(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Why does my tractor keep running out of gas?

L

Lanse

Well-known Member
So my IH 2444 uses a 12V fuel pump, and a line that runs diagonally down to it, from the bottom of the fuel tank.

A couple of weeks back, I ran the tractor out of gas, and it sucked a bunch of debris into the fuel line, which clogged right up.

So, I replaced the original steel line with a modern rubber one, and installed a proper fuel filter which previously the tractor was lacking.

Now, the dang thing KEEPS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. I'll just be driving along and the tractor dies. I pull the line off the input to the fuel filter, and just a little
bit trickles out.

Usually the fuel filter wont completely fill, and a bubble of air remains. Sometimes it does completely fill, but this doesnt seem to make much difference.

I've already tried unhooking the fuel line and blowing compressed air up it, to remove any blockages. I just hear gurgles in the gas tank, like theres
nothing slowing the air down.

Any ideas?

The only thing I've learned helps a little, is keeping the tank fairly full. Problem is, its about a 20 gallon tank, and I dont want to keep it all that full,
because I dont put very many hours on the tractor.

Any relevant advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!
IMG_0950_zpst0bnadqg.jpg
 
If it has one pull the sediment bowl assembly out of the bottom of the tank and clean it up that take that fuel filter and throw it as far as you can away from it. A good sediment bowl assembly will do all the filtering you will ever need
 
see if your gas cap vent is plugged. if not you may have junk in your tank blocking flow, when you blow air threw line you're only blowing it around it will eventually settle and plug again.
 
Remove the plug on the carb bowl & bleed the air out of your "auxillary" fuel filter.
Unless you are using an electric fuel pump, that filter is almost worthless.
Buy the type that is designed for a gravity feed fuel system, and it needs to be horizontal to work at all.
I would also place your "auxillary" fuel shut off between the filter & tank.
Or as suggested.......take it all off & replace with factory configuration......sediment bowl & solid fuel line with "gravity" circles", brass screen on the sediment bowl inlet of fuel tank, brass screen in top of sediment bowl, brass screen in carb inlet fitting.
 
That is not a proper filter for that tractor! Not original equipment as I don't think it can be found in the parts book. A filter like that can not flow enough fuel to supply the tractor. Put it back to original equipment and enjoy. Armand
 
I agree. BUT, there are gravity type filters available - lawnmower and such. I was having trouble with my JD 60 (crap in the tank) and it was a short term fix. Ended up taking the tank out and cleaning it thoroughly, didn't 'line' it with anything and still get 1/4" of 'fines' in the sed. bowl per yr. HTH
 
(quoted from post at 19:52:21 09/14/15) So my IH 2444 uses a 12V fuel pump, and a line that runs diagonally down to it, from the bottom of the fuel tank.

A couple of weeks back, I ran the tractor out of gas, and it sucked a bunch of debris into the fuel line, which clogged right up.

So, I replaced the original steel line with a modern rubber one, and installed a proper fuel filter which previously the tractor was lacking.

Now, the dang thing KEEPS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. I'll just be driving along and the tractor dies. I pull the line off the input to the fuel filter, and just a little
bit trickles out.

Usually the fuel filter wont completely fill, and a bubble of air remains. Sometimes it does completely fill, but this doesnt seem to make much difference.

I've already tried unhooking the fuel line and blowing compressed air up it, to remove any blockages. I just hear gurgles in the gas tank, like theres
nothing slowing the air down.

Any ideas?

The only thing I've learned helps a little, is keeping the tank fairly full. Problem is, its about a 20 gallon tank, and I dont want to keep it all that full,
because I dont put very many hours on the tractor.

Any relevant advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!
IMG_0950_zpst0bnadqg.jpg
Click to expand...
here is the pump? Ahead of or after the filter? Disconnect the line at carb and power up pump & see if it pumps a good stream for a gallon or so. Air it that filter harms nothing. Nor is its orientation important.
 
as long as that filter is installed on the pressure side of pump you should have no problems. but you have some sort of restriction coming out of tank. the tank must have a bunch of rust flakes floating around. i fought with one like that. i just extended the stand pipe on the sediment bowl 1 1/2 " and problem solved. otherwise the tank has to go in for cleaning.and or lining. that filter is plenty good for that tractor. check your fuel pump pressure also.
 
