Engine turns off when fuel indicator is on half

[N!D!]

hello I have a bobcat 543. Everytime the fuel indicator shows half the engine doesn't get enough gas and stalls. This only happens when the gasoline tank is half full. Is it more then half and be it just a little bit everything runs fine. And there is enough gas in the tank when the indicator shows half and the I've changed the diesel filter. Has anyone an idea.

 

[OldMachinist]

Likely the fuel pick up tubing in the tank is broke off at that level. Very common problem on Bobcats.

 

[N!D!]

Likely the fuel pick up tubing in the tank is broke off at that level. Very common problem on Bobcats.

thx for your quick answer. 1. If it is the fuel pick up tubing do I have to replace the whole tank or is it possible just to replace the tubing. 2. Do you have any idea how I can check that, because its hard to look in the tank to see whats going on in there

 

[OldMachinist]

thx for your quick answer. 1. If it is the fuel pick up tubing do I have to replace the whole tank or is it possible just to replace the tubing. 2. Do you have any idea how I can check that, because its hard to look in the tank to see whats going on in there

I've never worked on a 543 but if its like most Bobcats just find where the fuel pick up line goes into the tank. There's also a return line so make sure your working with pick up line. It will run thru a rubber bushing, pry the bushing out along with the tubing. To check it, it should be longer than the tank is deep. If its never been replaced it would have had a screen on the end. Mine was magnetic and I was able to fish it out of the tank with a magnet attached to a piece of 1/4” rod.
You should use a new bushing when replacing the line. The bushing and line doesn't cost very much from the dealer. There's some debate on the forum as to whether or not you should re-install the screen so that's up to you.
Here's what it looks like on a 453.

 

[N!D!]

I've never worked on a 543 but if its like most Bobcats just find where the fuel pick up line goes into the tank. There's also a return line so make sure your working with pick up line. It will run thru a rubber bushing, pry the bushing out along with the tubing. To check it, it should be longer than the tank is deep. If its never been replaced it would have had a screen on the end. Mine was magnetic and I was able to fish it out of the tank with a magnet attached to a piece of 1/4” rod.
You should use a new bushing when replacing the line. The bushing and line doesn't cost very much from the dealer. There's some debate on the forum as to whether or not you should re-install the screen so that's up to you.
Here's what it looks like on a 453.

the pick up line should be fine. I dismounted the flouter so that could see it and it doesnt seem to be broke. The other thing is that I can still run the bobcat when the indicator shows below half. There is a manual diesel pump. After squezing it a couple times I can start the bobcat then it runs a couple minutes, stalls and goes off. But that is only when the indicator shows below half if it is above everything is fine.

 

[OldMachinist]

the pick up line should be fine. I dismounted the flouter so that could see it and it doesnt seem to be broke. The other thing is that I can still run the bobcat when the indicator shows below half. There is a manual diesel pump. After squezing it a couple times I can start the bobcat then it runs a couple minutes, stalls and goes off. But that is only when the indicator shows below half if it is above everything is fine.

The line could be cracked and not broke off completly.

 

[N!D!]

The line could be cracked and not broke off completly.

It was the pick up line as you said. It had been replaced before with a line too short. The original line was in the tank. So I changed the shorter line with a longer one, put the seed on the other side of the tubing and now the bobcat runs properly. thanks