Another question. I have a Massey 44 which the fuel is gravity flow. I installed an in-line filter as a precautionary measure. It seemed to do fine when the weather was cool but started it up last night for the county fair parade and the engine was missing. Today I went over everything including replacing spark plugs and disassembling and cleaning the carburetor. When the fuel line is unhooked from the carburetor fuel flows just fine but when I screw it into the carburetor the fuel seems to stop flowing through the filter. Has anyone had issues with this? I'm reading that some filters won't let fuel through if it's a gravity flow system. ????

Same experience with an AC. Was informed most of those inline fuel filters are intended to be used with a fuel pump and it takes more PSI than gravity with a low tank can muster to flow thru it. Removed the filter and no more problems. Old guys insist the sediment bowl with clean screens is all one needs.

Yes just use sediment bowl.

Old guys had better fuel.
Maybe yours is dirty already.
Or a loop in line when connected.
I've had same problem and deleted.
Water is a fuel enemy.

It's been a process for sure. To make things worse it's 94 degrees and I'm using fuel with ethanol in it. I know, I know, but it's cheaper. I've had numerous cars and pickups that don't like ethanol in hot weather. A 1951 Massey is no different. Tomorrow I'll delete the stupid filter and see how it goes. Today I ordered an electric fuel pump also. I'm no quitter.

Used to much when it was new.
Is the tank full? Try loosening the fuel cap.

The clear plastic filters with the paper looking element inside require a pump to move fuel through it. The plastic filters that have a fine metal screen when viewed through the line is suitable for gravity fed systems.

Used to be able to get lead additive for old gassers.
It helped mine, every few tanks.
For me the no-e is cheaper than maintaining several fuel systems.
Old tractors seem to drink anything.

Might be a screen at the carburetor end of fuel line also, check and see that it’s not dirty.

Just remove the filter element from inside the glass bowl. Most debris coming from a tractor gravity tank is going to settle in the bottom of the glass bowl and stay there.

It costs......and hurts........but in all my old farm engines I run 91 octane ethanol free gas I buy at Casey's. The station I go to has a dedicated pump for it. If you were buy it and run it, maybe the ethanol stuff OK, but once it sits........the alcohol attracts water and that's when the trouble starts.

Yes our Casey's has unleaded too for 3.65 so I'll have to bite the bullet. The intake manifold between the carb and the head is sweating too. Thought that was weird.

Good memory!

That’s water in your gas, I’ve ran a lot of inline filters on just gravity and never had problems how do you know the fuel has stopped do you have the bowl off so the float is down and the needle isn’t seated closed, sounds more like your coil is bad when it gets hot it messes up the ignition, you need a pressure regulator with an electric pump as you can push gas though the needle and seat.

Is it missing on a cylinder or two?

Hard to tell. It runs very erratic. It's been running good all summer. I put ten gals of super unleaded in it and that's when the trouble started. I'll haul it home tomorrow and drain the ethanol laced fuel and start over.

Ten gallons should give enough gravity pressure to run thru a filter. Take carb end of line off and see how much runs out, probably more than you think.

Missing on a cylinder or two, my first guess would be maybe inside distributor. Could be moisture under cap.

Surging of complete motor, all cylinders. Could be fuel or carb related.

What model massey? I've got one with a Continental gas motor, that thing would start any weather.

Massey 44 RC with the Continental. I'm fairly sure it's a fuel issue

We had a Ferguson 30 with gravity flow and sediment bowl. I always ran the cheapest gas and octane there was with no issues. I think any other filtration is unnecessary.

I got one those sonic cleaners.
Send the carb I'll beam it up.

The last one,
a white chunk of ethanol??? came out.
They were made for carbs,
and a hundred other things.