get all that stuff off. Before I put the new tank on, I replaced that old valve and fuel sender and that is when I found out what the problem really was in the first place, well other that the hole in the tank. There was no screen on the valve and the opening was packed full of rusty stuff. It would allow just enough fuel out to get it running but not under a load.
I got 4 bolts lined up to where I could get the bolts back in. I went to put the 5th bolt, the one that is at the bottom and that bolt hole was off by a full 1 1/2". After looking at it for a while I decided to just leave it out and deal with it later. I got the rest of the hood, steering wheel and wiring bolted back up. I called yesterdays tractor to see what they would do about the bolt hole that would not line up and they were not much help. At first, he said to send it back in and they would look at it to determine what could be done. I asked just how long that would take and the guy said probably about a month maybe two. Then he called me back and told me that since I had installed it, it couldn't be sent back. I raised a little fuss and he finally said well take a picture of of it and he would relay it to some other department. I sent him the pic and I haven't heard nothing else from them. Even if they would take it back, I would rather eat a dried-up piece of dog poop than take that stuff off again. The main reason I called them in the first place was to find out if I could re-drill the hole without causing another leak and he said he knew nothing about that. Anyway, I have no intention of taking it back off no matter what they decide especially after they told me they would not even pay for the return shipping let alone giving me any help for all my time. Now, after all that I want to tell about what has happened now. I guess getting all that other stuff fixed allowed a lot more fuel get through the system and once I got it running, every place on the pump that has a seal or gasket, is now leaking when it's running. A few years ago, I would have attempted to take it off and reseal it but now not so much. I guess I'll have to at least take it off and send it out to have it cleaned and re-sealed. The Lord only knows what else will screw up before I get this thing done. I already know I'll have to replace the muffler because it's loose and when I took it off to do this job I found a piece of metal had come off where it fit down onto the manifold just sitting there waiting to fall down into the manifold. This is why I hate working on old stuff. sorry about the long rant.