Sediment bulb
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=188757
Printed Date: 22 Aug 2025 at 2:08pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Sediment bulb
Posted By: dbro2
Subject: Sediment bulb
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 2:58pm
| I purchased a 185 diesel recently. I experienced a loss of power while using it to disc. I removed the sediment bulb expecting to find a screen. There is not one. My first question is where can I get one. Secondly I cleaned the bulb of some debris and cleaned the stem and was able to get a steady stream of fuel. I could not tell if there is a second hole in the stem that is clogged. My second question: Should there be more than one stream filling the bowl. I also changed the fuel filter and all of the above solved the problem. Thanks for the info. |
Replies:
Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 3:21pm
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Yes, there must be a screen in the sediment bowl. There should also be 2 streams coming out when you open the valve. Screens can be found almost anywhere. I get mine from Steiners. My guess is that your tank has a lot of crud in it and the previous owner removed the screen to improve fuel flow. Clean out the tank and refill with fresh fuel and you should be good to go. ------------- '49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '63 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080 |
Posted By: dbro2
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 3:39pm
| Thanks I knew it should have a screen and suspected that there should be two streams, I will get a better light. |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 5:13pm
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I will take the opposite side. With the cartridge fuel filter on a 185 there is no reason to have a screen in the sediment bowl. It is just an extra place for a fuel restriction. I say leave the screen out.
You could have a restriction in the the top of the sediment bowl housing. It narrows down significantly and tends to catch chunks of rust or debris that have found it's way into the fuel tank. Drain the tank, remove the sediment bowl assembly, try to flush the tank until there is no more debris and replace the sediment bowl assembly without the screen.
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Posted By: FREEDGUY
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 5:17pm
How can you take a "side" when you don't know WHAT the OP has upstream from the bowl for a filter  ??We NEVER had an issue with the screen in the bowls of a 180 gasser, XT ,and F2 . This poor guy isn't heading towards a fuel pump rebuild due to the lack of maintenance from the previous owner
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WF owner wrote:Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 5:19pm
Having a screen in the sediment bowl is redundant. The 185 has a filter cartridge. A screen is just a place to restrict the fuel supply. By the way, "upstream" would be before the sediment bowl. The sediment bowl screws directly into the fuel tank. There is no place to have something "upstream from the bowl".
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Posted By: FREEDGUY
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 5:23pm
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Posted By: FREEDGUY
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 5:25pm
| point taken on the "stream" segment. Is this "inline filter" delegated to the 185 ? |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 5:29pm
| Most, if not all, Allis Chalmers diesels had a fuel filter other than the sediment bowl. |
Posted By: FREEDGUY
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 5:39pm
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[QUOTE=WF owner]Most, if not all, Allis Chalmers diesels had a fuel filter other than the sediment bowl.[/QUOTE OMG !!!! Are you talking about the canister filter between the hand primer and the actual fuel pump ! ???? You made it sound like an "in-line" bubble filter in the lawn mower gas lines  That little screen in the bowl was a LOT less of a headache to clean than having to prime/purge the entire system when changing the canister filter
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Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 5:53pm
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the canister filter will hold 15 TIMES as much crud as the little screen.. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 5:59pm
At least 15 times and probably much more.
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Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2022 at 6:05pm
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You have to remember that many mechanical injection pumps (Roosa Master and Standyne for sure) get all their lubrication from the diesel fuel. Starving an injection pump for fuel is similar to starving an engine of oil. The sediment bowl has very limited capacity for storing dirt before it restricts the fuel flow. I remember one mechanic at our local AC dealer telling customers to remove the screen and throw it away. We did that and never had any problems.
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Posted By: caledonian
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2022 at 6:23pm
| Use clean fuel with a filter on your storage tank in the future. We have always left the screens in with no problems. |
Posted By: FREEDGUY
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2022 at 6:50pm
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[QUOTE=steve(ill)]the canister filter will hold 15 TIMES as much crud as the little screen..[/QUOTE Why would you want 15 X to get that far ??
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Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2022 at 7:01pm
| Winter time tractor use ?? that screen is the FIRST place the fuel will gell !!! Throw it away !! |
Posted By: DCAC
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2022 at 7:36pm
| I've used NAPA 3039 filters in place of the screen and have had good luck so far. They won't fit in the smaller bowls though. |