M9540 Bogging Down

[TexasBest]

Gentlemen, I have a '12 M9540 with 128 hours, had it recently serviced, been an awesome tractor. I pull a 10' Woods shredder and the other day I was mowing some not too high grass and the tractor started bogging down, went from 540 down to 450 or so (don't recall the RPM), then it would get its balls back and run ok for a few minutes and then the same deal, took forever to finish mowing.

I blew out the air filter, checked everything all was good. Drove it in high gear down the road wide open at 22mph without the PTO engaged and it would run smooth for 30 seconds and then bog down and almost die, but would then run great again after 30 seconds or so, it's very intermittent.
Replaced both fuel filters, same deal, can't figure it out, it bogs down with or without the PTO engaged. The fuel filter swap didn't change anything.

Wondering if anyone had any ideas, hate to take it to the shop if it's something I can fix.
Thanks...

 

[piller]

What you are descibing sounds very similar to something that happened with my M8540, check to see if perhaps you have a pinched fuel line.

 

[Tx Jim]

Check to be sure fuel tank vents aren't plugged.

 

[farmer2009]

How fresh is the fuel? Is there any additives in it? If not try treating the fuel and checking fuel lines and connections. Also make sure tank is clean.

I know this new fuel has been hard on New Hollands this size. Mainly injector pumps. The local mechanics are saying to add motor oil to your fuel.

 

[TexasBest]

Thanks for the responses, couldn't find any kinks in the fuel line, the diesel is clean and not sure where the fuel tank vents are, but today when it started its bogging down I removed the fuel cap and it didn't change anything.
Wondering if it could be a faulty injector pump? It's really intermittent, today I mowed for 15 minutes before it started bogging down and then it did it every five minutes or so. I discovered that when I put the tractor in neutral the RPMs would get back to 2200, I'm at a loss?!

 

[TexasBest]

Thanks for the responses, couldn't find any kinks in the fuel line, the diesel is clean and not sure where the fuel tank vents are, but today when it started its bogging down I removed the fuel cap and it didn't change anything.
Wondering if it could be a faulty injector pump? It's really intermittent, today I mowed for 15 minutes before it started bogging down and then it did it every five minutes or so. I discovered that when I put the tractor in neutral the RPMs would get back to 2200, I'm at a loss?!

 

[stoyan79]

Bad fuel. Replace the fuel. It happened to me this summer. Gas station sold me bad fuel.

 

[farmer2009]

Bad fuel. Replace the fuel. It happened to me this summer. Gas station sold me bad fuel.

Possible. Also replace any rubber fuel lines. They can pass a visual inspection but be collapsing on the inside. Sometimes you can find the separation by finding a soft spot in the line cut it open and the inside layer has separated from the reinforcing layers.

 

[dixiedrifter]

Take off your fuel water separator bowl housing (the part where the fuel shutoff valve is) and clean out the housing where the fuel goes in. What happens is occasionally trash will get caught up in the narrow entry way before the shutoff valve and stave the engine for fuel.

 

[Tx Jim]

Take off your fuel water separator bowl housing (the part where the fuel shutoff valve is) and clean out the housing where the fuel goes in. What happens is occasionally trash will get caught up in the narrow entry way before the shutoff valve and stave the engine for fuel.

Had the same thing you're referring to happen on a M4900 water separator valve.

 

[C4Ranch]

Bad fuel is my vote. How long has it been since you refueled? Did it sit a while without a full tank? Could be condensation.

 

[TexasBest]

Take off your fuel water separator bowl housing (the part where the fuel shutoff valve is) and clean out the housing where the fuel goes in. What happens is occasionally trash will get caught up in the narrow entry way before the shutoff valve and stave the engine for fuel.

I will try this when I get home. Another thing I noticed, when looking at the clear plastic housing which contains the fuel filter element, at idle this is not staying full of fuel, the level drops and rises continuously, shouldn't this remain full at idle?

 

[wmonroe]

The level should not be changing. Does this tractor have a fuel lift pump that feeds the injection pump? If so that pump might be shot.

 

[dixiedrifter]

I will try this when I get home. Another thing I noticed, when looking at the clear plastic housing which contains the fuel filter element, at idle this is not staying full of fuel, the level drops and rises continuously, shouldn't this remain full at idle?

Stopped up fuel inlet. Mine does the exact thing. If you look you will see a small trickle of diesel flowing into with small bubbles then all of a sudden it will shoot down and refill. Takes about 10 minutes to yank it off and clean it.

 

[TexasBest]

Stopped up fuel inlet. Mine does the exact thing. If you look you will see a small trickle of diesel flowing into with small bubbles then all of a sudden it will shoot down and refill. Takes about 10 minutes to yank it off and clean it.

Awesome, that sounds like the solution. I really appreciate this and all the advice on here.

 

[dixiedrifter]

The circle part is where the inlet is and where the blockage typically occurs. Pop out bolt "A" to remove the housing, undo the hose clamps with some pliers, remove screw "B" to release the stopcock, blow out the housing and the fuel hose with compressor (or your lungs, doesn't really matter just one tastes less funny than the other) and reassemble. You should hear bubbling in the tank when you blow though the hose. Might as well clean out the inside of the housing while you have it off. Fill the cup up with some diesel, push on the primer on top of the housing till it is firm, unscrew the bleeder valve on the injector pump, fire it up, then while it is running go back and screw down the bleeder valve.

 

[5030]

Take off your fuel water separator bowl housing (the part where the fuel shutoff valve is) and clean out the housing where the fuel goes in. What happens is occasionally trash will get caught up in the narrow entry way before the shutoff valve and stave the engine for fuel.

BINGO

I had that happen to my M9000 last fall. The sediment bowl (between the fuel filter and the lift pump had just enough crud in it to restrict the fuel flow at high demand, no issue at low demand (no boost). Take the bowl off and clean it in clean diesel being careful with the water level float, blow it out with comprssed air, fill it with claean diesel and reinstall. You'll have to reprime with th hand pump on top of the injection pump and start using a ful additive like Lucas or Power Service Bio-Clean in your diesel

 

[dragoneggs]

The circle part is where the inlet is and where the blockage typically occurs. Pop out bolt "A" to remove the housing, undo the hose clamps with some pliers, remove screw "B" to release the stopcock, blow out the housing and the fuel hose with compressor (or your lungs, doesn't really matter just one tastes less funny than the other) and reassemble. You should hear bubbling in the tank when you blow though the hose. Might as well clean out the inside of the housing while you have it off. Fill the cup up with some diesel, push on the primer on top of the housing till it is firm, unscrew the bleeder valve on the injector pump, fire it up, then while it is running go back and screw down the bleeder valve.

This is why I love this forum!!! Nice post, dixie! :drink:

 

[big bubba]

The circle part is where the inlet is and where the blockage typically occurs. Pop out bolt "A" to remove the housing, undo the hose clamps with some pliers, remove screw "B" to release the stopcock, blow out the housing and the fuel hose with compressor (or your lungs, doesn't really matter just one tastes less funny than the other) and reassemble. You should hear bubbling in the tank when you blow though the hose. Might as well clean out the inside of the housing while you have it off. Fill the cup up with some diesel, push on the primer on top of the housing till it is firm, unscrew the bleeder valve on the injector pump, fire it up, then while it is running go back and screw down the bleeder valve.

thanks dixiedrifter for this very useful troubleshooting info. will keep in mind for my own 8540. good eye & well stated regards

 

[TexasBest]

Thanks much dixiedrifter, this seems to have fixed the problem, I truly appreciate you taking the time to explain the process.