What's wrong with my BX23S?

[Spam Bot]

Yesterday, when it was 10 degrees outside, and my tractor hadn't been plugged in, it started fine, but when I started moving it, it stalled. I could get it started, but it wouldn't keep running, so I assumed it was fuel gelling. I put a torpedo heater on it, and plugged in the block heater, and it started, but was still a little finicky. Once I had it running fine, I added more Service Power to the fuel, and it smoothed out after about an hour of idling. I also had filled it with fresh fuel earlier in the week at my local station, where I have been buying fuel for years. They sell a lot of fuel, so I believe that it should be fresh. Put the tractor in my house garage, which is warm, and plug in the block heater. This afternoon, I started the tractor and started to snowblow my driveway. Everything was fine until I was about 2000 feet from the garage, when it started to lose RPM, then went back up to 2500 RPM, then dropped again, just like it did yesterday. I limped it back to the garage and put it away.
My first thought was that the blowing snow might be chilling the fuel under the tractor, causing a gelling problem, but it has more than enough Service Power in the fuel that the cold shouldn't affect the chill around the bottom fuel filter. Now I am not certain exactly what I should do next. The only thing that I can think of is that there might have been some water in the fuel that I got; I have no way to tell. Looking for suggestions on what to do next. For those who remember that one of my fuel cans had water in it, that particular can has been retired.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

if you think water in the fuel is the issue I would attack agressively and get it right by:

1. adding a fuel demulsifir. This will make any water settle to the bottom of the tank vs using an emulsifier which tries to get the water to flow through the filters and injectors to blow out the exhaust.
2. drain the tank and suck it as dry as possible as the demulsifier should settle out any water to the bottom. Dont use this fuel in the tractor again.
3. change and/or clean any fuel filters / seperators your tractor may or may not have.
4. re-fill with fresh and clean fuel.
5. add a little anti gel and a little biocide.

I like the PowerServ stuff. seems to work and easily available. About an hours work and this way you can feel confident the potential water issue is behind you.

 

[John T]

Change your fuel filters.

You can dump in all the additive you want.... It won't help dirty filters.

 

[Spam Bot]

That is what I was thinking, but it was running fine until the bitter cold weather set in.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

It probably not water in the fuel.
It more likely a safety switch that is wet and freezing.
I've seen the seat switch get too cold and not properly activate, along with the HST switch.

 

[John T]

That is what I was thinking, but it was running fine until the bitter cold weather set in.

I had the same exact symptoms last week. (BX23S)
I changed both filters and BAM.... runs like a top again.

few years ago, I relocated my fuel pump and filter to the front frame rail.... So it's a piece of cake to change both.
I use a small steel filter on the frame rail (purolator F10024) and the stock larger plastic (see through) filter up near the engine.

works great.

 

[RCW]

Your tractor has a "return" line for excess fuel from the injectors back to the tank.

That return can actually warm the fuel in the tank a little after running a while.

Guess I would suspect something else first - - filters are the first thought, but spit-balling. Safety switch (seat) is another thought...

 

[Spam Bot]

Your tractor has a "return" line for excess fuel from the injectors back to the tank.

That return can actually warm the fuel in the tank a little after running a while.

Guess I would suspect something else first - - filters are the first thought, but spit-balling. Safety switch (seat) is another thought...

That might be it! I've lost over 30 pounds in the last 3 months. I am actually feeling a lot better, except for the tractor problem. I will have to wait till I can get to the Kubota dealer to get some new filters. I just checked my filter stock and didn't replace them after using the last 2 on the shelf. I did find a new air filter, so I threw that in while I had the hood up.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Do you have a 'cold coffee mason jar' filter in the fuel tank inlet ? If not , you could have an itty bitty sliver of plastic semi floating in the tank I had to 'limp home one day.....ended up removing tank from tractor and a n itty bitty sliver of plastic had semi jammed itself in the 'exit' spigot of the tank. There is NO way any inspection could have seen it. Kinda PITA to get tank out BUT it was the only way to be 100% certain sliver got out. That was 6 years/ 1200hrs ago and ZERO fuel issues. I run straight diesel, no additives, tractor's in warm(45-50*F) garage at night.
Hopefully not your problem but.......... it is a possiblity.

 

[Spam Bot]

The filter has been in for 2 years now. I learned from your problem. With a cab, removing the tank would be next to impossible. thanks.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

process of elimination...
as others have said ,change both filters...?

 

[William1]

I had similar issues, the filter near the tank was black with crusty dead microbes. Take a look see it it and compare to how the one after the fuel pump looks. Black for clogged, white for probably clear....

 

[whitetiger]

Save yourself a lot of time and trouble, put the Hi-Low lever in neutral, step on the HST pedal, and roll your butt around in the seat. If it acts up, then it's probably a switch.

 

[RCW]

Save yourself a lot of time and trouble, put the Hi-Low lever in neutral, step on the HST pedal, and roll your butt around in the seat. If it acts up, then it's probably a switch.

Save yourself a lot of time and trouble.

Do what @whitetiger suggests…..

 

[hagrid]

Let the butt-rolling commence.

 

[Spam Bot]

I went out this morning, and the tractor ran fine, with not a single hiccup. The only difference is that it was 25 degrees instead of 10 degrees. I tried moving my ass around the seat, and it never cut out, so I doubt that it was the seat switch. I checked, and the fuel filters have about 50 hours on them, so I don't think that the filters are the problem either.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I'd drain 100% of the 'fuel' in the tank, start 100% FRESH fuel. This way you KNOW it's not a 'what's in the tank' problem.

 

[Joe.G]

I would lean towards a seat switch or the outlet of fuel tank getting clogged, If it does it again pull fuel line off and see how the fuel is flowing before the filter.