Non-starting tractor, fuel line mystery?

[BurroBabe]

Yeah, so my tractor has sat a long time and it wouldn't start up, even though it cranked fine. I didn't smell fuel after all the cranking so.

1. checked the fuel shut-offs under the tanks, open

2. opened the bottom of the fuel filter cups to drain any water/air, bleed valve open and the left one drained fine to clean fuel, right one wouldn't drain at all.

3. bought 3 new fuel filters and installed them with all new seals

4. filled the fuel tank to FULL

5. Now the right filter cup fills but the left filter cup wont fill at all, bleeder valve open or closed.

6. Guy helping me suggested that there is a little pump to move the fuel from the 2nd stage filter to the engine (he looked it up online, he's not a tractor guy) so we tried cranking the engine while he watched the fuel cup, nothing moved.

HELP! ADVICE NEEDED!

I have an appointment to drive the tractor down to the International dealer to get a stabilizer bar installed (he is drilling out a Ford bar to fit and needs the tractor there) but I can't start the tractor. I really have to get it going because it's the only day his son, who does the machining work, is available and I have field work that needs to get done.

What am I missing here?

[756puller]

First of all need to know model of tractor 

[supermechanic]

Specifically, what tractor are we speaking of?  Make, Model, year.

 Photos? We love photos!

[HydroTek]

so probably a 574

fuel filters are the CAV type cartridge with the glass bowl

@BurroBabe
Likely the tank valve is plugged with junk -- for now just blow back thru the line to dislodge the junk -- remove the line at the filter base

The first (rear) filter feeds thru to the front filter -- there is no pump for this part 
-- then the line from the front filter runs over to the front part of the injection pump -- loose the line there and have fuel flowing 

Since the tractor has sat for a while with today's junk fuel in it -- likely the throttle valve is stuck in the pump and has broken the link pin -- maybe not, but likely 

Get the fuel flowing to the pump first
then loose the 4 injector lines on the rear of the pump
we will crank and see if any fuel pulses out of those loose lines 

[snoshoe]

Just found an old thread. Can't get it to embed. Op couldn't get fuel to second filter. Had a set of napa/wix.  filters. Had seal ring in wrong place. Would not let fuel through. Had ring in groove of filter instead of the filter head. Wix has a solid top. Cav has holes on top.

[BurroBabe]

1 hour ago, supermechanic said:

Specifically, what tractor are we speaking of?  Make, Model, year.

 Photos? We love photos!

 

1 hour ago, 756puller said:

First of all need to know model of tractor 

Ooopsie, thought I put it in the tags.  Oh yeah, I did, the first tag says 574, but I should've said it in the text.

HydroTech had it right, a 574.  It's nighttime now but I'll take pics in the morning.

[BurroBabe]

1 hour ago, HydroTek said:

so probably a 574

fuel filters are the CAV type cartridge with the glass bowl

@BurroBabe
Likely the tank valve is plugged with junk -- for now just blow back thru the line to dislodge the junk -- remove the line at the filter base

 

I need to respond to the steps you gave one at a time.

First, how could the tank valve be plugged if the fuel flows really freely to the first filter?  Just asking because my neighbor who is helping me (arthritis in my hands makes a lot of stuff hard to do alone) is a very impatient sort of guy who gets overwhelmed with too many different aspects to a problem, so I attempt to dial it in to something specific. I'm also learning, so it may be that I don't understand where you mean the tank valve to be. Just trying to picture this.

I'll go out and get some pictures before I ask for clarifications on the other steps. 

[BurroBabe]

1 hour ago, snoshoe said:

Just found an old thread. Can't get it to embed. Op couldn't get fuel to second filter. Had a set of napa/wix.  filters. Had seal ring in wrong place. Would not let fuel through. Had ring in groove of filter instead of the filter head. Wix has a solid top. Cav has holes on top.

They are Wix filters and we replaced three big rings each. I don't think it had a solid top and I watched as my neighbor pushed the seal ring down in where I saw it obscure the openings in the top of the filter. I would have rested it on the top edge, but what do I know, I'm just a female. 🙄  But if that's the problem, why does the fuel flow into the first filter and not the second one?

[snoshoe]

53 minutes ago, BurroBabe said:

They are Wix filters and we replaced three big rings each. I don't think it had a solid top and I watched as my neighbor pushed the seal ring down in where I saw it obscure the openings in the top of the filter. I would have rested it on the top edge, but what do I know, I'm just a female. 🙄  But if that's the problem, why does the fuel flow into the first filter and not the second one?

Down through the center and can't get out the top

[HydroTek]

Top ring goes in the groove in the filter head

oring goes on the stem of the filter head

smaller ring goes on the glass

no rings on the filter it's self

[snoshoe]

Saved me some typing.

[HydroTek]

Some filter kits (Wix) have 3 of the large square rings

your tractor does not use the water separator that the 3rd ring is for 
-- those had 3 pieces -- filter, separator, glass or metal bowl

Lucas / CAV / Delphi all the same -- several different setups depending on what the engine manufacturer wanted

[stronger800]

You know….I never knew what that third ring was for.  