When it stops does the filter still have gas coming out they do catch fines an will get plugged cause they are doing their job. Ive used them for many yrs and thats the first thing to check.
 
Okay, let me start by saying that I really appriciate the effort of those trying to help, but... DID (some of) YOU GUYS EVEN READ THE POST?!?

> There is no sediment bowl anywhere, nor fuel filter inside the tank. The bottom of the tank is maybe an inch from the castings and hydraulic lines on this tractor, no room for it. Theres only an old brass 90 degree elbow which begins the fuel line

> The filter is between the fuel tank, and fuel pump. It is on the un-pressurized side.

>
 
Um yes, it can, until fuel stops flowing to the filter, which is what this entire post is about.

(Source: It runs great until the mystery blockage occurs)
 
You probably need to keep more gas in the tank when the small amount of gas sloshes around the pump may be sucking air. Also an electric fuel pump needs to be as close to the tank as possible and below the outlet of the tank to work right.And it doesn't cost anymore to keep a tank full of gas than it does to run it near empty once its full the first time.
 
I have a 2424 and it has that same small elbow that gets blocked easily..i would say like others there is lots of trash still in the tank and possibly some build up in the elbow that might not be clearing out( varnish and such)..I took mine all the way out of the tank and cleaned it with wire and then cleaned out the tank very good making sure the rust and all that was gone..mine didn't have a stand pipe in it as others have talked about just a fitting in the tank with the elbow screwed into it..thus any dirt or sediment at all will clog up your flow to the fuel pump and since the electric ones are designed to push and not pull it wont suck that trash through the small fitting.. if you drain the tank and see lots of debris in there the best thing would be to take it off clean it and then seal it..i have had good luck with kreem ..a white liquid Teflon that will coat over what you cant get out and seal it so you don't have any more issues.. others have talked about red kote..I haven't used it and don't know if its thick enough to cover any excess rust that you cant get out but have used the other with great success and have several tractors that sit a while between run times and they do fine..hope this might give you an avenue that helps out..let us know how it works out for you ..have a great evening
 
Lanse, I installed an in line paper filter on my Jubilee because the inside of the tank was flaking off. When the gas got to about 145 degrees an air bubble formed in filter and I had a case of vapor lock. As soon as the gas cooled I could see the fuel flow.

Is you fuel pump before filter or after filter? If it's before the filter, I wouldn't think you're having a vapor lock.

Try replacing paper filter with an in line screen filter like those used on lawn mowers.

I replaced the crappy gas tank with a new one and just use screens and sediment bowl which also has screens. My problem went away after that.

Post back on what you find. You may also just remove the paper filter and see if your problem is vapor lock.
 
that is one of the problems, that filter is designed to be pressure fed.has to go on PRESSURE SIDE, but you still have blockage at the tank outlet.you have 2 problems there.
 
also says right on filter, "to carb" meaning directly to CARB not to pump. you need pressure to push the fuel through that filter.
 
Only two possabilities jump out at me. Standpipe too tall (retroed by a previous owner for reasons that remain a mystery.) Or some object floating about in the tank that is sucked tight into outlet. If the tank outlet is easly removed,I'd remove it to (A) inspect size of opening in line (B) check standpipe (C) Use mirror to examine empty tank for large object(s) (D) rinse fuel through tank in hopes of object flushing through larger hole. If no joy after all that I'd try installing a sock on standpipe. A sock really helps when a tank has ongoing flaking because as one area of sock collects debris another area is being washed off. Just a stop gap band-aid but a magnet stuck on bottom of tank can collect and hold lots of flakes containing small amounts of steel. If you notice heavy collection where magnet is here's a trick for removing it from tank occasionally. Lower a secound magnet inside tank so it rests on collection then pull primary magnet off tank. Much of the rust trash will stick to inside magnet as it's pulled out of tank. Of course you could just drop a magnet into tank then fish it out from time to time and claen it off. I asked earlier but didn't make it back to see your reply,how's it going for you at the new diggs in Cowtown?
 
