JD 2320 squeaking sound, sluggish and almost dies under any kind of load

kanas2320 · Aug 9, 2013

Hello all. I am brand new to the forum, and this is my first post.

I bought a used JD 2320 2 years ago at about 225 hours from a JD dealer, with bucket and 62D belly mower. Tractor now has 357 hours, and all has been fantastic, until today. I have been using the loader to move lots of gravel for landscaping (fairly heavy loads), and mowing our large 3 acre lawn.

So today I was mowing our 3 acre lawn and noticed that the tractor was sluggish, running rough, the rpms would intermittently go way down; whenever I stopped moving, the rpms returned to normal. After a few times of this, the tractor finally almost killed (some of the grass was high, about 6 inches, but I have gone through that sort of grass many times). I always mow in low gear. So I sharpened the blades, changed the oil, put on a new JD OEM air filter, same problem, in fact, it is getting worse. The whole tractor almost konks out if I continue mowing.

Upon further investigation just sitting in my driveway, with the engine idling, even at medium-high rpm, there is squeaking whenever I raise and lower the deck, just sitting there. Squeak goes away when I stop moving the deck hydraulics. Hydraulic fluid level looks fine in the viewport window, nice red color too. I have never changed the hydraulic fluid or filter, could this be it? I also have never changed the fuel filter. Update: Actually, I now notice that the squeaking happens even when just riding, with the mower not engaged. It doesn't get sluggish or run rough when I just ride, even in high gear and at high speeds, but the squeak is still there. I have not tried putting on my bucket, which I suspect would really make the problem worse...

The squeaking sounds like it is coming from behind the engine, but it is really hard to tell - it might be the engine itself. I am not very mechanical, and I am probably overlooking something obvious. (I have read the threads on that pathetically hard grease joint, which I have never been able to get to. I hope that has nothing to do with it, but the sound is not coming from anywhere near there.)

Thanks for your help!
Dean

DieselMonk · Aug 9, 2013

did you check your air and change your diesel filter yet? no clue on the sqeek.

kanas2320 · Aug 9, 2013

DieselMonk said:
did you check your air and change your diesel filter yet? no clue on the sqeek.

Yes, I replaced the air filter today, but I have not changed the fuel filter. Would it hurt it to run the tractor for a minute without the fuel filter, just to see if that is the problem?

DieselMonk · Aug 10, 2013

I would not recommend running the tractor without the filter from the tank. Maybe you can get it to suck some clean fuel out of a cup or something along that line and give it some injector cleaner. Make sure that the fuel line isn't plugged, or dirt inside the tank (just remove the diesel filter and see if you get a good fuel flow), or a problem with the fuel lift pump (if you have one). Your symptoms sound like fuel starvation to me. Usually Hydraulic Fluid and Filter are changed at 300hrs, but I never had a JD.

art · Aug 10, 2013

I think the squeak is unrelated to your problem unless it was only with movement. With the hydro's and the lack of use of the brake system we from time to time find they might stick on or partially on.

YesDeere · Aug 10, 2013

I would definetly change out the hydro and fuel filters. Take a good look at hydro fluid and make sure it's clean. I didn't change mine until 500 hours. But I change all filters yearly when I do my oil change. Roughly 100 hours per year.

jarokoro · Aug 10, 2013

Sounds like a lack of fuel

It is diesel and will have a fuel water separator filter and a spin on fuel filter, if you have low fuel I would also drain the tank and blow it out/inspect it to make sure it is clean since you fill I am sure with a fuel can.

The fuel water filter should be below the tank and the filter near the engine, the yanmars don't require any type of special priming just turn key for a few seconds, apply half throttle and crank the engine.

kanas2320 · Aug 12, 2013

Thank you, all of you for the suggestions! It is definitely a fuel problem, you are right.

Okay, I have managed to take to take the fuel filter out (the little locking ring was a bear to get off). Sure enough, filter is black and crusty. I bought the tractor just about 100 hours ago, so it seems either the fuel I have been getting is bad, or the former owner had not changed the filter for a while? I did not see any water in the clear plastic fuel filter bowl, but there was some sediment at the bottom, which I cleaned out.

As per DieselMank's great suggestion, I ran the tractor by having it suck clean fuel out of a clean container, and it seemed to run just fine (except the squeak is still there, as Art suggested it would be.) Luckily, NAPA carried the filter. I had no idea auto parts stores carried basic tractor parts - how convenient. I'll report back after putting it on. I am also going to change the hydro fluid and filter, thanks to all for suggesting that.

Unfortunately, my fuel tank is over half full, but I will look at it when it gets lower. Dumb question, sorry, but how does one go about blowing it out a fuel tank? Just put a compressor hose in the fill hole at the top, then block up the rest of the opening with a rag or something, and then remove the fuel line where it goes into the filter assembly?

Thanks again!
Dean

jarokoro said:
Sounds like a lack of fuel

It is diesel and will have a fuel water separator filter and a spin on fuel filter, if you have low fuel I would also drain the tank and blow it out/inspect it to make sure it is clean since you fill I am sure with a fuel can.

The fuel water filter should be below the tank and the filter near the engine, the yanmars don't require any type of special priming just turn key for a few seconds, apply half throttle and crank the engine.

kanas2320 · Aug 12, 2013

Okay, followup: The tractor runs like a champ. It was indeed the fuel filter. I treated it to some diesel injector cleaner, and will clean the tank soon.

Thanks to all of you! Even the squeek may have disappeared. Happy tractoring.

TractorByNet.com - Compact Tractor Forum.

kanas2320 said:
Thank you, all of you for the suggestions! It is definitely a fuel problem, you are right.

Okay, I have managed to take to take the fuel filter out (the little locking ring was a bear to get off). Sure enough, filter is black and crusty. I bought the tractor just about 100 hours ago, so it seems either the fuel I have been getting is bad, or the former owner had not changed the filter for a while? I did not see any water in the clear plastic fuel filter bowl, but there was some sediment at the bottom, which I cleaned out.

As per DieselMank's great suggestion, I ran the tractor by having it suck clean fuel out of a clean container, and it seemed to run just fine (except the squeak is still there, as Art suggested it would be.) Luckily, NAPA carried the filter. I had no idea auto parts stores carried basic tractor parts - how convenient. I'll report back after putting it on. I am also going to change the hydro fluid and filter, thanks to all for suggesting that.

Unfortunately, my fuel tank is over half full, but I will look at it when it gets lower. Dumb question, sorry, but how does one go about blowing it out a fuel tank? Just put a compressor hose in the fill hole at the top, then block up the rest of the opening with a rag or something, and then remove the fuel line where it goes into the filter assembly?

Thanks again!
Dean