[HydroTek]

So -- take the filters back off and remove the old ring from the housing
-- also any that have been put in the filter
-- larger ring goes in the groove in the housing
-- oring on the stem

Push and twist the filter on the oring stem and it should hold in place
-- find the ring that fits in the recess on the glass and place in it's spot
-- snug the draw bolt only tight enough to keep from leaking
-- dont break the glass 

There are seals on the top and bottom of the draw bolt that are not usually in the filter kit
-- also a rubber seal on the drain screw 

Fuel should then flow thru the first filter into the second 

[BurroBabe]

19 minutes ago, HydroTek said:

Top ring goes in the groove in the filter head -by this you mean the assembly fixed to the tractor, into which you place the filter? if so, yes we did that

oring goes on the stem of the filter head - Yes, did that

smaller ring goes on the glass - or rather, on the bolt that threads through the glass, against the bolt head and thus underneath the hole in the glass, yes

no rings on the filter it's self - Aha! so my neighbor, who insisted that he know what he was doing when I said that I thought it not right to force that third ring down into the top of the filter was wrong? Uh-oh, how do I tell him that? He can't possibly accept that I was right. So that can be blocking the fuel moving down into the filter, right?

 

[snoshoe]

2 minutes ago, BurroBabe said:

So that can be blocking the fuel moving down into the filter,

No it's not letting it up out of the filter.

[snoshoe]

Fuel comes down the center. Leaves water and bigger chunks in glass bowl and goes up through filter media to next filter or pump if next in line.

[HydroTek]

LoL -- just go fix the problem and dont tell him -- why would you be mean ...

and no -- I meant on the recess in the glass -- between the glass and the filter is a ring 

yes -- filter head is what the metal part is called 
-- only one ring at the top of the filter
-- check that there are not 2

[BurroBabe]

2 minutes ago, HydroTek said:

So -- take the filters back off and remove the old ring from the housing
-- also any that have been put in the filter
-- larger ring goes in the groove in the housing
-- oring on the stem

Push and twist the filter on the oring stem and it should hold in place
-- find the ring that fits in the recess on the glass and place in it's spot
-- snug the draw bolt only tight enough to keep from leaking
-- dont break the glass 

There are seals on the top and bottom of the draw bolt that are not usually in the filter kit
-- also a rubber seal on the drain screw 

Fuel should then flow thru the first filter into the second 

The old rings in the housing came off when we pulled the old filters, they were stuck onto the top edge.

He put the new rings into the housing and the o rings on the stems, so that should be all okay but I'll look closely and make sure the ones in the housing are seated well.

I saw the seal on the "bottom" of the draw bolt (I call it the bolt head) and he rolled the other o-ring up against that seal, since that is where the old one was when we disassembled it. I don't think it will stay on the glass by itself and if it falls in the dirt on the floor (dirt floor barn) it will be gone. 

Where would the rubber seal at the other end of the draw bolt lie? Against the inside of the housing? it didn't come off when he disassembled everything so I need to know where to look for it.  If I can't find it, can I use any rubber washer? I'll have to look more closely at the drain screws too. Don't remember seeing seals on them.

I'll go out in the morning to do the diss & reassembly. Maybe this will work well enough that we don't have to pull lines?

[HydroTek]

There is a seal washer under the acorn nut / or bolt head at the top -- usually sticks to the housing so if it is still there , all is good 

yeah , oring under the "head" of the draw bolt -- I rarely replace that one 

[BurroBabe]

26 minutes ago, HydroTek said:

LoL -- just go fix the problem and dont tell him -- why would you be mean ...

and no -- I meant on the recess in the glass -- between the glass and the filter is a ring 

yes -- filter head is what the metal part is called 
-- only one ring at the top of the filter
-- check that there are not 2

I see we're crossing in internet time.

I'm not mean, I have to constantly apologize to him just to make a suggestion.  I'm just hoping I can get this done myself before he comes by tomorrow with more ideas to help with.  And I'm always profuse with thanks that he helps me in any way. I really don't have the physical strength to do some things.  In this particular case, I would have done it myself, slowly, one filter at a time making sure that I was matching the arrangement of seals as they came off.  Trouble is, when I went inside to get my wallet, he had already driven off to get the filters and just started doing the replacement.  It puts me in a difficult position when I see him pulling everything apart before I can even get something down on the floor to catch little parts like seals and trying to suggest that we go at it more methodically.  You know, I'm starting to get a panic attack just writing this. You have no idea what it is like to navigate working with a well-meaning neighbor who is wanting to help but, more often than not, stuff gets broken and I'm left with the mess. 😕  You know, I really love these guys, they have good hearts, but it is exhausting navigating the rules of engagement.

I'm grateful to you too, for taking the trouble to explain everything very clearly so I understand exactly where everything goes. 

With all the details on where everything goes, I should be able to do this myself in the morning. I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks so much!!!

