Oil & Fuel Runing Diesel Dry

[ky8t]

I have a Kubota BX-2230, and the fuel gauge does not seem to be very accurate. I have heard that running a diesel fuel tank dry is bad news. How paranoid do I have to be about running low on diesel?

 

[Tig]

I don't think it hurts anything but it's a pain to bleed all the air out of the injector lines. I don't have a fuel gauge and I've become quite proficient myself. Best to avoid at all costs. Have a look in your manual to see what's involved.

 

[mjarrels]

Newer BX tractor should be self bleeding fuel systems. Best fuel gauge I ever had is a wooden yard stick... never gives a false reading!

mark

 

[machmeter62]

("DON'T") Your starter will take the abuse! The JD's do have a self-bleeding system, but I have never wanted to test it! I also have diesel Ford's and Kubotas, with no self bleeding, and ran the Ford dry, "one time only," which wasted a couple of hours for a restart without a manual to help. The gauge should be an easy fix, and reduce your stress? Maybe the fuel sender has been contaminated with water, loose connection, frayed wire, etc,or new gauge?

I haven't stayed current on the new Kubotas features; but I have never seen self-bleeding in their brochures?

 

[GaryCrowell]

It won't hurt anything but it's a hugh PITA. I don't care if it's self bleeding or not, it's a pain. Do it once and you won't do it again.

 

[texasjohn]

Everything I know about the agonies of running dry is in this recent thread Included are some stories from others as well.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/122436-l5030-ran-out-diesel-how.html

Moral: keep at lease 1 gallon in reserve and use it when things get tight!

 

[Bird]

I once got a lot of water in my diesel fuel, so I had to drain the entire fuel system and, in the process, learned how to bleed the injectors on my B7100. Kind of a nuisance, but no big deal. Later when I was baling hay, the other guy was raking with an old Farmall that broke down. So he continued the raking with my B7100 and ran out of fuel. I'm sure it took me less than 10 minutes to bleed everything and get it running again because of the prior experience.

 

[JoeL4330]

My hard-learned advice is that the instant it dies and you suspect fuel, don't try and restart it until you refuel and fuel is running freely into the filter bowl. Then the bleeding is relatively painless ...open the bleed screw (on my Kub L4330) and crank.

If you ignore the signs and keep crankin' and it keeps dyin' then you will have drained every ounce in every line and cracking the injector lines and cranking and cranking (w. low duty cycle to save the starter) is the order of the day.

 

[Rara Avis]

Getting air out of fuel system on older Yanmar powered JDs
1.Loosen Bleed screws on filter
2.Turn key to first position
3.Tighten screws when fuel flows free of bubbles
4.Loosen Bleed screw on injection pump
5.Tighten screw when fuel flows free of bubbles
Start Engine...
If no start..., then repeat Steps 1-5 and then
6.Loosen all injector nuts...(drop 17mm wrench in dirt... )
7.Use starter to turn engine over
8.When fuel appears at injectors, tighten injector nuts (using 17mm wrench which must be retrieved from ground...)
9.Start Engine...
If no start... , then repeat Steps 1-9 and practice special language skills...

If you repeat steps 1-9 enough...get out battery charger and watch rest of NASCAR Race...

 

[CDsdad]

......If no start... , then repeat Steps 1-9 and practice special language skills... ....

Very correct. If all else fails, curse at whatever you have that won't work. It may not run, but it makes me feel better.

 

[john_bud]

New tractors that are self bleeding are really easy.

My neighbor (former H equipment repair tech) was needing some help when I first got the kubota. Was so busy, I didn't watch the needle sit on the E until is coughed and stopped. Uh-oh, He went in to get his tool kit, charger, extra battery etc. I added 5 gal from the can, turned the lever, cranked for 5 seconds and it started. Turned the lever back and continued working. He came out with his jaw dropped --> "How'ed you get it going so quick?".

It's a whole nother story on the 1963 ford tractor!

