743 Fuel Question

[pondfishr]

When I started my 743 today it ran for a minute or two and then acted like it ran out of fuel. I primed the bulb at the fuel filter and I could hear air leaking when depressing the primer. The machine initially would not restart but did re-fire. I turned the machine off and left it in the barn. Right before it restarted I could feel liquid on my hand dripping down underneath the fuel filter. Apparently it is leaking fuel somewhere around the filter. My assumption is that it was sucking air in the line causing the machine to die. Should I replace the filter and go from there and can someone offer advice and what precautions to take.

 

[Tazza]

I'd check to see if the filter is tight, unless you haven't changed the filter for a while it wouldn't hurt to change it. If its tight, check the hose clamps on the inlet and outlet and even the primer bulb. I once had a primer bulb that was leaking where the crimps were on the barbs. I used side cutters to squash them down a bit and it worked a treat!
Also check the bleed bolt on the top of the filter, if they aren't tight they can leak as its just a simple copper washer setup.
It drawing in air would defiantly be causing stalling problems, for smooth running you want no air in the system.

 

[Fishfiles]

You know that fuel filter on the 743 was not the best filter setup , there is an adaptor to screw on the filter head and then you can use the standard fuel filter the newer machines use , Bobcat doesn't sell it , i have got then from the local Donldson filter dealer , they call it aPerkins filter adaptor , sells for about $40 , after installing one a filter change is a snap and the leaks are history

 

[pondfishr]

You know that fuel filter on the 743 was not the best filter setup , there is an adaptor to screw on the filter head and then you can use the standard fuel filter the newer machines use , Bobcat doesn't sell it , i have got then from the local Donldson filter dealer , they call it aPerkins filter adaptor , sells for about $40 , after installing one a filter change is a snap and the leaks are history

I checked the hose clamps and was able to tighten one of them. I will see what happens before I replace the filter. It is running good right now hopefully that took care of it. Thanks for the advice!!