[Jacka]

5 hours ago, BurroBabe said:

I see we're crossing in internet time.

I'm not mean, I have to constantly apologize to him just to make a suggestion.  I'm just hoping I can get this done myself before he comes by tomorrow with more ideas to help with.  And I'm always profuse with thanks that he helps me in any way. I really don't have the physical strength to do some things.  In this particular case, I would have done it myself, slowly, one filter at a time making sure that I was matching the arrangement of seals as they came off.  Trouble is, when I went inside to get my wallet, he had already driven off to get the filters and just started doing the replacement.  It puts me in a difficult position when I see him pulling everything apart before I can even get something down on the floor to catch little parts like seals and trying to suggest that we go at it more methodically.  You know, I'm starting to get a panic attack just writing this. You have no idea what it is like to navigate working with a well-meaning neighbor who is wanting to help but, more often than not, stuff gets broken and I'm left with the mess. 😕  You know, I really love these guys, they have good hearts, but it is exhausting navigating the rules of engagement.

I'm grateful to you too, for taking the trouble to explain everything very clearly so I understand exactly where everything goes. 

With all the details on where everything goes, I should be able to do this myself in the morning. I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks so much!!!

Sounds like you need to say when your neighbor wants to help say "no I am fine I get it " and change the subject. I am don't like to be rude either to well meaning people but sometime's a little fib or being direct softly is the best way and saves a lot of headaches.

Good luck. 

[BurroBabe]

Not so good news.

I wanted to send an update with pictures halfway through, in appreciation for all your help, seeing as someone had said you all like pictures. After taking the pictures, I struggled with this website to get access on my phone and gave up in frustration after all the hopeless requirements to verify who I am. A password wasn't enough. What is it with all this security running me round and round to verify it's my phone? It's not like this is a bank. 

Anyway, here are some pics before my disaster:

When I took off the filters, of course there were 2 gaskets, the one he put in the housing and the one he forced into the top of the filter. I had said something about it being too large to belong down in that groove blocking the openings. Just like Snoshoe said. You only got a peek at the gunk in the first picture. The previous owner grew tobacco and the entire engine was covered with a thick coat of tobacco dust adhered to grease. Whenever I do maintenance, I take the opportunity to get to those unreachable places to clean it off. That takes time that helpers don't want to waste.After. This took a long time. My tractor gets more cleaning than my house.  What are those threaded holes in the block behind the fuel filters for?

 

Seals seated and ready for the canister.  Now here's where my perfectionism gets me into trouble. I was thinking about the rubber washers that were supposed to be against the bolt head at the bottom of the cup and under the cap nut at the top.  I had only found one in the drain pan used to catch the fuel.

So I went out to the workshop with my magnetic tray and, I'm sure, just one cap nut and one bleeder nut. The only rubber washers with a big enough hole I could find was this double one with the groove so I brought it back to the barn and cut it apart. 

That gave me a pretty good match from the center part (bottom left). 

I assembled the front filter and it  looked great!  I didn't take a pic; figured I would when I had them both on and primed.

Then the disaster.  I COULDN'T FIND THE THE OTHER CAP NUT!  That was at about 5 PM. I proceeded to spent the next four hours looking for it, or a replacement.  I know it needs to be a cap nut to prevent air leaking in. I was sure I hadn't taken both nuts to the shop, but I had taken the magnetic tray so that I wouldn't drop the small parts. I swept every inch of the dirt floor with my 300 lb magnet, then proceeded to do the same in the workshop. Then I looked through all my electrical and plumbing supplies for a cap nut to fit.  I know I have some, maybe not the right size but found none. Best I could do is a few regular nuts but they only thread on a few turns. 

The rod is soaking in my can of WD-40, the threads look fine, but I don't want to take any chances. I was thinking that, if some angel doesn't show me the lost cap bolt in the morning light, that maybe i can use a regular nut or two and put the the o-ring against the top of the housing and tighten the nut carefully. I've got some old finger caulk I could put around the outside of the o ring for good measure.  I sure hope I can get a replacement cap nut.  Damn. 😭

[BurroBabe]

On 10/19/2026 at 11:00 PM, HydroTek said:

There is a seal washer under the acorn nut / or bolt head at the top -- usually sticks to the housing so if it is still there , all is good 

yeah , oring under the "head" of the draw bolt -- I rarely replace that one 

What you are calling a seal washer under the acorn nut, is that a metal washer like is used on oil pan drain bolts or a composite or rubber?  

If I cannot find the missing acorn nut (see my last night's submission with pics), do you think I can get the top airtight enough to drive to the dealer?

[PJW360]

From looking at the pictures yes you have found the obvious mistake with the ring stuffed in the filter

As for the rest it looks good the long centre bolt which holds the assembly together only has a oring on the top to seal it in the recess of the filter head should be a steel washer against bolt head then the oring 

As for the rest from what I can see of the pictures I assume you have a glass bowl of which they are the sealing washers and threaded insert for that long bolt to screw into which has to be put back in and air tight