Odd brass plug in fuel line

I have a TEA20 (# 195174) and have been running it on and off for the last few years. After a few months of the tractor sitting I decided to give it a good clean off and examination - it started up ok but then I noticed it was cutting out probably due to gas starvation. The fuel line is a flanged metal tube that runs from the sediment bowl around back of the engine and joins in to a rubber section about 7 inches long that passes behind the carb and then connects up to another metal flanged tube that enters the carburetor (Zenith).

To investigate the fuel starvation I tried blowing in one end of the fuel pipe and there was a bit of air passage but not much. I passed a length of string trimmer line down the pipes and found a blockage in the rubber section. There was a slight bulge in the rubber about two inches from one end.

I thought this might be accumulated junk from the tank but I could not budge it. So I bought new rubber fuel line and cut open the bulge. The blockage is a cylindrical brass plug about 0.25" long with a chamfered end that looks like a jet but has no threads, just a tiny hole down the centre. My question is "Is it supposed to be there?"

How it got there I don't know. I don't recall fuel starvation being a problem before. Maybe the hole is big enough that in normal work enough fuel passes, but it would only take a small item to clog it.

The component you are concerned with...is it on the PICTURE.......?
Bob..

There should be nothing in there at all . Original fuel lines are steel , these are often replaced by copper ones which work well but can sometimes overheat the fuel if run too close to the exhaust manifold .
The quick fix is what seems to have been done to yours , rubber inbetween the original ends and hose clamps to secure .
Often filters are put in as well , if so they should be low resistance ones made for older motorcycles that don't have fuel pumps . The gravity fed Zenith carburettor needs a strong flow , inside the tank attached to the top of the fuel tap is a secret filter , if its still there remove it , they are the worst thing ever designed for the Ferguson and unnecessary if you filter your fuel .
What the obstruction is is anyone's guess .

Not that I can see. The obstruction is in the fuel line, not the carb. There is a similar thing in the last image right at the bottom where the knurled knob has a needle that approaches a threaded jet, but my item is not threaded.

Thanks this is helpful. The rubber section certainly makes it easier to remove the fuel line completely in three pieces which otherwise would be quite a challenge to remove and replace.

My sediment chamber has a coarse filter at the top; fuel comes down from the tank directly into the sediment glass and when filled hits the filter and goes out through the outlet at the top. Small debris should end up at the bottom of the glass - when I clean it out I generally find no pieces of anything, just a gummy substance that is hard to wipe out. I'm thinking this is old gas residue.

I'm now confident to run the fuel line fully open.

This TEA-20 Is in Her work cloths.......


Bob

Thank you - interesting arrangement of the fuel line.

Around 1974 I was operating a neighbors TEA-20. When the RUBBER FUEL LINE ruptured...the Tractor burnt to the ground........

Each to their own......my daily user has a metal fuel line..as my three parts Tractors do as well..
Bob..

I have had the machine running fairly smoothly now, but only after quite a few repeats of the sudden cut outs. Hopefully something has cleared itself.

As thank you for assistance I have uploaded a short video showing my tractor on idle at youtu.be/8swvAJLTKcA

Is your tractors originally a 6 volt system converted to 12 volts?

If so,how long has your Tractor been converted to 12 volts?

I'm interested in the ambient temperature that your tractor has to start and operate?

I viewed your.......... youtu.be/8swvAJLTKcA

I still have vivid memories of the day I was operating a TEA-20,July,1974 when the rubber hose failed ,thus the gasoline was ignited from the exhaust system......

Bob..

All starters have some component installed to absorb Torsional Torque..

TEA-20 6 volt Ferguson Tractors from the factory (when new) has a device that was a sleeve inside of a sleeve, with a rubber compound vulcanized between the two sleeves.
When a 6 volt system is change to a 12 volt system.....the weal link often fails ...



As per pictures.....

Bob..Owner TEA-20 Ferguson...6 volt system..

John Deere D, my TO-20 has a rubber fuel line like colbec describes. Thanks for the tip on that line rupturing and catching on fire. I'll be replacing that fuel line with steel.

(quoted from post at 07:39:16 04/08/21) Is your tractors originally a 6 volt system converted to 12 volts?

If so,how long has your Tractor been converted to 12 volts?

I'm interested in the ambient temperature that your tractor has to start and operate?

Click to expand...

Bob, it was 12 V when I first purchased it 20 yrs ago. How long before that it was converted I don't know. I generally only use the tractor in above zero C temperatures; the snow gets pretty deep round here and I don't have a blower. I have tried manoeuvring in heavy snow with my rear mounted blade but it was ineffective. Probably due to my inexperience.

Your welcome Jim L WA........

Thanks for being a contributor to the YT group Jim L WA...

Bob........On the Alberta / British Columbia border

One thing you can do to improve idle and mixture is to clean the air filter . To do this properly you must remove and clean the mesh inside . You will.be horrified at what you find there . No amount of washing an undismantled filter in petrol will clean it properly . Once clean the engine will breathe well and the mixture will be easier to set properly .

Photo wouldn't load above . The mesh from a severely neglected TEA20 air filter .

Thanks for the pics and Info Charles in Aus.

Bob.

You are welcome as always Bob , I'm very glad to say that that particular filter didn't come from one of my tractors