Still, keep fuel in there and keep it on the top of the tank to keep water out. Also, when you run dry you usually run the tank droppings out and that can foul the filter.

jb

 

[milkman]

Two weeks ago, I tilled the neighbor's garden, went over it three times, was still showing 1/2 tank of fuel so I went to my garden and started tilling there. I tilled for about twenty minutes and the tractor stumbled and died, I thought the fuel filter was stopped up so I went to the house and got a new filter and installed it. I turned on the key and the fuel pump started so I left the key on and put the tools away, cranked it over and it started and died again. I looked at the fuel filter and it was still empty so I took the fuel cap off an it was dry as a bone, got some fuel and put in it, turned the key on again and the filter filled with fuel, cranked less than 5 seconds and started, run rough for maybe 5 more seconds and back to normal. I didn't have to bleed anything, same when I change a fuel filter, starts up and runs rough for a few seconds and levels off. Never have to bleed anything.

 

[CurlyDave]

Do it once and you won't do it again.

The only violation of this rule I have ever seen was my neighbor, whose kids have run it dry several times, but he is the one who has to get it started again.

 

[Egon]

Not so Curly! There are some of us that are very slow on the uptake or is take up and do end up checking the bottom of the fuel tank for debris on an regular basis. Actually this may be a good thing to know what is in the bottom of the tank.

My Kubota B7100 is quite easy to bleed and the two wrenches required are usually in the minute sized tool box. about the only tools in there.

 

[Bedlam]

My friend, has an older ford tractor, and it always stops running, but not for the lack of fuel.The small screen in the tank get clogged and he is 'stranded' And then its a 30 minute job for him to bleed the system after he has used an air line to blow back and clean the screen.
Id think removal and cleaning would be in order.
I suggested maybe draining it and then using a shop vac to get into the tank and vac out the crud. I'm not sure it the screen would come with it or not.
Either way I sure wouldn't leave it that way

 

[Aguanga]

I suggested maybe draining it and then using a shop vac to get into the tank and vac out the crud. I'm not sure it the screen would come with it or not.
Either way I sure wouldn't leave it that way

Not to hijack the thread, but this instantly reminded me of a bad story... keep in mind that diesel has a higher flash point and is less volatile than gasoline - none-the-less. However, I knew a guy that was undergoing A LOT of physical therapy and treatment for extensive burns over most of his body. He had to wear a clear plastic face mask most of the day and the special garments over most of the burned skin on his body as it slowly healed. It turned out that he was changing a fuel filter in his garage and had some spilled fuel. He used his wet/dry vac and quickly set himself and everything around him on fire. Diesel is different from gas, but you'll never catch me using a shop vac on anything remotely flamable!

 

[Bedlam]

Guess I should ad that I was more on the line of it being allowed to dry best it can first.

 

[milkman]

I have a Kubota BX-2230, and the fuel gauge does not seem to be very accurate. I have heard that running a diesel fuel tank dry is bad news. How paranoid do I have to be about running low on diesel?

Since you asked about your specific tractor, I should have made it clear that yours has an electric pump and is self bleading so you don't have to be paranoid about running low on diesel. The only inconvenience is you may have to carry fuel to the tractor, but there is no problem getting the tractor restarted after you run it out of fuel. Just wanted to answer your specific question. Other tractors that are not self bleeding, that may not be the case.

 

[daTeacha]

Not to hijack the thread, but this instantly reminded me of a bad story... keep in mind that diesel has a higher flash point and is less volatile than gasoline - none-the-less. However, I knew a guy that was undergoing A LOT of physical therapy and treatment for extensive burns over most of his body. He had to wear a clear plastic face mask most of the day and the special garments over most of the burned skin on his body as it slowly healed. It turned out that he was changing a fuel filter in his garage and had some spilled fuel. He used his wet/dry vac and quickly set himself and everything around him on fire. Diesel is different from gas, but you'll never catch me using a shop vac on anything remotely flamable!

Then there was the genius who removed himself from the gene pool when he used a propane torch to try to thaw the frozen fuel line on his pickup one winter day. I think that one won a Darwin Award