Engine Quitting on Ferguson 35 tractor

seanelson

New User
A friend has a 35 Ferguson tractor and asked for help. The tractor will start and run for perhaps a minute or so, then cut off, like it is out of gas. Wait 30 seconds, the engine starts up fine and will run for a minute or so, then cut off. The odd thing is the glass sediment bowl/fuel cutoff at the tank has a steady stream of air bubbles entering while the engine is running, they stop completely when the engine is not running. I made a remote gravity fed fuel cell and connected this directly to the copper fuel line to the carb, to eliminate any fuel tank/ sediment bowl issues. The engine started fine, and basically acted the same as before. The engine ran for a minute or so, then air bubbles started entering the remote fuel cell through the fuel line, and then the engine quit. Obviously this is a problem with the carb. I have not yet removed the fuel fitting at the carb and checked for a dirty screen, and have not yet sprayed the carb with cleaner and checked for leaks while the engine is running, but I will. Has any one experienced the air bubbles in the fuel line? or have any advice pertaining to the quitting issue? Thanks for any help. Seanelson
 
Sounds like the line is run too close to the
exhaust, boiling in the line. The copper line could
make this even worse, the original line would have
been steel.

Nothing in the carb can cause bubbles to form in
the line, nothing in there but a needle and seat.
There is a screen in the inlet fitting tough,
wouldn't hurt to check it.
 
First thing that you should do is check the Fuel Flow at the Carburettor. Just remove the drain plug on the Carb and allow it to run into a Jug for about 5 mins, long enough to show up any restriction there may be. The air bubbles may or may not be a clue...John(UKI)
 
Carb float bowl/chamber has to be vented. If the carb is gummy/cruddy or otherwise dirty, the float chamber vent could be restricted. Had it happen on a Kawasaki engine in a Club Car last year. If the vent is stopped up, to me, that would explain the bubbles coming back up the fuel line. The air has to displace somewhere.

Garry
 

Thanks everybody for the great advice, the tractor has been diagnosed and cured. Culprit was the exhaust flange to exhaust pipe weld was cracked. The hot exhaust, direct from the exhaust manifold flange, was blowing directly onto the copper fuel line about an inch or two away. This was creating the "bubbles" in the sediment bowl, vaporizing the gas in the line by the exhaust manifold. When the carb bowl would run dry, the engine shuts off, then the fuel would flow back to the bowl, engine would start, and the cycle would repeat. The flange to pipe weld has been repaired. Thanks to all readers.
 

Thanks Steve, the exhaust pipe was cracked at the manifold flange weld, blowing the exhaust onto the line, vaporizing it. Thanks a bunch.
 
I started to have the same problem on my TO 30 right
after I installed a vertical exhaust pipe.

My manifold is not cracked, it is pitted. I wonder
if there is a type of bushing or grease that is safe
to use to try and improve the seal?
 

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