Fuel System Question: What is this?

Brad_S. · August 03, 2018, 01:20:18 PM

I somehow got a great deal of water in my Timber Harvester fuel tank and it was pumped throughout the system. My mechanically inept self is now trying to purge the lines. This apparatus on the left side of the photo is just inches away from the fuel tank sediment bulb. I thought it was a filter of some sort so I opened it up and found it was a spring-loaded contraption that had a lot of slimy black gunk in it. I reassembled it and put it back in place. There is also a live electrical wire that attaches to it.

What is it? What does it do? What happens when it doesn't do what it is supposed to do? What was the slimy black gunk that I saw in it? Was it a piece of rubber that has decomposed? I cannot get fuel to flow through the system and I am tearing my hair out!

mike_belben · August 03, 2018, 01:42:56 PM

Maybe a fuel heater? The gunk was likely a proprietary polymerization/algae, dirt and rust emulsion. Clean it out and take more pics.

ladylake · August 03, 2018, 02:56:55 PM

Looks like a electric fuel pump, time for a new one. Steve

Brad_S. · August 03, 2018, 03:08:47 PM

Thank you for the replies. Whatever it is, it's either not needed or doing it's job because I finally got the engine running again. For now, regarding the item in question, I'm going to let sleeping dogs lie and worry about it another day! Thanks again!

bandmiller2 · August 03, 2018, 04:10:15 PM

The black slime is likely bacteria growing in the fuel, it thrives in fuel that is little used and has entrained moisture. It will block up your fuel filters. Clean your tank, filters and lines as best you can and add a biocide available at automotive parts stores. Be careful its nasty stuff and you just need a little. Its good form to add a little to your fuel can when you buy fuel. Frank C.

stihltoomany · August 03, 2018, 06:18:34 PM

I think that could well be a water separator filter the wire may be going to an idiot light or something to alert you when the filter is plugged or there is water present it looks a lot like my water separator on my woodmizer you need to replace that filter the spring you talk of may make it something else but you definitely need to get that fuel system cleaned up and replace the hoses replace the filters flush everything out because that black Gunk is good for nothing very detrimental my woodmizer had a quarter inch of black crap in the bottom of the fuel tank that I had to clean out with acetone and the mill only had 80 hours on it I assume it started with sawdust contamination good luck

ladylake · August 04, 2018, 03:43:01 AM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Carter-Fuel-Pumps-P4070-Universal-In-Line-Electric-Fuel-Pump-Fuel-Pump-Electric-/400877572004?hash=item5d562a4fa4

Steve

jcbrotz · August 04, 2018, 05:02:28 AM

If its a fuel pump that's not working and ignore it to long your injector pump will more than likely see the same fate and it becomes real expensive instead of just expensive. Might be a good idea to check and make sure you have pressure at the injector pump.

dgdrls · August 04, 2018, 07:54:31 AM

Quote from: jcbrotz on August 04, 2018, 05:02:28 AM
If its a fuel pump that's not working and ignore it to long your injector pump will more than likely see the same fate and it becomes real expensive instead of just expensive. Might be a good idea to check and make sure you have pressure at the injector pump.

what JC said, assuming its a diesel, which makes it even more important, get it sorted properly. IMHO, you can't get diesel too clean.
D

bodagocreek2 · August 04, 2018, 02:15:42 PM

What Steve said. Not that expensive and easy to replace.

esteadle · August 17, 2018, 05:53:26 PM

That is indeed a Fuel Pump.

I have a TH 30HT26 and I replaced mine about 8 years ago after it gummed up when I left fuel in it over a winter. I put in a new NAPA standard fuel pump and haven't had a problem.

Oddly, last week, I also got a bunch of water in my fuel tank, and didn't realize when I opened up the fuel stop-cock. That let water drip into the bowl, and the fuel pump sucks from the top of that bowl, and sent water into the 16' of fuel line.

The best way to purge your fuel lines, btw is to remove the line going into the fuel filter near the engine, and turn the pump on... the pump pushes the fuel or water thru the line and clears it out quickly. Just catch it in a can or you'll be smelling fuel all day long.

As for how the water got into the tank, I can't figure. I have a good, sealing Jerry can, and I never get condensate in that as I keep it closed / sealed between fillings. The neighbor said they had horizontal driving rain for the last few weeks, but I still don't see how it entered the tank, even if that little vent hole was facing the wind.