need to bleed air from fuel system

[simonmeridew]

My 4400 wouldn't start last week. 280 trouble free hours bought new 8 years ago. It cranked fine, fired but wouldn't start or run. First time ever.
I checked the filter( no water or debris), I opened the fuel shutoff with the filter off (plenty of fuel), put the filter back on. Still no start. The owners manual said to open a little knob to bleed air, then start engine, allow to run a few seconds, then close the valve. I did it, and it worked. Since then no problems.

My question is, why did this happen? It's my personal tractor, no one else operates or even has access, no recent maintenance or disturbing on engine. I start it almost every day, the air valve seemed tight when I first opened it.

I don't want it to happen again. Anyone know what I should look at?

simonmeridew

 

[Pete Judd]

Must be an air leak somewhere, may be hard to find. I would tighten all fittings. Sometimes the vibration will get them lose over time.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

a good idea to go ahead and replace fuel filter it'd hard to believe but algae will grow in fuel especially when it stays in tank undisturbed they make additives for this. By draining you might have flushed something out.

 

[Tx Jim]

Algae requires water to grow in diesel fuel. I'd guess you have a cracked fuel line allowing air to enter fuel system.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

A tractor that's eight years old with 280 hrs on it could have numerous issues because it sits idle for long periods of time moisture can get in fuel by simple condensation or usually by the way most of us fuel our units by using a fuel can notorious for adding thrash and water in small amounts this is why fuel filter replacement is so needed might not help but certainly won't hurt