So here is a long winded reply. I'm hoping some of you find this useful as I have tried to document this as best as possible.
This morning I went to the tractor dealer and they suggested that I may have some algae in there so I bought some algaecide for it.
Here is what I did:
1. Removed filter and took video's of the flow. I realized later on this was reduced flow on both the filter and the fuel line. Videos included.
Fuel filter video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNptbGsLn_Y&list=UUoQ2FLqUlZIzDrFTyw4FYmw&index=5
Fuel line video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQYzXcU_KTM&list=UUoQ2FLqUlZIzDrFTyw4FYmw
2. Next I drained the gas tank from the bottom as well as started to siphon from the top.
3. I drained all the fuel into a clean white bucket to observe for any debris. There was nothing in all 5 gallons. Totally clean. If there was any algae, I did not see it. Nothing brown. No sludge. Nothing.
Nothing came out of the fuel filter other than fuel.
After a few minutes the fuel settled and I could see the bottom of the bucket and it was clear.
4. At this point I did what I think solved the problem (at least temporarily) for me. I took an air compressor nozzle while there was still some fuel dribbling out and put 30psi into the fuel line. I heard the air moving into the tank and then I witnessed the fuel coming out much much faster out of the fuel line.
Here is a video of what I believe is a correctly flowing fuel line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGz5yZgnGCg&list=UUoQ2FLqUlZIzDrFTyw4FYmw
5. The tank was empty from both the bottom and the top with only a bit of standing fuel left. Here is a cell phone pic of the inside of the tank.
6. Then I attempted to clean the inside with a wet-dry vac. I duct taped a tube onto the end and attempted to suction. I did this for about 1-2 minutes and I had no luck. At least not that I know of. Not sure this was worth it.
7. Then I taped a clean towel to the tube and attempted to "wipe" anything clean from inside the tank. I did not have any debris at all.
8. At this point I dd not feel like pulling the tank. I smelled of diesel and I needed some time on the machine. I temporarily put the filter back in place as I did not see it was clogged. I refilled the tank with the same fuel I took out. I just strained it with a clean cloth when I refilled.
9. Just for giggles I put on a new fuel filter even though the old one did not seem clogged. It flowed MUCH better so here is a video of the fresh fuel filter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55-BolOa_CQ&list=UUoQ2FLqUlZIzDrFTyw4FYmw
10. Reassembled, the tractor acts totally different now. I guess this was slowly getting clogged over time. I don't remember the last time the machine moved this fast.
While what I did today was not a "fix" per se, I learned quite a bit about what a good filter was supposed to flow like, what an unclogged fuel line should flow like.
Next time if this happens I know a quick fix should be just a hit with an air compressor.
As far as a real "fix" for the future. I believe the answer is similar to what I had read on another forum. There really should be some sort of access panel to the fuel tank. I may cut a hole in the top (under the chair) and create some sort of panel. From what I've read on another forum, someone sealed it with some sort of galvanized sheetmetal + silicone.
This morning I went to the tractor dealer and they suggested that I may have some algae in there so I bought some algaecide for it.
Here is what I did:
1. Removed filter and took video's of the flow. I realized later on this was reduced flow on both the filter and the fuel line. Videos included.
Fuel filter video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNptbGsLn_Y&list=UUoQ2FLqUlZIzDrFTyw4FYmw&index=5
Fuel line video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQYzXcU_KTM&list=UUoQ2FLqUlZIzDrFTyw4FYmw
2. Next I drained the gas tank from the bottom as well as started to siphon from the top.
3. I drained all the fuel into a clean white bucket to observe for any debris. There was nothing in all 5 gallons. Totally clean. If there was any algae, I did not see it. Nothing brown. No sludge. Nothing.
Nothing came out of the fuel filter other than fuel.
After a few minutes the fuel settled and I could see the bottom of the bucket and it was clear.
4. At this point I did what I think solved the problem (at least temporarily) for me. I took an air compressor nozzle while there was still some fuel dribbling out and put 30psi into the fuel line. I heard the air moving into the tank and then I witnessed the fuel coming out much much faster out of the fuel line.
Here is a video of what I believe is a correctly flowing fuel line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGz5yZgnGCg&list=UUoQ2FLqUlZIzDrFTyw4FYmw
5. The tank was empty from both the bottom and the top with only a bit of standing fuel left. Here is a cell phone pic of the inside of the tank.
6. Then I attempted to clean the inside with a wet-dry vac. I duct taped a tube onto the end and attempted to suction. I did this for about 1-2 minutes and I had no luck. At least not that I know of. Not sure this was worth it.
7. Then I taped a clean towel to the tube and attempted to "wipe" anything clean from inside the tank. I did not have any debris at all.
8. At this point I dd not feel like pulling the tank. I smelled of diesel and I needed some time on the machine. I temporarily put the filter back in place as I did not see it was clogged. I refilled the tank with the same fuel I took out. I just strained it with a clean cloth when I refilled.
9. Just for giggles I put on a new fuel filter even though the old one did not seem clogged. It flowed MUCH better so here is a video of the fresh fuel filter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55-BolOa_CQ&list=UUoQ2FLqUlZIzDrFTyw4FYmw
10. Reassembled, the tractor acts totally different now. I guess this was slowly getting clogged over time. I don't remember the last time the machine moved this fast.
While what I did today was not a "fix" per se, I learned quite a bit about what a good filter was supposed to flow like, what an unclogged fuel line should flow like.
Next time if this happens I know a quick fix should be just a hit with an air compressor.
As far as a real "fix" for the future. I believe the answer is similar to what I had read on another forum. There really should be some sort of access panel to the fuel tank. I may cut a hole in the top (under the chair) and create some sort of panel. From what I've read on another forum, someone sealed it with some sort of galvanized sheetmetal + silicone.
