Help! Branson Tractor only IDLES - no Power

[Jerflynn]

Looking for advice and help on a Branson Tractor Model 4720H..

Long Story short... My fathernlaw borrowed a neighbors tractor right before he was diagnosis with Stage 4 Brain Cancer and apparently it messed up on him while he was using it... He has since passed and now i have inherited the problem to fix.

Before he passed he had ordered a new fuel pump and said that is all that was needed as it wasnt getting fuel

.. I installed it and noticed that the fuel filter assembly needed replaced as well which i also installed.

The problem still is the same... New fuel line, new diesel fuel, blown air back into tank to check if any clogs, new air filter have all been installed. It seems like the tractor is getting fuel but did notice.....

the dpf lamp would flash quick 10 times when keyswitch is turned on.... so i took the DPF filter out, cleaned it, and reinstalled... Still no power, just idles.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!.

 

[claggstractors]

When you say cleaned it on the DPF, what exactly did you do?

 

[Jerflynn]

blew both dpf filter and doc canister out with air compressor and pressure washed. I know the proper way is to send off to get baked at so many hours and 500degrees C

 

[herm0016]

what year is it?

 

[claggstractors]

OK. Yeah, without cookin' it for a couple of hours at 500C blowing and washing it out doesn't do much. I've used a modified ceramic kiln myself before. One way to make for sure that is it is to pull the plug in the exhaust manifold are try running it for just a few seconds without the DPF installed.

 

[Jerflynn]

what year is it?

2015

 

[Jerflynn]

OK. Yeah, without cookin' it for a couple of hours at 500C blowing and washing it out doesn't do much. I've used a modified ceramic kiln myself before. One way to make for sure that is it is to pull the plug in the exhaust manifold are try running it for just a few seconds without the DPF installed.

i actually brought the tractor to my workplace which services and repairs forklifts and Yard spotters. I did see a video on the plug but couldnt break it loose. I would have to heat it perhaps to break loose so decided to pull the filter and doc off and try running it without and still same issue... One of my shop techs looked at the filter after i had just "knocked off" the top layer and said it is clean enough to continue the diagnosis. He does the same method on the Tier4 engine dpf filters on the yard jockeys

 

[YanmarFever]

Im sorry to hear about your Father-in-law's passing.

The electric fuel pump?
When you turn on the key does it make a purring sound from the firewall?
Also check the fuses I believe the fuel pump has one on the fuse box.
keep us posted...

 

[claggstractors]

OK. DPF definitely isn't the issue then. As long as you're getting plenty of fuel to the injection pump and plenty of air to the engine. Outside of extremely low compression, about the only thing it leaves is extremely tight valve lash or injection pump is wore out. I'm assuming you've already made sure the accelerator cable is operating the pump correctly.

 

[ericm979]

You could remove the DPF and run it with just the up pipe that leads to the DPF. Not for long and with the hood open so you don't damage the paint. Just to check if the DPF is the problem.

But if the DPF light on the dash is not stuck on solid or blinking fast, then the data recorder thinks the pressure differential across the DPF is within normal parameters and your problem is elsewhere.

Does it sound like it's trying to increase rpms and struggling to do so? Or is it totally ignoring the throttle lever and just sitting there idling? In the latter case I'd watch the actuator arm on the FI pump while opening the throttle to see if it's moving.

 

[Jerflynn]

Im sorry to hear about your Father-in-law's passing.

The electric fuel pump?
When you turn on the key does it make a purring sound from the firewall?
Also check the fuses I believe the fuel pump has one on the fuse box.
keep us posted...

thank you! He certainly was a good man.. He always did things for others and never would accept payment.. he actually was using the backhoe attachment for a lady in need...

Yes the fuel pump is eletric as when key is on you can hear the "ticking" sound.

Fuses have been checked and all good.

 

[YanmarFever]

Have you checked the fuel filter for water/
Maybe loosen up the banjo fitting at the pump while the key is on to see if fluid comes out?
Is the pto switch off?
Is the clutch pushed in all the way?
If its a shuttle is in in the neutral spot?

 

[Jerflynn]

OK. DPF definitely isn't the issue then. As long as you're getting plenty of fuel to the injection pump and plenty of air to the engine. Outside of extremely low compression, about the only thing it leaves is extremely tight valve lash or injection pump is wore out. I'm assuming you've already made sure the accelerator cable is operating the pump correctly.

checked the accelarator cable/s. It appears the cable to the throttle is tight when i rock it back in forth from turtle to rabbit.

the 2nd cable is linked to the hydrostatic pedal and also appears to be tight when pedal is pressed

 

[Jerflynn]

Have you checked the fuel filter for water/
Maybe loosen up the banjo fitting at the pump while the key is on to see if fluid comes out?
Is the pto switch off?
Is the clutch pushed in all the way?
If its a shuttle is in in the neutral spot?

yes checked fuel filter and all lines in line to ensure diesel fuel is running out

PTO switch is off and since its shuttle it is indeed in neutral.... idk

 

[claggstractors]

About down to the three things I mentioned earlier then. Maybe have the same tech that OK'd the DPF filter look at the flow goin' into the pump and see if he thinks it enough? Should be a decent stream.

 

[Jerflynn]

You could remove the DPF and run it with just the up pipe that leads to the DPF. Not for long and with the hood open so you don't damage the paint. Just to check if the DPF is the problem.

But if the DPF light on the dash is not stuck on solid or blinking fast, then the data recorder thinks the pressure differential across the DPF is within normal parameters and your problem is elsewhere.

Does it sound like it's trying to increase rpms and struggling to do so? Or is it totally ignoring the throttle lever and just sitting there idling? In the latter case I'd watch the actuator arm on the FI pump while opening the throttle to see if it's moving.

i did remove the dpf and ran it and still idled only. The DPF light will come on when keyswitch is turned on and blink fast for 10 secs and then disappears..

it has never wanted to increase rpms. its totally ignoring the throttle lever and does sit and idles only..

 

[ericm979]

Verify that the lever on the pump moves when the throttle (or pedal) is moved. Or move the lever by hand while it's running.

According to my shop manual blinking every .5 seconds means sensor malfunction. Every 2 seconds, the DPF is getting clogged and needs cleaning. Solid means the DPF is clogged or overheating. At least that's how I interpret the manual. Mine is solid when I start the tractor and then goes out a few seconds after the engine starts. It's done that since new so I think that's normal.

I'd think that if your lift pump was weak it'd rev up at least a bit. It sounds like the throttle cable or the injection pump itself.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I'm betting it's throttle linkage related.

 

[Jerflynn]

thanks all... i will relay info to my shop tech and have check whats been mentioned and report back.... He is a great diesel mechanic but with no service manual etc.. its a little tougher to diagnosis.

 

[Jerflynn]

Verify that the lever on the pump moves when the throttle (or pedal) is moved. Or move the lever by hand while it's running.

According to my shop manual blinking every .5 seconds means sensor malfunction. Every 2 seconds, the DPF is getting clogged and needs cleaning. Solid means the DPF is clogged or overheating. At least that's how I interpret the manual. Mine is solid when I start the tractor and then goes out a few seconds after the engine starts. It's done that since new so I think that's normal.

I'd think that if your lift pump was weak it'd rev up at least a bit. It sounds like the throttle cable or the injection pump itself.

we did move the lever by hand and nada... yes its .5 secs so i was going to order both sensors (temp sensor and pressure sensor)