Super A runs for a few minutes, then stales. Will start again after five minutes of sitting

[Berhidle]

Thanks Don!

I am presuming I should use a lead additive for the fuel to avoid issues with the valve seats, correct?

[Eugene]

I would seal the inside of the tank, and it's crud. There are several products that would do that such as Redkot or POR.

I am presuming I should use a lead additive for the fuel to avoid issues with the valve seats, correct?

Incorrect. No need for a lead additive.

[Berhidle]

Thanks for the suggestion to seal the tank! I’ll do that as soon as can.

For now, though: GOOD NEWS!!!

After flushing the tank and ‘surgically’ removing the junk in the tank, and flushing it out again, and then again...

It is running fine! Clean gas in the bowl, no sediment in it and it ran for over fifteen minutes without stumbling, hesitating or stalling!!

Thanks again for all of the advice! I am very grateful to all of you!

[Stanton]

Glad you found the issue. Don't let the cost of the Redkot or POR sway you from sealing the tank. Whichever product you use, follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter.

If you don't want to go that route, then you could search for a good used gas tank that is free from rusty debris on the inside. Placing a Wanted ad here on the Vine or finding one locally would be your choices.

[Berhidle]

Hello all!

Just a quick update on this:

Despite the fact that I was able to clean the majority of the deposits out of the tank, I’m still having issues with sand like rust coming through the line. It’s plugging everything up.

Being that I am in upstate New York – the Syracuse New York area – I’m dealing with cold temperatures. I don’t have a heated workshop that I can warm the gas tank in. This causes a problem, since the coating needs to be at least 50F to dry, not to mention anything I rinse the tank out with.

So, until I have warmer weather – that is around May or so – I can’t really seal the tank, but I still need the tractor for plowing.

Until I can seal the tank, what I have done is bought a 2 gallon gas can, drilled a hole in the lower side of the can, put a barbed nipple in and I have run the fuel line from that through a fuel filter to the carburetor.

The tractor is running great and I am happy with it at this point. I still plan on taking care of the tank, but as I said, the weather is not warm enough for me to take care of it at this point.

Thanks again for all of the advice!!

[Don McCombs]

Just be sure that your temporary tank is very secure and neither it nor the rubber fuel line are near the exhaust system.

[tst]

a trick for cleaning the tank to get the rust broke loose is jack up the tractor, strap the gas tank to the wheel, put some small sharp stone inside it, let the tractor run in gear, it is now a tumbler and will clean the inside of the tank nice and shiny, done this several times, easier to do this with an A as the tank is only a couple feet long , when I do a cub tank I strap it on my backhoe as its long with the hood on it and use the stabilizers to jack the backhoe up high for clearance, I just leave it running and walk away, just check up on it once and a while, they look like new inside when done

[staninlowerAL]

This might provide an alternate fix until you can clean/seal the tank. There's some posts on the HOW TO (Fuel) subforum to solve these type problems. The one below is posted by Mr. Bill Hudson.

[Lt.Mike]

a trick for cleaning the tank to get the rust broke loose is jack up the tractor, strap the gas tank to the wheel, put some small sharp stone inside it, let the tractor run in gear, it is now a tumbler and will clean the inside of the tank nice and shiny, done this several times, easier to do this with an A as the tank is only a couple feet long , when I do a cub tank I strap it on my backhoe as its long with the hood on it and use the stabilizers to jack the backhoe up high for clearance, I just leave it running and walk away, just check up on it once and a while, they look like new inside when done

Tim did you ever take a video of this being done?
How long does it take?

[Lt.Mike]

This might provide an alternate fix until you can clean/seal the tank. There's some posts on the HOW TO (Fuel) subforum to solve these type problems. The one below is posted by Mr. Bill Hudson.
filter screen in tank.jpg

screen in tank.jpg

I’ve done this and it works for a while but will clog too in time. Eventually you have to properly clean the tank.

[tst]

how long it takes depends how bad the rust is, I have done some in 15 minutes, had some take 3-4 hours, I do antique motorcycle tanks in the clothes dryer, same deal, put stone in them, wrap them up in a blanket and tape it in tight and tumble no heat, they come out like new, also learned the trick for popping dents out of small tanks suck as motorcycles, fill to the top with water, put in freezer, it expands when they freeze and pops out the dent, sorry no video

[Berhidle]

This might provide an alternate fix until you can clean/seal the tank. There's some posts on the HOW TO (Fuel) subforum to solve these type problems. The one below is posted by Mr. Bill Hudson.

Thanks for the advice Bill!

Sorry for the delayed reply. I’ve been buried and haven’t been able to get back here until now!

I bought a new bowl and it came with that screen on it. I still had trouble.

It turns out that there is ‘rust dust’ in tank, and it’s plugging the carb, and the bowl screen too! The tank screen is took course to stop it, and the bowl screen doesn’t get all of it.

I put an in-line filter in place, and the tractor ran for a while (20 minutes), but then that filter got plugged up.

After fighting with it, and needing the tractor, I gave up and bought the gas can...

[staninlowerAL]

I remember someone posting about a magnet under the tank which helped to "capture" and hold small rust particules to prevent them from entering the fuel valve. The post included a picture of the trapped rust. I've never tried it but it should work.
EDIT: I searched the forum for "magnet under tank" and came up with about 50 hits. Here's one of them from Forum Member Big Dog:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34594&hilit=magnet+under+tank#p275672

[SteveS]

Hopefully you have it running by now. If not, you may want to make sure the vent on the tank, or cap is not blocked.