312-8 won't stay running

[TheMooseIsLoose 14]

I was mowing the lawn & my tractor was running fine then I inadvertently let it run out of gas. I filled it up but it is a long trip from tank to carb but it finally started with the choke all the way out. My problem is when I push the choke back in it stalls, pull it out it will stay running but not much power. I was wondering if the gas line has air in it, this is the first time this has happened to me.

[rexman72 210]

did you replace the fuel filter?

[jaydeer 14]

COuld be couple things. If a tank runs out of fuel, all the gunk in the tank can clog or partially clog the screen at the bottom of the tank designed to keep the stuff out of the engine, can clog the fuel filter, fuel pump, and jets in the carb.

I would clean the carb jets, check to ensure the fuel pump is working correctly, and check the fuel filter and screen. What I have seen a lot of recently is with this crappy ethenal gasoline I have had several cases of carbs getting gummed up, but yours sounds like gasoline tank detritus partially plugging some aspect of the fuel system.

[TheMooseIsLoose 14]

i did not check the fuel filter, is the screen in the tank accessible from the outside or do I have to take it all apart. Also I could also dis-connect the gas line going to the carberator to see if if gas is pumping from the the fuel pump. I am not a carb expert so I would need someone else to look at it.

[can whlvr 994]

yes you are on the right tract,take off the line to the carb,put something around the line(put it in a jar etc)and crank over the engine,see if the fuel pump is pumping,i take the line off at the fuel tank too,this is where the screen is usually,see if the fuel flows and look for debris in the petcock,or on the screen,if they are fine you need to clean the carb as mentioned allredy

[Duff 206]

I think John and Don are heading you in the right direction. One other thing I've noticed about the ethanol fuel - it can literally eat up the fuel lines in the older tractors. I have a 312-8 that had sat for a number of years unused in someone's (dry, heated) basement. Like yourself, after I got it going I ran it a while and accidentally ran it out of fuel. When I refilled it the engine did the same thing - ran, but only with some choke. I finally took the entire fuel system apart. There were flakes of dried out rubber all over everywhere inside, and the fuel line actually fell off at the intake side of the fuel pump when I nudged it while loosening up the clamp it was so rotted. So even if it takes some outside help, I'd strongly recommend you pull the fuel system and carb apart (sounds formidable, but not really that big a job), clean everything, replace the fuel lines and add an in-line fuel filter if it doesn't already have one. A little time and a few dollars now may give you many, many happy hours of trouble free seat time!

Duff :woohoo:

[TheMooseIsLoose 14]

Sounds like a lot of good info. I also have a 416-8 & a 520-H that I can use. My 312-8 needs other work to so I will make this a winter project. Thank for the help