clear fuel filter on a /farmall A

farmallhfan · Oct 6, 2009

I bought a A from a guy the other day and he could not get it to run. He said he had a problem with trash in the tank and had put a small clear inline fuel filter on it. I got to watching and the gas line would become vaccum locked at the filter. No gas would flow with filter in the line. The filter was not clogged up at all I changed it out with a new filter and it done the same thing. If you remove the rubber line between the filter and the carb and gas will flow through the filter. replace the line and it will run til gas runs out of the filter and line from the filter to the carb than no gas will flow again until you remove the rubber line again. Anyone else ever heard of this? I removed the filter and put in a piecr of copper tubing in its place and she runs like a top.

mhmalcolm · Oct 6, 2009

Those paper filters do not work well with these gravity feed systems. They will never fill up anyway, which is normal, but that air pocket seems to act just like an air lock as you described. No in-line filter should ever be used in these systems, other than the filter screen in the sediment bowl, and the filter screen in the inlet fitting in the carburetor. If there is trash in the tank that is plugging these, it needs to be cleaned out.

M Diesel · Oct 6, 2009

I have had the same problem, particularly with the big gas start diesels. A lot of those filters require a bit of pressure to flow and it just don't have enough. (They must expect to have a pump back in the tank somewhere.) One from a lawn mower (gravity fed type) will work if you can find one big enough. Got one in the Super C and also the VAC, but none works for the crawlers. Sorry I don't have a part number handy. For now I just keep the sediment bowls clean, but they don't filter all that well.

Andy Martin · Oct 6, 2009

I routinely put inline filters on my tractors (M's, H's, A's, C's) because the screen in the carburetor is gone. They get used a lot, and the clear ones never fill up.

Installing a copper line is not a good idea as the copper tends to work harden as it vibrates and will eventually crack and fail. This can result in a tractor fire. We always replace copper lines on tractors we buy to avoid failure. Rubber fuel lines seem to work OK but may lead to vapor lock depending on where the rubber is in relation to the exhaust manifold.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 6, 2009

I always used Fram inline filters on some little AC B's & C's. Never had any problems with gas flow.

NDS · Oct 6, 2009

You will find 2 distinct groups on this forum. Group 1 can not get tractors to run with in line filters. Group 2 has used in line filters for years without a problem. I have been in group 2 for at least 25 years.

Hugh MacKay · Oct 6, 2009

hfan: Did you ever hear tell of factory specs? Use then, they contain no filter. A screen in the bowl is all that is necessary.

farmallhfan · Oct 6, 2009

My 1940 H has had an inline filter for 3 years now because the screen at the carb was gone. I have never changed it and the old girl runs great. This A however was a different story.

farmallhfan · Oct 6, 2009

What should I do get a steel line and bend it to fit?

Farmallhal · Oct 6, 2009

You can obtain a reproduction fuel line from OEM as they are shown in their latest catalog. This site also has them (a hose type and a metal one) available as well. Click on Tractor Parts under Marketplace at the top of the left margin to locate them. I have an inline filter on my Super C but when it gets down to about 1/2 tank of fuel I have fuel starvation problems. Keep it near full and it seems to have enough head pressure to push it through the filter. Hope this helps, Hal.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 6, 2009

I have my Dad's '41 A, he often had problems with junk (rust) in the fuel. He always had an inline filter, as he couldnt get the sediment bowl/screen to stop leaking. It would often stall like it was running out of gas. After he passed on, and I started to use the tractor, I got what looks like an inline filter, but it has a 200 mesh plastic screen. I have never had a problem wth lack of fuel since.

glennster · Oct 6, 2009

if you need to run a filter because of a lot of trash in the tank, stop at napa and pick up a 3031 or 3032 in line fuel filter. it has kind of a fiber material inside and low restriction, works good for a gravity system. they make then for 5-16 and also 3/8 fuel lines. they splice right in and have short pieces of rubber fuel line and clamps that come with the filter.

HENRY E NC · Oct 6, 2009

You can buy premade steel lines for a's from Rusty Farmall or other places. They work great. I did my A with steel that way replacing the rubber line that came on it. I have no problem, just empty sed bowl when rust is apparent. Henry

Hugh MacKay · Oct 7, 2009

MHMalcolm: I agree, never could understand why this is even an issue. One can buy the factory bowl and carb screen from CaseIH, for 1/2 the money of those auto parts supplies. If the sediment bowl base and shutt off are bad that may be a bit more cost than an auto parts shut off, but it will akso last 50 years.

clear fuel filter on a /farmall A

farmallhfan

Member

mhmalcolm

Member

M Diesel

Member

Andy Martin

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

NDS

Member

Hugh MacKay

Well-known Member

farmallhfan

Member

farmallhfan

Member

Farmallhal

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

glennster

Well-known Member

HENRY E NC

Member

Hugh MacKay

Well-known Member

Similar threads