743B wierd today

[december45]

got a 743B 1990 model, ive had it for about 6 years, this is used around our place and it was on a farm before i got it. Its got 1980hrs Ive been using it alot lately the past few weeks. Today it just lost power and died, its never ever done that before. It had a 1/2 tank of fuel, I drained the water separator, and it started but died again right away, i squeezed the fuel bulb and it acted as it had no fuel in it. we went and got 5 gals of fuel, that filled it to the top and i squeezed the fuel bulb again this time i could tell it had fuel in it and it gurgled and bubbled i squeezed the bulb a few times, it never got hard but i tried the starter and it fired right up.. ran rough a couple of secs and then smoothed out.... seems to have plenty of power and runs smooth... whats up with this thing? can any body give me any ideas what could have caused it to just die like it did? Ive had it for 6 years and never had any thing like this happen.

 

[Tazza]

I would suspect the rubber hose in the fuel tank. It gets hard and brittle and falls apart. Lift the cab, find the fuel outlet hose, not the return line, pull the grommet and elbow out and replace the hose. If the old hose has fallen apart you may want to remove the tank and flush it out to get rid of all the rubber hose particles.
Check the bleed screw is fully screwed in on the injector pump too after you prime it.
Hopefully its simply the puckup hose in the tank.

 

[december45]

I would suspect the rubber hose in the fuel tank. It gets hard and brittle and falls apart. Lift the cab, find the fuel outlet hose, not the return line, pull the grommet and elbow out and replace the hose. If the old hose has fallen apart you may want to remove the tank and flush it out to get rid of all the rubber hose particles.
Check the bleed screw is fully screwed in on the injector pump too after you prime it.
Hopefully its simply the puckup hose in the tank.

that makes sense, it was like it ran out of fuel and i had 1/2 tank left on the gauge, and when i put 5 gallons in, it was full enough to be seen in the filler neck. I will check out the rubber hose in the tank, since i haven't looked yet can you tell me, is that just a regular fuel rated rubber hose a guy could get at any auto parts store or is this a bobcat only hose with fitting? Is there any drawings of the fuel system on the 743 you could point me to, so i could see how it all goes together? thanks again, You have taken a real load off my mind.

 

[Tazza]

that makes sense, it was like it ran out of fuel and i had 1/2 tank left on the gauge, and when i put 5 gallons in, it was full enough to be seen in the filler neck. I will check out the rubber hose in the tank, since i haven't looked yet can you tell me, is that just a regular fuel rated rubber hose a guy could get at any auto parts store or is this a bobcat only hose with fitting? Is there any drawings of the fuel system on the 743 you could point me to, so i could see how it all goes together? thanks again, You have taken a real load off my mind.

You can buy hard plastic line from the dealer to fix this issue once and for all, but i have used good quality diesel fuel rated hose and it works a treat. Been that way for 3-4 years now and i run the tank rite down without issues.

 

[december45]

You can buy hard plastic line from the dealer to fix this issue once and for all, but i have used good quality diesel fuel rated hose and it works a treat. Been that way for 3-4 years now and i run the tank rite down without issues.

I'll stop by the dealer and check out what a the fuel line from them costs, if its not horrible I'll get theirs otherwize I'll get a piece of fuel hose

 

[december45]

I'll stop by the dealer and check out what a the fuel line from them costs, if its not horrible I'll get theirs otherwize I'll get a piece of fuel hose

Ok, well i lifted the cage and found the fuel outlet hose, when I got the grommet and elbow out of the tank there was no hose on the elbow...so im guessing that is my problem, now my question is, how does the hose attach to the elbow? is there a clamp that keeps the hose on the elbow (the inside of the tank side of the elbow) or does it just "squeeze" on to the elbow and you lower it in to the tank? seem like there should be some clamp or something to attach to the elbow?

 

[Tazza]

Ok, well i lifted the cage and found the fuel outlet hose, when I got the grommet and elbow out of the tank there was no hose on the elbow...so im guessing that is my problem, now my question is, how does the hose attach to the elbow? is there a clamp that keeps the hose on the elbow (the inside of the tank side of the elbow) or does it just "squeeze" on to the elbow and you lower it in to the tank? seem like there should be some clamp or something to attach to the elbow?

Just remember there are 2, one for out one for in, the return line doesn't need a hose attached. I think mine had a clamp on the inside but when i replaced it, i simply pushed it over the barb and it has worked flawlessly ever since.

 

[december45]

Just remember there are 2, one for out one for in, the return line doesn't need a hose attached. I think mine had a clamp on the inside but when i replaced it, i simply pushed it over the barb and it has worked flawlessly ever since.

i followed the fuel lines back from the engine compartment, the one with the fuel "squeeze bulb" is the one i figured was the supply and NOT the return.... thats correct isnt it? I went yesterday and got the new fuel line from bobcat, it wasnt too expensive and the parts guy said just push the hose over the barb and your good to go... but thanks for backing that up.

 

[Tazza]

i followed the fuel lines back from the engine compartment, the one with the fuel "squeeze bulb" is the one i figured was the supply and NOT the return.... thats correct isnt it? I went yesterday and got the new fuel line from bobcat, it wasnt too expensive and the parts guy said just push the hose over the barb and your good to go... but thanks for backing that up.

Yes, thats spot on.
Hopefully thats the end to your fuel issues.

 

[december45]

Yes, thats spot on.
Hopefully thats the end to your fuel issues.

Just to finish this off, i installed the new fuel line in the tank, went together smoothly, and that indeed fixed the issues, all better now, thanks for all your help guys