773 This one has me stumped

[MT]

My 773F dies when the fuel is down about 4-5 gallons. I figure it is the fuel pick up tube, which is know to break off and not reach as far into the tank as it should. So, I am topping the tank and fluid starts running out the back left corner under the battery. Its parked on the side of hill leaning a little to the left if that matters. About 1.5 quarts came out. I thought it was diesel and maybe the tank was cracked near the top but it appears to be water. I even soaked a paper towel in it and tried to light it with a propane torch. Pretty sure it is just water, not coolant. What is going on here? I recall parking it in the garge a few weeks ago and found a small puddle on the floor in the morning. That was water as well. I though some water collected somewhere while it was out in the rain and wrote it off as a non issue. Why in the world would water run out when putting fuel in the tank? And where is water coming from? This is really weird. TIA, Martin

 

[Bobcatdan]

The very small drain holes in the bottom are more then likely plugged the machine has standing water trapped inside.

 

[MT]

The very small drain holes in the bottom are more then likely plugged the machine has standing water trapped inside.

I will check the drain holes but that does not explain why after sitting in the same spot for 20 hours, water started draining out when I topped the tank. It has been hot and dry here for 2 days. Thanks for your reply!

 

[Fishfiles]

the tank is plastic and flexible , when the tank is not full the plastic will flex inwards , that makes a gap between the tank and the steel which surounds the tank , as you fill the tank with fuel it pushes out the plastic and displaces the water

 

[MT]

the tank is plastic and flexible , when the tank is not full the plastic will flex inwards , that makes a gap between the tank and the steel which surounds the tank , as you fill the tank with fuel it pushes out the plastic and displaces the water

That sounds plausable, although the tank already had about 10 gallons in it. Thank you!

 

[Fishfiles]

That sounds plausable, although the tank already had about 10 gallons in it. Thank you!

10 gallons of fuel in the tank leaves a lot of room , I seen it happen a dozen times or more ---- but ---- never exactly as you did it by filling the tank with fuel , I seen it happen from blowing air back thru the supply hose to clear a clog , first time I seen it happen , about 25 years ago when 753 first came out , I thought I blew the tank up from too much pressure ------- if you really think about it logically and you did in fact see water and not fuel I doubt it could be anything else , if water were in the tank that deep it would never even start ----------------- remember if you try and reinact the situation remember to let the water hose flow under the engine for a bit or wait for it to rain before trying -------