I would venture to guess you have some crap floating in the tank and as the pump draws from the tank eventually it restricts the flow until the tractor dies from lack of fuel. I'm assuming when it dies you shut it off, curse and swear at it giving it time to loose the vacuum holding the debris against the fuel outlet. Just another guess you say putting more fuel in the tank lessens the problem, higher dilution of floating debris to fuel. So in short, I guess what I'm saying is check the tank. I had an h with a similar, runs fine then dies sinereo. After much frustration I found a small sliver of wood in the tank that would block the fuel port until the tractor quit, then it would mysteriously float away. Just my 2cents
 

Clean the tank... you should not get any debris anytime and running the tank dry should not get you any either..


Otherwise, you could remove the sediment bowl (or outlet fitting) and install one with a standing Filter Screen..usually about 2" tall..

Ron..
 

You stated that you ran out and somehow this caused debris to plug the line. Must have been floating debris to not bother before that, but any way I bet that you have a large flake in the elbow that slowly catches smaller particles. I would be siphoning gas out of the tank, into milk jugs so that I could see the crud, then carefully pour it back in leaving the crud in the jugs.
 
pretty simple
these 2 statements....
> The filter is between the fuel tank, and fuel pump. It is on the un-pressurized side.
>Now, the dang thing KEEPS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. I'll just be driving along and the tractor dies. I pull the line off the [i:0a0aefb434]input[/i:0a0aefb434] to the fuel filter, and just a little bit trickles out.

the problem is in the tank or the short section of pipe between the tank and the filter input.
disconnecting where you did...between tank and filter inlet...
you just made a tank drain....it should flow steadily until the tank is empty.
my guess...there are flakes, debris in the tank. blowing air back moves them, but on re-assembly, they will go right to the hole again....just like a sink drain.


ps..this statement...
>A couple of weeks back, I ran the tractor out of gas, and it sucked a bunch of debris into the fuel line, which clogged right up.
kinda confirms what everybody is saying....running out of gas with a good tank...is just that..out of gas..put some more in...
if it instantly clogged up after re-fueling...tank is a mess.
 
I use inline filters on my tractors. They haven't caused any problems. I would guess the outlet in the bottom of your fuel tank is clogged.

My SC Case wouldn't keep running last fall. I changed the inline filter and noticed the fuel strainer wouldn't completely shut the gas off.The bowel had lots of rust in it. I ordered a new strainer and a brass screen to put inside the tank. When I went to replace the old strainer. I found the inlet hole in the strainer was plugged with rust from inside the tank. The rust was why the old strainer wouldn't completely shut off and why my tractor wouldn't run.
 
Fuel filter is on the wrong side of the pump plus the stand pipe inside the tank is clogged up with crap due to you running out of fuel in the first place. Time the flush the tank
 
Lanse,

My Gleaner F2 diesel was doing the same thing. Go a while, run out of fuel, get reprimed, start over again.

It had two problems:
1) Pump was after the filter
2) Outlet of the fuel tank was plugging up

For 1) I put a new aftermarket pump in before the filter
For 2) It has just an elbow in the tank, just like you describe. The foreign matter was just enough to plug the elbow. I did try blowing it back into the tank, hoping it would eventually feed thru and get caught by the filter. Didn't work but got done with the season. I had to remove the tank and give it a flush. All I did was add some gas, swish it around and drain it a few times. Ran it all thru wheat season with no more issues.
 
The filter is marked that way so you can see the dirt collect in the clear plastic housing . Otherwise the dirt would be inside the filter and you wouldn't know it needed changing ...
 
yes that is correct., but it is to have pressure pushing the gas through it.nobody seams to know that it is not a gravity fed filter. they go inline before the carb.
 
