Sediment bowel necessity

Eric_Phillips · Jun 25, 2017

Sediment bowl necessity

I have a '65 L8 that I was having problems with he sediment bowl leaking. Out os shear laziness it took me several years to finally get some cork and make a new gasket. During this time I lost the bracket that hols the glass bowl. there already is a fuel filter in the gas line so in the attempt to get this moving again I just removed the sediment bowl and connected the fuel line directly to the carb. I have verified the fuel makes it to the end of the fuel line but seems to not make it into the carb. Before I go down the rebuild the carb is there some reason the sediment bowl is essential to this system?

TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark · Jun 25, 2017

This is a bowel.

View attachment 513374

This is a bowl.

View attachment 513375

You're welcome.

Cataclysm · Jun 25, 2017

Eric_Phillips said:
I have a '65 L8 that I was having problems with he sediment bowel leaking. Out os shear laziness it took me several years to finally get some cork and make a new gasket. During this time I lost the bracket that hols the glass bowel. there already is a fuel filter in the gas line so in the attempt to get this moving again I just removed the sediment bowel and connected the fuel line directly to the carb. I have verified the fuel makes it to the end of the fuel line but seems to not make it into the carb. Before I go down the rebuild the carb is there some reason the sediment bowel is essential to this system?

Yes, the sediment bowl is essential. It is a dirt and water filter so the junk in the fuel won't clog up the carburetor. It would be ok to bypass it to get the tractor home or to a repair shop. To run it w/o that will soon lead to a clogged up carburetor.

You can buy a new sediment bowl assembly at most tractor supply stores or easily order one online. All the ones I have seen are inexpensive.

I would bet the float is stuck shut in the carburetor. Usually there is a way to pull just the bowl off and clean it out, while your there you can spray some carb cleaner around the needle and seat then carefully juggle the float and free up the float/needle/seat assembly.

It's possible that it will need a complete carburetor rebuild before it runs very well.

It's a pretty easy job to rebuild a carb and kits are usually pretty inexpensive.

Eric_Phillips · Jun 25, 2017

Re: Sediment bowl necessity

Thank you I fixed my spelling error. No need to start a discussion on leaky bowels.

Shouldn't an inline fuel filter remove the junk out of the fuel negating the need for the sediment bowl? Interesting that the sediment bowls from GT Gravely parts and significantly cheaper than the TSC ones.

Coyote machine · Jun 25, 2017

Re: Sediment bowl necessity

Eric_Phillips said:
Thank you I fixed my spelling error. No need to start a discussion on leaky bowels.

Shouldn't an inline fuel filter remove the junk out of the fuel negating the need for the sediment bowl? Interesting that the sediment bowls from GT Gravely parts and significantly cheaper than the TSC ones.

Yes and no. Once the cheap azzed in line filter clogs what then? With a sediment bowl one can SEE the chit in the bowl and drain it out. Or one can continue to use it until it clogs solid and the tractor stops running. Youse choice....

boggen · Jun 25, 2017

i got bloody tired of sediment bowl. went through 4 of the stupid things, and different 0 rings materials.

i just got a cheap clear (see through) in line fuel filter. and was done with it. and never looked backed. price of inline fuel filter and a couple fittings, was well worth my time. vs ready to empty the fuel from tractor and then toss fuel back on tractor and light a match.

the inline fuel filters are cheap enough, i bought 2 for one for backup. in case a weed or stick or something tore filter off or it got clogged.

Eric_Phillips · Jul 1, 2017

After spraying carb cleaner in the fuel inlet port and letting it sit the engine did run. It wasn't pretty but it ran. I pulled the carb off and separated the two halves and cleaned things the best I could. Put it all back to gather and it now makes lots of noise. the muffler ready to fall off is probably that problem. i puts our a little white smoke but at least it runs again.

RickB · Jul 1, 2017

Sediment bowls are very efficient at separating water and other heavier-than-fuel contaminants. Difficulty with o ring and or seal failure is all but certain to be directly related to poor choice of materials or poor installation. Buy the correct seal and install it with care.

prs · Jul 7, 2017

My two cents; the quality see through in line filtes, such as WIX, are every bit as good as the filter/sediment bowls. Plus, the in line type is less mess and trouble. On my JD farm tractor I only had 34 years of use on it and the top that holds that sediment bowl started seeping around the inlet. Had to epoxy the inlet nipple back in. What poor service! ;-)

prs

Ford850 · Jul 7, 2017

A sediment bowl catches and holds a lot of crap, so I could see where you call it a sediment bowel.

Oldoak · Jul 7, 2017

RickB said:
Sediment bowls are very efficient at separating water and other heavier-than-fuel contaminants. Difficulty with o ring and or seal failure is all but certain to be directly related to poor choice of materials or poor installation. Buy the correct seal and install it with care.

:thumbsup:

There are there for a reason, I would never bypass it and wouldn't have a tractor without one in the fuel system.

RickB · Jul 7, 2017

prs said:
My two cents; the quality see through in line filtes, such as WIX, are every bit as good as the filter/sediment bowls. Plus, the in line type is less mess and trouble. On my JD farm tractor I only had 34 years of use on it and the top that holds that sediment bowl started seeping around the inlet. Had to epoxy the inlet nipple back in. What poor service! ;-)

prs

There are many instances where an inline filter with a paper or similar element causes a troublesome restriction when installed in a gravity feed system.

bob11x · Jul 16, 2017

Re: Sediment bowl necessity

Ditch it- the weight on the bottom of the tank coupled with the vibration of the engine can eventually cause the tank to leak. $6 inline filter - priceless ( like the fuel tank if you don't have a nice used one)

RickB · Jul 16, 2017

Re: Sediment bowl necessity

bob11x said:
Ditch it- the weight on the bottom of the tank coupled with the vibration of the engine can eventually cause the tank to leak. $6 inline filter - priceless ( like the fuel tank if you don't have a nice used one)

And the basis for this nugget comes from where?

bob11x · Jul 16, 2017

Re: Sediment bowl necessity

41 years as a gravely dealer

TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark · Jul 16, 2017

Filter connected directly to the tank with the filter weight supported by the tank?

I agree, that's a poor design. I'd ditch it, too, and mount the filter correctly so that its weight is supported properly instead of being supported by the tank. Ideally, there should be something flexible between the filter and the tank.

RickB · Jul 16, 2017

Sounds more like poorly designed fuel tanks. How many million farm tractors and compact utility tractors have sediment bowls screwed into the bottom of their tanks?

Several. In 60 years on the planet and 22 at dealerships I can't recall seeing a tank fail at the outlet fitting.

I've seen more problems from add on in line fuel filters installed on gravity systems.

But then, I've never owned a Gravely. Maybe just as well.

bob11x · Jul 16, 2017

Farm tractors are normally multi cylinder and low vibration. Gravely designed a fan cooled single cylinder in the early 30's without a college education. It was built until
1976. Approx 30ci and offered in 5.5-7.6 hp. Made a lot of gardens, mowed a lot of grass, and moved a lot of snow for tens of thousands. So yes the farm tractors didn't suffer many broken tanks.....