4115 Stalling

[trlong]

My 4115 seems to have developed an intermittent habit of stalling out at inopportune times (is there an "opportune time"? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif). It seems to only be happening when I'm headed down a hill but, I may be wrong (that's may have just been the couple of most recent stalls). I now have something in excess of 370 hr.s on it.

The problem seems to have begun after moving and smoothing a lot of sand and soil in dry conditions (i.e. a lot of dust). When it started, I pulled and changed both inner and outer air filters (outer was very dusty), cleaned the dust unloading valve, changed the fuel filter (and cleaned the bowl). While I was at it I changed oil, filter, cleaned the entire motor compartment, cleaned and lubed the entire tractor. When picking up the filters, the dealer said the stalling was, indeed, probably due to the dirty filter(s).

Before servicing, I thought the problem had just been that it was choking out under load, due to cloged air and/or fuel filter. The condition may have improved but is still occurring, occasionally.

Before I have it picked up and pay the dealer to find the problem ($$$$ /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif ), I thought some one might have a clue to what is probably staring me in the face as a relatively simple fix.

Perhaps this thread belongs in "Parts/Repairs"... not sure.

Tom

 

[RRacing]

Hi Tom,
My 790 use to do that going up and down hills . I found I had some bad fuel that had some water in it. Oddly enough the ring in the filter housing never floated . I pulled the fuel filter out and cleaned the bowl and filter. I put a bucket under the filter housing and opened the pet cock and drained off some of the fuel in the bottom of the tank ( about 2 quarts) and the problem went away until a few months later and when it happened again I checked and sure enough bad fuel again.I hope this helps you. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Jim

 

[prosperity]

Does it start up right away after it stalls?
First thing that comes to me is a fuel issue.
If it starts right away, you are not loosing prime - from a loose fuel line. If it doesn't start right right away, then I would be looking at all my fuel delivery system.

If it isn't loosing prime, then water/contaminants might be the issue. I would drain the tank, fill with fresh fuel, and give the tank a good dose of Power Service or equivalent diesel additive.

 

[trlong]

RRacing,

Thanks. I have not drained any fuel off, other than what was in the bowl when I changed the filter. I'll try that. It does sound as though it is a fuel issue (either diesel or air).

Thanks again,

Tom

 

[trlong]

prosperity,

Yes, it does start right back up again, after it stalls. Sometimes, if I just let it idle back it doesn't quite stall out. I will drain and try some Power Service or equiv... I think I still have some recommended additive for reducing condensation for winter use. I'll try that 1st after draining. I'll post if draining and additive cures it for now.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[bigpete]

Hi, Tom. If all the better first aid advise above does not seem to eliminate the issue, recheck the seating and alignment of both filters. A knowledgable JD mechanic from my (late) JD dealer advised me to stay away from the secondary filter, or get him on the phone if I had problems after changing it myself. I am at 190 hours and will be changing both air filters (secondary filter for the first time) at the end of the mowing season and recently read that note I had made in the manual. If all else fails, there may be some small and silly secret to installing the secondary filter.

 

[trlong]

To all,

Current status of the stalling:

I drained about 3 qt.'s of fuel and added a moisture dispersant (that recommended by the dealer and used all last winter...seemed to work fine) and topped off the tank. No discernable moisture/water in the sediment bowl when I removed it for draining. Cleaned and reinstalled.

I moved rock piles for about an hour, with the FEL and did a little BH work. No stalling until, after that hour or so I had the FEL full and turning on level ground, maybe 2k rpm...not much of a load, 2WD. It just stalled out with no warning /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. It started right back up again (HST in neutral, as necessary to start), and ran fine when shifting back into gear. I thought hmmmm /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif.

I continued running, off and on, all day, with no noticable odd noises or any lugging down or complaints. Maybe an hour after the 1st stall, I was going straight down a relatively steep slope, in 4WD and it stalled out. I had been covering the brake, just in case it stalled on the slope and just stopped there. I could re-start it but, as soon as I put it in gear (idling) it would stall, immediately. I tried more throttle with the same result. So, I had to ease it down the slope, via brake, in neutral until on somewhat more level ground. Then it ran smooth and fine when I shifted into gear, not even a sputter.

I repeated the same trip, same rpm's, same slope, as best I could recall, at least another 10 times in the next few hours, both with, and w/o 4WD. No stalling. Then, maybe 2.5 hours after the first "slope stall", it did it again. Same symptoms. Just stalled with no warning. Would start but stall immediatly if I put it in gear. Had to slowly roll down the hill, 'til more level, to get it to stay running when I shifted from nuetral to low.

Another couple of hours of working (some running, some just off and filling the bucket with rocks, by hand, some backhoe work...) and no further stalling. Each time it had stalled (3 total yesterday), I checked the sediment bowl and could see no water/moisture...it all appeared to be clear, clean diesel.

PETE,

It's raining hard today so, I'll wait 'til tomorrow to check the air filters. I did, however check the sediment bowl, air restrictor indicator, and looked for any loose or damaged wires, hoses, or belts after each stall. Nothing amiss that this untrained eye could detect.

The mystery continues but, I will surely have my foot covering the brake when on any slope, 'til I'm sure the problem is corrected. I'll also be calling the dealer's mechanic for any thoughts on it, tomorrow.

Sure sounds/feels like a fuel issue but, one thought did just come to mind. I wonder if the ignition cut-out "seat" switch may be the culprit /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. It would not explain stalling on the flat (unless I had bounced a bit) but, if I'm tending to lean forward on the downhill run, if the switch is getting overly sensitive, it would kill it. It would then start in neutral but stall when placed in gear. Then if I'm sitting more fully down when reaching more level ground, it would run normally. Guess I'll have to check that the switch is functioning properly and, if stalled again on a hill make sure I'm sitting fully down on the seat. That, or I'll have to drink a lot more beer to put on some weight! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks,

Tom

 

[bigpete]

Tom: Check the moisture-proof connection under your seat. You just made me recall that my 4110 was stalling for no reason a week or so after it was delivered. I fuddled around for awhile and found the wiring harness pigtail was not snapped and fully connected. As you are thinking might be the case with your 4115, my problem was the seat safety wiring that was stalling me out.

 

[jd4115]

Good idea to check the seat switch. I picked up my 4115 from the dealer and nothing worked -- they had disconnected the seat switch.

If this isn't it, it's probably water in the fuel tank. Try isopropyl alcohol dry gas -- it will absorb the water. The fuel pickup isn't at the very bottom of the tank so a puddle of water can live down there! It swirls around and when you hit a bump or turn a certain way, a slug of water will get sent down the fuel line.

8 oz of isopropyl will absorb about 8 oz of water. But I wouldn't use more than 8 oz on one fill up.

 

[trlong]

Pete, and jd4115,

I checked the switch and connector. Seems OK ("Ohm's out") but can't really tell until it stalls again. However, as soon as I can, I'm going to re-check the connector and cover it with some liquid electical tape. I used that on my lighting connectors, and switch, and it seems to work beautifully and handled the sub-zero weather last winter as advertised.

Thanks,

Tom