To set you off on a different tack there are a number of things you can check as part of the fuel system diagnosis, especially on a machine where you personally have no idea of the maintenance history. There is a lot more to the system than simply changing filters. Refer to the diagram below.
1. Let the machine sit overnight then drain all the water and sediment from the bottom of the tank first thing the following morning. There is a bung accessible from undeneath the machine.
2. The head of the secondary fuel filter/water separator (#3) is famous for the small ports in it getting blocked up with crud. Remove the entire filter head from the machine, then refer to the RH diagram and pull all the connections, elbows etc, out of it. Blow through the head passages with compressed air and do the same for all the connections, verify that the check valve #3 is operating correctly then reassemble.
3. It's worthwile testing the pressure relief valve #5 to make sure it is relieving correctly. IIRC the relief pressure is 1.5psi or thereabouts.
4. When you replaced the main fuel filter element did you also replace the inlet screen - #7 in the LH image.?
5. Does the electric fuel pump run when you turn on the key before starting the engine.?
