Tractor dies after a few minutes of running

As you mentioned, it sounds like a fuel issue. Did you have summer fuel in when the cold spell got you? If so, have you since removed or diluted that fuel with a winter blend?

I'd get good fuel with winter blend and a new fuel filter before going any further. Probably a real simple problem.

Are you located in the North East? Just guessing....

A summer blend of diesel fuel will begin to gel when the fuel reaches a temp. usually under about 20 deg.F

Here's a link to help you understand. https://nwfuel.ca/whats-deal-winter-diesel/

By the way, welcome to the forum and we all appreciate your service!

Had this issue with fuel gelling with my old tractor. What I eventually did was drain out all the diesel and refilled with winter diesel also treated with an additive. To aid in starting because you have summer diesel in the pump put a heat source near the pump. I used a small space heater. Once you get the tractor running let it run to burn off the old diesel. I've now got in the habit of treating all diesel before filling tractor. Therefore your always protected.

Problem with adding an additive like Power Service (what I use) to a tank of summer fuel is getting it to mix in. You need to start and run the tractor for a while to let the return to tank fuel mix in the additive. Idle is fine but it needs to run. Just adding the additive won't mix it in. You can also drive the tractor around to get the fuel agitated and that will mix it in as well.

Back in the day, I used to use kerosene as winter additive. Probably still works. Not sure though, I'm a Power Service person with a dash of Power Kleen as well.

Flip is raising a very good point. If you have a tractor with divided fuel tanks it can be even harder to get good mixing because of the fuel flow pattern in the newer common rail engines. Basically it is a good idea to plan ahead in the fall.

First off welcome to the forum. Like others have said it shouldn't be anything too serious. First thing I would do is change the filter again if you haven't already. I'm quiet a bit further north than you and I've never used a treatment following the advice of my dealer and I've never had fuel gel. Maybe just lucky I'm not sure. Good luck, looking forward to hearing the outcome.

Something else you might want to check is the fuel lines they do after a time become soft and will collapse and shut your fuel off. just a thought

Another thing it could be is algae build up. I would add a little Biocide to it as well as the Power Service.

Another possibility is that the breather holes in the fuel cap are plugged causing a vacuum in the tank. Try running it with the fuel cap loose to see if that makes a difference.

I think many of your have never actually experienced fuel jelling, and I really think its a BAD idea to encourage the original poster to just randomly pour things in his gas tanks such as Algaecide or Power Service.

This is NEVER recommended unless you are filling a Known size tank that you can premix before putting it in your tractor, and even then I would not recommend it. I have heard of people adding anti-gel solutions to near empty tanks and bending rods as a result. It simply is not necessary unless you live in the Yukon or Alaska where you routinely see -18°F (-28°C) or colder.

I have multiple tractors, and multiple diesel vehicles and almost exclusively use #2 diesel even during the winter as my tank is filled in September for the winter, and I have never had a issue with gelling fuel, at least not to the point that it would prevent a start.

It sounds to me like the OP is suffering from another issue.

Now onto your problem
BX1870 is powered by a standard D722 engine, no direct injection, no common rail, no emissions, very simple, so the issue is most likely very simple.

Start of with the fuel pump. Check the fuel pump fuse and if OK, Check fuel pump for operation, its located under the tractor, mid tractor under your footwell.

When working properly the pump vibrates, it is a pulsating magnetic pump. These pumps fail relatively frequently. I have replaced several in even low hour machines, they just get stuck, sometimes a bump with a rubber mallet gets them going again. Typically the symptoms I get from a bad fuel pump is the machine will start without issue, but once you throttle up or it runs out of fuel in the filter, it just stalls.

There is no fuel Pump relay on a BX tractor that I am aware of. I do not believe it draws enough amperage to justify it, but it does have a dedicated fuse.

mendonsy said:

Another possibility is that the breather holes in the fuel cap are plugged causing a vacuum in the tank. Try running it with the fuel cap loose to see if that makes a difference.

Click to expand...

This is a good idea as well. It does have dedicated breather lines, and it is a return system, but very possible especially with a electric fuel pump

Not a better feeling then getting something going again by doing it yourself and not costing much!

As Summers begin to fade, remember to let your fuel level drop a bit and top it off with Winter blend. Around here stations begin selling that by October. Buy your fuel from the busiest truck stop nearby, and ask them when their fuel comes in treated. Will save you grief in the future.