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Fuel Filters?

U

UP Oliver

Member
I have a David Brown 990, usually runs great. Last fall my wife was brush cutting and the engine began to labor. I was putting metal on the pole barn roof and remember that the tractor suddenly sounded different. I checked my air filter, it is fine.

I am wondering if my fuel filters are the problem? I did notice the tractor was kicking out more exhaust when I took a look out there as my wife was cutting when it began to sound different.

Thanks for any help you can provide.
 
Diagnosing more exhaust is usually not lack of fuel. Guesses are: blown head gasket with coolant making the smoke. Bad spark plug or wire or cap. Causes one cylinder to stop working. More exhaust smoke (not a lot) and low power. Were it mine, I would use an insulated pliers to pull off plug wires one at a time to assess whether one is not making a difference. If none, the next step would be a compression check. Let us know what you find. Jim
 
It did not clear up. It was around freeing that day and raining. I wondered if ice built up in the air filter but I was able to determine that was not the problem. It is a diesel, and I don't have a tool to check compression. I got a feeling about all I can do is change the fuel filters and see what happens. No idea what else could be causing the problem.
 
I didn't answer the more exhaust and laboring. Yes on both. I started it today and the other symptom I should mention is that the tractor is really blowing a lot of exhaust out the hole on the bottom of the exhaust manifold. There was a little tube that was screwed into that hole but the threads are shot and so now there is just a hole there. The exhaust comes out of there much more so now than when the tractor was running well.

Thanks.
 
What kind of air filter does it have, oil bath? There is also an element to clean, other than just the oil cup. Might try disconnecting the filter for a test.

Excess smoke can also mean leaking injectors.

How is the oil level? If overfull (contaminated with fuel) it can cause lugging.

If it were low on compression, would also be hard to start.

One other thing to check, a hydraulic load. A valve failed to return to neutral, 3 point control malfunctioning, etc.
 
a diesel can smoke with restricted filters. If you haven't changed them for awhile you aren't out anything as that is part of basic maintenance
 
Thanks for the reply. I have both an element and the oil bath, disconnected it today and still the same laboring, even at idle. I will check the hydraulic load, glad you mentioned that. I used to have a problem with fuel getting into the oil, but I fixed that. I will check it though to be sure. It starts with no problem, just a little slow to get up to idle; really doesn't get there even.

Thanks.
 
I agree. I just checked and the fuel filters were put on in 2008 when I rebuilt the engine. I thought I saw somewhere you can put 500 hours on fuel filters and I would bet I only got a couple hundred hours max. I suppose one dirty batch of fuel will age them fast, either way 8 years is a long time and I suppose they have served their purpose.

Thanks.
 
I had a guy at a auto parts store one time argue that nobody ever needs to change a fuel filter. I asked him why do you folks sell them then. I've had most all my tractors and vehicles completely quit at one time or another because of a clogged fuel filter.
 
Lack of oil in the crankcase can and will cause it to labor like that. Will also not even get to an idle speed if you keep . running it that way.
 
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