Fueling Woes...

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

I've been messing with my 520H trying to get it to stop surging without much success. 

It all started one day before I was about to mow a neighbors yard. The gas shutoff valve was leaking and I thought, "no big deal I have a new one I will replace it so I dont loose any gas in the yard". Famous last words. Well, I did replace it (it had the screen, replaced with one that did not have a screen) and I mowed the yard without loosing a drop of fuel. But as I finished the yard, the surging began. 

I didn't have a fuel filter in-line. Now I start going two different directions: try to solve surging (whole lots of time spent that I will not go into here) and replace the fuel lines and add fuel filter. 

Did all that and did not stop the surging but I thought I was good to go. After she sat for a while working on the carb, I tried to fire her up and got nothing. Cranked and cranked... Oh shoot forgot to turn on the gas! So I turn on the gas... Crank and crank. NOTHING! This tractor has less than 400 hours on it!

Pulled the fuel line and it was dry, noticed the fuel filter looked a bit odd... cracked open the filter to find  



It has been on the tractor for less than a few hours of run time! Now the fuel pump is gunked up and the (brand new!) lines are too I think.

LESSON LEARNED: CLEAN THE TANK before bothering with the rest of the fuel system.

The tank is full of crud. I have to take the whole back end apart AGAIN. Augh. 




 

Edited November 7, 2015 by bmsgaffer

[AMC RULES 37,196]

I think I dislike them fuel issues the most. 
One more time Brandon, you'll get it fixed. 

[DougC 2,643]

With me it's mud wasps and mice that always seem to plug up or chew up my best stuff in the garage..... They won't bother the other stuff........

[KC9KAS 4,744]

How did all that crap get into the fuel tank?

[DennisThornton 4,771]

Rinse and blow the tank and the lines, new filter and mow the other neighbors lawn.  Won't take you long.  It is somewhat of a mystery where all that crap comes from though!

[Digger 66 3,488]

I left my fuel cap off the zero-turn Thursday for about 30 seconds .  DUMMY !
One pass through the leaves with a 15 mph west-wind ........1/2 the top of the tractor has to come apart to get the tank out & rinse it . But.... IT WILL BE DONE .


 

[JPWH 6,360]

After cleaning fuel tanks a couple times I now fill up using a screen or cloth to keep junk from the gas can from going in the tank. Even though I clean the gas can regularly junk just mysteriously seems to get in there sometimes.

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

How did all that crap get into the fuel tank?

That is a darn good question! I think the last owner must have left the cap off a couple times. 

Thanks guys, I know its doable its just frustrating. 

[Ed Kennell 42,009]

Bummer

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

Sorry for my ranting, I just had to get it out. I'm feeling much better now! 

I did a band aid repair tonight. I put a second fuel filter in right at the tank for any future crud, blew the lines out, disassembled the fuel pump and found the culprit! A few small pieces of the plastic shavings lodged in the pump valves. Cleaned the pump out really well and she fired in two cranks!  

With all the carb work that had been done thinking that was the problem, she purred better than ever! Idled strong and revved right up. I only had a few minutes to test since it was late and I am trying to respect the neighbors, but I will really test her out tomorrow.

I will clean the tank next time I have a chance to take her apart, and hopefully those shavings arent from the tank! but this should do for now. Thanks everyone for the support! 

I will add a better lesson to my original post:

Upon aquiring a new-to-you Onan tractor, under NO circumstances should you run without at least one fuel filter. I will probably forever have two on her. Right after tank and right after pump. 

[cleat 7,258]

It doesn't really matter what engine you have. They will all act up when the carb and fuel pump are full of debris.

My old Ford whth the Kohler K341 was acting up as well and the culprit was a leaf in the bottom of the tank that would randomly block off the fuel. That one took me a while to figure out as until the tank was drained the leaf was hard to see.

Again, how did it get there ??

Cleat

[Sea-Duck51 55]

After cleaning fuel tanks a couple times I now fill up using a screen or cloth to keep junk from the gas can from going in the tank. Even though I clean the gas can regularly junk just mysteriously seems to get in there sometimes.

I use a screened funnel that painters use,fits perfect in the funnel and there cheap and disposable,find them at your local hardware or big box store in the paint dept.

[cheesegrader 433]

Oh, I feel your pain!
I have not had leaves in the tank, but I do have mice that chew on the strangest things over the winter.
Gas tanks, fuel lines, wires, gaskets, valve stems....
Little monsters!

[Digger 66 3,488]

Again, how did it get there ??

 

See post #6 . Maybe ?

[cleat 7,258]

I got that machine used so who knows. You had to open the hood on the Ford as the tank is under the hood so maybe someone left the cap off and the hood open ??

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

Back to report she ran like a champ today! I tilled up my neighbors garden and ran her around for a couple hours today and it ran great!

I was worries as I thought my gas leak came back as I saw some dripping from the shutoff... until I realized I had loosened the gas cap earlier to help the fuel re-prime the pump...