L5030 Running out of fuel

[Randy1]

I recently purchased a 2006 L5030 with 800 hours on it one owner. According to the manual and spec sheets I've read on-line, the fuel tank should hold 11.4 gallons. The issue is, I'm running out of fuel (filter canister empty) when the fuel gauge is reading one mark above half tank and it takes about 5.5 gallons to fill it back up. From an appearance standpoint the tank looks to be large enough to hold the 11.4 gal. as mentioned in the manual, etc. In addition, I would hope a 50 hp. tractor would carry more than 5.5 gal. of fuel. Unfortunately, do to the inlet position and configuration of the tank I'm unable to see if it's completely empty.
I haven't had much time to look into the issue and haven't ruled out the fuel gauge nor have I probed the tank to see if it's empty.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced a situation like this or have any thoughts.

Thank you in advance,
Randy

 

[Russell King]

Probably there is something plugging up the fuel flow. Drain all fuel from tank through the line to the filter. That will show you how much is in the tank and what it looks like and if it flows to the filter.
If it runs ok until the tank is half empty then dies, the plugging can be discounted. It may be that there is a lift pump to pump the fuel to the actual injector pump. There is probably enough head pressure when tank is full but not when half full.
I would bet on my second guess.


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[Dave_eng]

I can speak specifically on your model of tractor but most are designed in the way I will describe.
When the fuel tank is half full or more and you are operating on level ground, gravity will deliver fuel from the tank to the injection pump.
If tank levels are lower and further, if you are on sloped ground, the gravity fuel feed no longer works and designers incorporate lift pumps to move fuel from the tank to the injection pump.
The lift pump is usually some sort of simple mechanical pump mounted on the side of the engine. If you follow the fuel line from the bottom of the tank you will come to the lift pump which is usually before the filter but not always.
Sometimes, and likely in your model, the lift pump will be electrical. It will look like a metallic cylinder with two fuel connections and some wires coming out of it.
When you start running out of fuel with the gauge still showing fuel in the tank, suspect the lift pump is not delivering fuel to the injection pump.
I am an M7040 owner and although I have not had this type of problem with this tractor, I have had with older ones. On the M7040 the fuel tank is mounted beneath the floor and gravity will never raise fuel up to the injection pump. Likely there is an electrical pump buried within the fuel tank like on modern cars. There is a mechanical pump on top of the fuel filter on the right side of the engine but I think this is only for bleeding the system when you run out of fuel.
Dave M7040

 

[Tx Jim]

My guess is you have a failed or weak lift pump(parts key 090). If it was my tractor I'd install an electric lift pump. I agree you should check for good fuel flow from tank.