HELP - My 2320 stopped dead while using it. Won't restart.

[ScottK]

My 2320 has about 200 hours on it. I'm no diesel mechanic, but I've been maintaining it myself, following the the manual since we have no dealers nearby.

Today I was just tooling along cleaning stuff up with the loader and box blade and the engine just quits. No warning. Simply stops cold in it's tracks and engine turns off. It was low on fuel (less than a quarter tank), but not near empty. I could see fuel in there when I took the cap off. I refilled it anyway. Emptied the fuel filter. Made the mistake of blowing on it with my mouth - which still tastes like diesel - to make sure it was clear. Checked the oil, radiator fluid. No problems found. Battery seems good. No problem cranking the engine, but it won't fire back up. So she sits dead where she died. Now what the heck do I do? What could cause a diesel to just die without warning and not restart?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[JP9MM]

If you did run it dry, or empty fuel filter you will need to bleed the fuel system. Procedure should be in manual.
Other than that, make sure your pto levers are off.

 

[KennyG]

Sounds like a blockage somewhere in the fuel system or an injector pump failure. The 2320 is not supposed to require bleeding after it runs out of fuel, so that shouldn't be the problem.

 

[nraupers]

could try cracking an injector line and cranking to verify fuel is there

 

[ScottK]

It definitely didn't run dry.

 

[ScottK]

Injectors lines - I have no idea how to do that or which ones they are....

 

[ScottK]

Kenny - seems like your email count got reset- what happened?

Injector pump - is that something I can test? I have to admit I don't have the service manual. And at least the tractor died in a place I can leave it until I figure it out. But I wasn't done! Work to do.

 

[ScottK]

Does anyone have diagrams of the fuel system they can send me? Or a troubleshooting diagram for fuel problems? A quick Google search tells me there are no spark plugs - duh I guess. I can pull every hose off and put compressed air through them all if that is a way to do it. I don't know how to know if the fuel filter is bad, but since tons of bubbles came out when I blew on the center of it, I'm assuming it's fine, although it is dark in color. Also I checked the air filters. Inner was totally clean and outer was dusty, but I banged it off and it seems fine.

 

[KennyG]

I'm certainly no expert either. If a diesel is getting fuel (and hasn't broken internally), it should at least fire. It seems that if there is fuel in the filter/sediment bowl the low pressure side of the system is OK. At this point, I would suspect the fuel high pressure side and I would call the dealer. I've worked on all kinds of equipment for many years but I myself wouldn't be comfortable taking the injection system apart. That's the best I can do on this.

The only other thought is the fuel shutoff but I don't know exactly where that is and how it works on the 2320 since I haven't had a need to know. Diesels don't need anything to run except fuel and the only way to stop them is to shut the fuel off. When you turn the key off, it somehow shuts the fuel off so I assume there is a valve of some sort that requires power to keep it open. Unfortunately, like I said I don't know where that is or how to test it. Maybe someone else here can supply that information.

 

[ScottK]

I spoke to my nearest JD dealer and got some advice, but I could use help with a photo or detail about what they are talking about. The dealer says 1) check the fuses and 2) it's probably the actuator on the back of the injection pump - possibly a contact issue. They say if I'm sitting on the tractor it's located on the right side of the engine. Anyone got a photo or diagram of this part so I know what to look for?

My JD dealer has no field service techs, so I'm going to have to figure it out myself. With a loader and a box blade on it, it isn't moving until I figure something out.

Thanks in advance...