Tales of running out of fuel (and the remedy).

airbiscuit · Oct 10, 2021

I know that it's best to never run out of fuel, so I never let my tractors get below 1/2 tank. That said, I've still had to bleed/prime my system.

Experience #1 - Had a New Holland TC 21D that started running poorly. I noticed a lot of water in the fuel filter bowl, so I changed the filter, but I either lost the prime, or there was too much water in the injector lines. Loosened the fittings at the injectors, cranked the engine over a bit and re-tightened the fittings. Purred like a kitten again.

Experience # 2 - I cracked the fuel filter bowl on my Kubota L 3010. It was at our hunting land, so I replaced the filter and bowl in the field. I knew about losing prime, so I made sure the fuel bowl was full before I tightened it down. It started right up, ran great, then quit. My heart sank. This was my first fuel filter change on the Kubota, and I wasn't familiar with how Kubota deals bleeding the system. I went home and read the manual and found out that all you have to loosen a knob on the injector pump and crank it over. Tighten it back up once it starts. It couldn't have been easier.

Lesson Learned - Familiarize yourself how to prime/bleed the system on all your tractors before you need to. The day may come at the most inopportune moments.

Would like to hear the experiences of others for the benefit of other TBN members.

CausticUrbanCoast · Oct 11, 2021

Do you refuel at the end of the day?

TMGT · Oct 11, 2021

I have an older Case 1845c skid steer that I bought cheap to help clear some land for my shop, it is missing the gauge panel (common failure) so I have no idea how much fuel is in it most of the time.

I was ripping with an old track loader and using the Case to remove the dirt, while trying to take down a decent size white oak I had to dog down about 4+ ft next to the trunk to break enough roots in order to push it over.
Of course I managed to run out of fuel in the bottom of the hole in the dark! Luckily the old 4b cummins with the rotary style pumps are self priming apparenlty.
Good thing the battery held up long enough to get it restarted and out of the hole.

RjCorazza · Oct 11, 2021

Definitely a good idea to know the bleeding procedure before you need to use it,
I recently replaced the 2 fuel tank filters on my Kubota ZD1211 mower. Each tank must be bled separately (close one, bleed the other, repeat for 2nd tank). I suspect there is a bleeder valve at the engine, but it's not used in the process. No running the engine, just key on for the electric lift pump activation.
My L4060 is similar in that the electric lift pump is keyed on, but there is a bleeder valve on top of the fuel filter.

oosik · Oct 11, 2021

I refuel my tractor every time I use it. No exceptions. Never had problem of running out of fuel. I did have fuel jelling one time. I use Power Service - year round - now.

John0829 · Oct 11, 2021

I fill up at the end of each use no matter if it ran 5 minutes of 5 hours, keeps bad things from developing in the tank and I never have to be concerned about does it have enough fuel.

old and tired · Oct 11, 2021

I think I'm at 3 or 4 times, running out of fuel! Fuel gauge on "standard" L tractors are pretty cheap... once the gauge hits empty, I still have 4 good hours before I need to refill. I can't see emptying anything less than a whole 5 gallon container into my tractor but I'm not going to stop when my gauge reads empty (half full).

4570Man · Oct 11, 2021

old and tired said:
I think I'm at 3 or 4 times, running out of fuel! Fuel gauge on "standard" L tractors are pretty cheap... once the gauge hits empty, I still have 4 good hours before I need to refill. I can't see emptying anything less than a whole 5 gallon container into my tractor but I'm not going to stop when my gauge reads empty (half full).

I’ve ran a kioti tractor out and I’ve ran my diesel lawnmower out. Let the electric pump fill the lines if equipped and move it to full throttle because it pumps more fuel that way. Both machines started back without bleeding. I agree about not wasting time filling up until it’s empty. I run my machines either until they’re on a trailer going by the fuel station or the low fuel light comes on. Now if you planned on not using it for a while filling the tank to prevent condensation is a good idea.

Avenger · Oct 11, 2021

I've only run out of fuel once, ever. It was when I was a kid driving an old 1970's IH tractor. I was about 13 years old, doing some field work about a 1 1/2 miles from the house/shop/fueling area on the farm. The tractors fuel gauge didn't work, but it was easy enough to simply stand up, take the fuel cap off (tank was right behind the steering wheel (or in front, if you want to look at it that way)), and look in. I saw that I needed fuel, it was getting low, and it was about lunch time anyway.

So, I folded up my implement and made the road move to the house. I pulled in the drive and thought I'd just run in, grab a bite really quick, come back out, fuel the tractor, and drive back out to the field. Well, I pulled in the drive, idled the tractor, ran inside, bathroom break, make a sandwich, park my butt in front of the TV, eat, finish TV show, run back out to the idling tractor, and drove back to the field....

About half way there, I realized I forgot something... the friggen FUEL! And just then, the engine started looping, and idling down. I pulled off the road and shut off the engine as quickly as I could. Now, I'm in trouble. I start walking back home, and got picked up by my grandpa. Told him what I had done, who scolded me. We got a can of fuel and some tools. It took us... well, him, about 30 minutes to bleed the lines and get it running again. All the while, he was scolding me. I did help, where and how I could, but it was his show.

I never let that tractor, or any other tractor, get that low on fuel again.

Thats not to say that break downs dont happen. I've ripped fuel lines, bad pumps, etc. But I've never again let it run out of fuel.