L-3400 Will only idle.

longhairlimy · Mar 26, 2013

Hi To All.

I bought a L-3400 with 120 hrs on her. Seems to have been running good. Was moving some dirt around and bingo she will only idle.When you go to power it up it die's. Got her up the the Garage.In looking at the air filter i decided to Changed Air element and fuel filter. While i was at it i drained tank and got fresh fuel.I have a good flow from tank to fuel filter.The tractor with start but will not rev up.If i push lever way up she dies.I a newbe at this stuff and any help would be nice.Weather here is in the 50's if that means anything. Any Thoughts. Thank You!

Coyote machine · Mar 26, 2013

Do you have any fuel evident PAST the fuel filter to supply the injection pump?
Did you just buy the tractor?

longhairlimy · Mar 26, 2013

Hey Coyote machine, I bought it in November. It has had an hour to cool and now it will power up. Heat seems to be playing with it. I know that if i go work it, it will play the same game.

longhairlimy · Mar 26, 2013

I was kind of thinking it was the low pressure pump.Is this how they act when they are going out?

Coyote machine · Mar 26, 2013

longhairlimy said:
I was kind of thinking it was the low pressure pump.Is this how they act when they are going out?

Seems like something must be malfunctioning when at a temperature above ambient. Could easily be a low pressure pump. I don't know if they can be taken apart and cleaned. Do you know where it is located? Can you verify that fuel is getting to the injection pump consistently?

Jerry/MT · Mar 26, 2013

Did you bleed the sytem after replacing the fuel filter?

longhairlimy · Mar 26, 2013

Yes,i just came back from running it. ran ok til i did a few loads of dirt and started running poor.

longhairlimy · Mar 26, 2013

I found this in the forums.

I would not suspect the injection pump but I would be more suspect of the diaphram pump that feeds it that the service manual calls a "fuel feed pump" It is a small round thing with two fuel lines attached located just to the left of the fuel filter. I once had a fuel pump on one of my houseboat engines that worked for about a half hour when cold and then got weak. It would idle but could not get any power. That is why I though of the fuel feed pump. It may not be the problem but is something to check. A fuel pressure meter could be inserted to check it. It does not look expensive so maybe the dealer could just swap it out if he can't find another problem.

Anyone else have this happin to them.

longhairlimy · Mar 27, 2013

Ok so after running tractor i pull the line on the injector side of the transfer pump while hot and kicked it over, Not much fuel came out. Waited till tractor cooled off and tryed it, lots of fuel. Bad Transfer pump on a tractor with 120 hrs. BINGO. $106.00 ...

Would like to says thanks to those that made comment.Thats what this forum is for.

k0ua · Mar 27, 2013

longhairlimy said:
Ok so after running tractor i pull the line on the injector side of the transfer pump while hot and kicked it over, Not much fuel came out. Waited till tractor cooled off and tryed it, lots of fuel. Bad Transfer pump on a tractor with 120 hrs. BINGO. $106.00 ...

Would like to says thanks to those that made comment.Thats what this forum is for.

Wow. do you have any theory on why the fuel pump is temperature sensitive?.. Isn't it just a little diaphragm pump? is it powered off the cam or is it electric?

James K0UA

longhairlimy · Mar 27, 2013

Powered off a cam.Don't have a clue!

Coyote machine · Mar 27, 2013

longhairlimy said:
Powered off a cam.Don't have a clue!

I suspect something expands with heat and contracts back to normal when cold. I'd look for wear marks indicating where it is 'binding' when hot.
Let us know when you replace it with a new one how it's working.

longhairlimy · Mar 29, 2013

Another thought,How about the Fuel solenoid on the front of the Injection pump.Anyone have a way to test? Ohm's maybe? I'm just not sold yet!

Coyote machine · Mar 29, 2013

longhairlimy said:
Another thought,How about the Fuel solenoid on the front of the Injection pump.Anyone have a way to test? Ohm's maybe? I'm just not sold yet!

I'm confused. I thought you had determined the cam driven fuel pump was the problem?:confused2: No?!:confused3:

longhairlimy · Mar 29, 2013

Have not picked up item yet,as dealer here does not have in stock. Ordered.Was doing bit more reading here and came across Another thread where the guy had about the same issues.His was fuel solenoid.Is there a way to test fuel solenoid?Will be playing with it today, Just think of how this unit affect's fuel. As stated how i test low pressure pump,i would say that is what is wrong.Always open to comment.

texasjohn · Mar 29, 2013

I had same symptoms...idle OK, die otherwise.
Fuel solenoid.....in my case, I disconnected its electronics...the wire connectors...and reconnected...instant fix.

My theory is a loose/dirty connector. Try it.

longhairlimy · Mar 30, 2013

Thanks for the idea,Tried it with no fix. Allso warmed her up to the point of it doing its thing and tried cool water on solenoid to see if it would cool to the point of working. NO.NOTHING. More thoughts please!!!

texasjohn · Mar 30, 2013

dunno re your specific model, but mine has a "limp" mode it goes into when things aren't right...this is what was happening to me with bad solenoid connection...internal computer realized that it would not have power to do any real work and shut down when asked to handle a load. Don't know all the situations that might initiate "limp" mode, if you have WSM, take a look there. Will search out my WSM and see what I can figure out that might apply to your case.

longhairlimy · Apr 6, 2013

Ok, changed the fuel solenoid today and ran the tractor hard for 2 hrs. Problem fixed.Will be taking the low pressure pump back as the dealer told me if i didn't need it bring it back.Wow, thanks to the guys that jumped in for the help. Total cost was $160.00.And some snorts of fuel...

David_Kb7uns · Apr 7, 2013

texasjohn said:
dunno re your specific model, but mine has a "limp" mode it goes into when things aren't right...this is what was happening to me with bad solenoid connection...internal computer realized that it would not have power to do any real work and shut down when asked to handle a load. Don't know all the situations that might initiate "limp" mode, if you have WSM, take a look there. Will search out my WSM and see what I can figure out that might apply to your case.

I would like to know what computer is going into limp mode? The intellipanel on the Grand L 30 series has no control of the engine other then the kill/run solenoid.

David Kb7uns