(quoted from post at 23:37:42 09/14/15) The filter is marked that way so you can see the dirt collect in the clear plastic housing . Otherwise the dirt would be inside the filter and you wouldn't know it needed changing ...
Click to expand...
o, it is made that way so that there is more filter area to collect trash than if it were the other way around, just like the flow through an oil filter. Sorry about your bubble.
 
Rubber fuel line sucking shut? I have a JD mower in the shop now that the Gates gas line has collapsed on the inside and it runs out of fuel with 6 inches left in the tank.(ethanol strikes again) I made a habit to only use straight gas but I forgot and one tank later it wont run again.(the last time the lines looked like they had been melted with a torch on the inside.)
 
I stand by my earlier comments but having said that does that tractor have a fuel gauage either in the dash or in the fuel tank cap? If so does it have a cork float inside the tank? You could have pieces of that cork floating floating in the tank and plugging the tank outlet. BTDT. Also (again check the parts list) their should be a filter inside the tank. It is part of the sediment bowl assy. and sticks up an inch or above the bottom of the tank. It may or may not have a screen on it. Again check the parts book! Armand
 
Judging by the responses so far I wonder if anyone has actually used these filters?

First thing I can tell you, unequivocally... the filter will work fine whether it is use as a suction filter before the pump or a pressure filter after the pump. Doesn't matter which. What it will not do is work as a gravity only filter.

What I can also tell you is that when it is used as a suction filter on the pump inlet... a clogged filter or restricted tank outlet WILL CAUSE THE FILTER TO COLLAPSE ~IF~ the pump is any good.
Given that you haven't said the filter is collapsing I would tend to believe that the pump is NOT drawing on the filter. That could also be the result of a collapsed line between the pump and filter.

So... what I would do: Remove the line from the outlet of the filter and see if it flows freely. If it doesn't, remove the filter and see if the line flows freely. If the line doesn't flow freely, remove the gas cap... If it still won't flow then you'll need to fix whatever problem you have in the tank pickup/strainer that is obstructing flow.
Now on the other hand if you have free flowing fuel coming from the end of the filter... then you need to look at the line to the pump and the pump itself. I can assure you that a good working pump WILL COLLAPSE that filter and it will also collapse a poly fuel tank. I've done it. Many times with the filters on several machines. That's what happens when those filters get clogged.

My best guess, based on what you've described so far is that you have a bad fuel pump.

Rod
 

That filter will flow all the clean gas you can put to it, the issue of it want unless its on the pressure side is folklore...

If folks would read the directions that came with the electric pump it would recommend a filter on the suction side...

I have installed hundreds of them and even used a filter designed for a high pressure fuel injection system they will gravity flow all the fuel you can supply to them...

The filter is not your problem unless its doing its job trapped the contamination, stopped up are has water in it...
 
Lanse, you might have floating debris in the tank intermittently blocking fuel flow. Had this exact problem o n my CA Allis once. Ran it out of gas, took the gas cap off to see if it was in fact empty (it was), left the cap laying on top of the tank while I went to get gas for it. Dumped 5 gal in it and finished mowing. A few weeks later I had the same problem you do. It would starve and die. No real pattern to it. What I found was a great big bumble bee must have seen the open tank and decided to check it out. Gas fumes killed him and every so often he'd float around and block off the fuel flow to the carb. If I were you, I'd drain the tank and clean any rust flakes or any other foreign material out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
MH 44 Won't keep running.
Replies
19
Views
449
stevieb49829
stevieb49829
R
Ferguson 135 diesel wont run
Replies
9
Views
447
Rick Beament
R
A
Oliver 1755 Gas
Replies
7
Views
1K
scootergmc
S
T
FNH TS 100 fuel line
Replies
2
Views
223
tomturkey
T
M
Massey 285 dies after running an hour?
Replies
1
Views
200
MF#1
M
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top