5203 Fuel Problem

[lawson04]

Filled tractor up with fuel last week and ended up buying mostly water. Tractor ran fine for a bit until started white smoking like crazy. checked filter and discovered the water problem. Ended up draining entire tank, put new fuel filter on, bled system, now it wont crank. went back through bleeding process, still no start. After getting so mad I shot it with a shot of either, and she busted off only to run in mid to high throttle position, wont idle. I started shredding and found a significant loss of power and still white smoking, so I killed it and now I'm in need of help.

Thanks in advance, BJ

 

[DLTTrekkers]

Remove injecorpump and clean and recond. Remove tank and clean...replace fuelfilter and clean fuelsisteme ....thats the only way !

 

[JD5210]

Do NOT use ether that can/will damage the engine. Here are my suggestion, fill the tank with fresh fuel, replace the fuel filter and fill it with fuel before putting on, at the fuel filter were the pressure line from the tank connects pull the line off (it maybe a little hard to get off) and make sure fuel is coming out. Since you have no fuel pump, gravity will fill the line, tank needs to be full do this will also flush the line. This will also get any bad fuel out the fuel line. Bleed the tractor as the manual suggest. Try starting throttle at 3/4. If it still will not start you will need to bleed it at the injectors.

I have attached pages from TM4829 tech manual for your tractor. You can go to selectmanuals.com and purchase the tech manual for 29.95. You need the tech manual if you want to remove the pump.

JD 5203 John Deere tractor fuel filter change
JD 523 John Deere tractor fuel filter change - YouTube

 

[Tx Jim]

Welcome to TBN
Ditto with JD5210 on "do not use ether". After bleeding if you still have a no start condition then I will suggest to attempt to tow start it. I once owned a Ford 3000 diesel tractor that after bleeding for a long period but still it wouldn't start I could attach a chain & pull it less than 10 ft for engine to start.

 

[Pig Fab]

The 5000 series tractors are a pain to prime and bleed. Most of them use a lift pump inside the injection pump that has a really hard time pulling enough vacuum to properly prime.
I usually install a fuel priming bulb ahead of the filter, then use that to push fuel through the filter, and pump. There is a small plug on the side of the pump you will want to loosen to allow any air to escape.
Once it starts continue priming the bulb to help work any air out. Cracking injection lines is not necessary on these machines, just the plug on the side of the pump.