ls 185.b was surging...now nothing!

[exmarkdude]

3 cylinder engine had a surge at all speeds (minor). I turned it off and now will crank but won't start. I changed the fuel filter. Took off the fuel lines and found a small hole in the feed line to the filter. I ordered new lines but won't be here till Wed or Thursday. Do you think that will cure the surge also?

 

[exmarkdude]

Has anyone else had that problem where the motor was surging and then found a problem with fuel supply. Was that the problem or was it something else?

 

[Tazza]

Has anyone else had that problem where the motor was surging and then found a problem with fuel supply. Was that the problem or was it something else?

I guess it's always possible. Generally a blockage in a filter or hose will just make the engine bog down and usually stall. Not up and down.
Also the fact that it will now not start at all. Does it have an electric fuel pump? if so, remove the hose at the pump end and turn the key, see if you get a good stream of fuel out.

 

[Mike10]

Air bubbles in the fuel system will make them surge. I have already used a compression union fitting to get them going in a pinch. Cut out the bad section and install the fitting. This should be considered a tempory fix.

 

[exmarkdude]

Air bubbles in the fuel system will make them surge. I have already used a compression union fitting to get them going in a pinch. Cut out the bad section and install the fitting. This should be considered a tempory fix.

Thanks for the replies and ideas. I have been reading alot of your posts while in the background...there is no doubt you guys know what your talking about...ihave alot of resoect for your ideas! We are going to replace the hard plastic fuel lines when they come in this week...they developed a hole in them by rubbing together. Before the hole got bigger is when the surge was occurring and the exhaust smelled real "rich". Once the hole got bigger I completely lost my prime...thus no start. The guy I got it from used "junk yard diesel", fuel out wrecked semi's. The fuel filter was horrible. I have already drained the tank and changed the fuel filter twice trying to clean it up. Also used Lucas injector cleaner to help. Just hoping its not the injectors or pump.

 

[exmarkdude]

Thanks for the replies and ideas. I have been reading alot of your posts while in the background...there is no doubt you guys know what your talking about...ihave alot of resoect for your ideas! We are going to replace the hard plastic fuel lines when they come in this week...they developed a hole in them by rubbing together. Before the hole got bigger is when the surge was occurring and the exhaust smelled real "rich". Once the hole got bigger I completely lost my prime...thus no start. The guy I got it from used "junk yard diesel", fuel out wrecked semi's. The fuel filter was horrible. I have already drained the tank and changed the fuel filter twice trying to clean it up. Also used Lucas injector cleaner to help. Just hoping its not the injectors or pump.

I changed all of the fuel lines and now is running much better. However, still have a little bit of surge (slight revving up and down) at low idle. I did bleed the lines at the cylinders. Maybe still have some air in the system or something else ???, but the machine starts very quickly now.