Remote fuel filter install

[smokin_dodge]

As its winter time, i decided to do a full service on dads "heavy" equipment. Just an old TN65 and a TW72 and TW96 mower.

The mowers are back to working condition, but the tractor kept giving me issues this weekend. I would mow for about a hour and start to experience power loss. If I let the tractor sit and cool down it would run again, but each time less and less.

I did an oil change right in the field to make sure there weren't any metal particles or potential catastrophic failures and all oil was clean, as well as hydraulic/tranny oil - nothing wrong there. I checked the engine coolant while it was running and no bubbling so the headgasket was still good. Must be the fuel system...

Finally got to the point where i was limping it from the field - she finally died about 1000' from the barn. Pulled the fuel filter and it was bone dry....so definatly something bad in the fuel system.

After about 5 trips of walking back and forth between the barn and tractor with a fuel filter full of diesel I decided to tear apart the fuel system and see what the problem was. each time the engine would die, I would unscrew the fuel filter and the same thing would happen - it would create a vacuum. system must be clogged somewhere

http://s397.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=IMG_0728.mp4

finally pulled the system apart and found grass in the fuel pump - lots of grass....(pic is a little blurry)


here is where the original fuel lines ran - through the block and under the body - just the right spot to be snagged by a limb or other piece of debris. after a few years of working on ritaways - ive learned that if it hangs down, it will get ripped off!



new fuel line installed - decided to replace all the lines and start over.


first re-routed fuel line with inline small debris filter. Honestly I was surprised that there wasn't an inline filter to stop debris before it got to the fuel pump.


and the new re-routed lines above the transmission for easy access. I installed the second filter right in the middle for convenience and easy access when it gets clogged



and finally the old girl with a fresh coat of rattle can paint - i try and pain it every few years to help protect the hood


Cost for my remote filter install:
$2.00 per foot of fuel line - about $40
10 hose clamps at about $1 each
(2) 5/16" fuel filters - $3.99 each

=about $60 for a little added protection

[mwshaw]

The fuel pickup screen is bad about clogging in diesels as the diesel fuel will go bad if fuel stabilizer is not added to it. I have a bobcat that the fuel pickup completely clogged up on, you could put a full vacuum on the line and no fuel would come thru the pickup filter. Also bobcats are bad about breaking off the flex line in the tank from inlet fitting to pickup. This is a bobcat 753 not a milller bobcat. I don't know if the fuel inlet screen on your tractor is like the one on a bobcat, but looking at the one on the bobcat you would not think fuel would go bad enough to clog it.

[smokin_dodge]

the fuel was good - fresh fuel a few months ago and I add stabilizer. unfortunatly my dad lost the fuel cap - so it filled up with grass debris. I installed the filters to catch the grass that is left in the tank until it is almost empty - then i can clean out the fuel tank.