TO 20 fuel tank hot and fuel boiling

Arvin Haslem · Sep 6, 2017

A few days back I used my TO 20 to mow a few acres of hay. When I shut the tractor off I noticed fuel bubbles coming out of the fuel cap.(A previous owner had cut an access hole in the hood and soldered a taller fill spout on.) I could also hear the fuel boiling for about a half hour after I shut the tractor off. The outside temperature was about 90-95 degrees F. I was using premium fuel. I don't know if it was an ethanol blend. Is there supposed to be a heat shield between the fuel tank and the engine?

Indy4570 · Sep 6, 2017

none of mine have a heat shield, I have never seen one with heat shield. I have 2 TE20s and a TO20

Indy4570 · Sep 6, 2017

well this is a coincidence, looking around the FENA site and lo and behold there is a heat shield on a TO35

miner09 · Sep 6, 2017

Most people after taking the heat shield off it's somewhat hard to get it back on so
they just throw it away. It bolts on with manifold bolts. It's on there for a reason.

glennster · Sep 6, 2017

dunno if this is your problem or not, but i have a minnie moline loader backhoe gasser. it would run hot and the manifold would glow red.it would boil the gas in the tank. i opened the main jet to put more fuel to it to see if it would lower the exhaust temp. didnt help. turns out the advance weights in the distributor were a little rusty and would not allow the timing to advance at higher rpms. cleaned and lubed the advance and it eliminated the problem.

Steve@Advance · Sep 6, 2017

I don't recall ever seeing a 20 or 30 with a heat shield. TO35 does have it.

A few things to check...

Radiator clogged with grass, loose fan belt, bent fan not moving enough air over the engine, missing fan shroud, plus these will cause overheating of the engine.

Retarded ignition timing, stuck advance weights, closed points.

If it still wants to boil, you could rig up a piece of sheet metal, something between the exhaust and the tank.

Charles in Aus. · Sep 6, 2017

This has always been a problem for TE20s in countries which have what Harry Ferguson termed '' Torrid Zones ''.
India , Australia and South Africa for a few . There was a little known factory accessory made by Ferguson to stop this exact problem .

There was also another under the right foot rest to protect the driver from the hot exhaust .

Both were made with white asbestos sheeting which is probably why you don't see too many today .

miner09 · Sep 6, 2017

I have a TO35 that has the asbestos under the steps( still good) like your picture.
Only one I ever saw. When I was a kid the old 8N Ford we had your right foot would get
real hot so I would get a 2x6 and place on step and put my foot on it. Made a lot of
difference.

TO 20 fuel tank hot and fuel boiling

Arvin Haslem

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Indy4570

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Indy4570

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miner09

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glennster

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Steve@Advance

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Charles in Aus.

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miner09

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