JD 3010 won't fire

MinnesotaGuy84 · Nov 10, 2015

My John Deere 3010 Diesel was running like a top. Then the next day it wouldn't start. Plenty of electrical power but it wasn't getting fuel. It would fire when I gave it a puff of starter fluid but would quit instantly.

I changed the fuel filters. I tried bleeding the fuel system with the mechanical lifter pump. The lifter pump wouldn't make fuel move so I replaced the lifter pump. I filled the bottom canister of the fuel filter with fuel and pumped on the hand primer on the lifter pump.

It still won't run. What else should I do here? I would appreciate some insight.

Soundguy · Nov 10, 2015

I'm not familiar with the transmission, but if it is a manual, I would try pull starting it.

Have you bleed it to the point of getting fuel leaking at loose injector lines at the injectors? IF so, then a pull start will save wear and tear on your starter, assuming you have a manual tranny and can pull start her.

GManBart · Nov 10, 2015

It sounds like there's air somewhere in the system between the lift pump and the injectors. I'd loosen the injector lines, and crank the engine to see if you're getting fuel to them. If not, the engine won't start. Work backwards until you find the last spot where fuel is reaching and that should narrow it down....but there's a good chance that cracking the injectors and cranking for a few seconds is all you need to do to purge the air from the system.

Jerry/MT · Nov 10, 2015

MinnesotaGuy84 said:
My John Deere 3010 Diesel was running like a top. Then the next day it wouldn't start. Plenty of electrical power but it wasn't getting fuel. It would fire when I gave it a puff of starter fluid but would quit instantly.

I changed the fuel filters. I tried bleeding the fuel system with the mechanical lifter pump. The lifter pump wouldn't make fuel move so I replaced the lifter pump. I filled the bottom canister of the fuel filter with fuel and pumped on the hand primer on the lifter pump.

It still won't run. What else should I do here? I would appreciate some insight.

make sure the strainer at the tank out let isn't clogged - a common problem.

GManBart · Nov 10, 2015

Jerry/MT said:
make sure the strainer at the tank out let isn't clogged - a common problem.

He probably wouldn't be getting fuel to the lift pump if that was the problem...not that it hurts to check.

Jerry/MT · Nov 10, 2015

GManBart said:
He probably wouldn't be getting fuel to the lift pump if that was the problem...not that it hurts to check.

A lot of time the flow is restricted and it will dribble out enough to get to the lift pump but not at a flow rate enough to run at low idle. Sometimes you get enough to run at low idle and you can't increase the rpm.

GManBart · Nov 11, 2015

Jerry/MT said:
A lot of time the flow is restricted and it will dribble out enough to get to the lift pump but not at a flow rate enough to run at low idle. Sometimes you get enough to run at low idle and you can't increase the rpm.

Sure, but that isn't really what he described. It was running one day, wouldn't start the next, and the lift pump wouldn't move fuel...if anything, that sounds like the seal on the lift pump failed.

If the filter is full, and the lift pump is good, the tractor should start even if there's a restriction at the strainer...but it didn't. That points to air in the system somewhere between the lift pump and the injectors. It won't hurt to check the tank strainer, but it sounds like that's a long shot in this situation.

Soundguy · Nov 11, 2015

double check for bad seal at the new filter.. sometimes hard to get all of old seal out.. then they suck air badly..

MinnesotaGuy84 · Nov 12, 2015

I got the fuel filters to bleed. I disconnected the line at the injector pump that came from the fuel filter, gave a hand prime on the lifter pump and got fuel. Then I opened up the fitting shown on this photo and cranked the engine. Air spat out a bit, eventually it started, ran a few seconds then quit. That fuel line where I got air to spit goes back to the fuel tank. So I do believe it's an issue of air in the lines. However, I just don't know where to bleed now.

MinnesotaGuy84 · Nov 12, 2015

Here is another photo. I tried bleeding at the fitting shown in the arrow and didn't get anything. This line out from the injector pump leads to that same fitting from my last photo. Any advice on where to bleed the system would be much appreciated.

Soundguy · Nov 12, 2015

bleeding a diesel in general:

1, have clean fuel in tank, open tank tap, get fuel to next stage. lift pump or filter, etc.. whatever it is.

2, from there keep bleeding to the next stage.

finally after a pump and a filter or 2, you should be AT the input of the injector pump. Bleed till you get fuel there.

3, now you loosen the lines to the injectors using a tool, keep hands away to prevent accidental fuel injection under the skin and a trip to the hospital/morgue.

4, continue to bleed till you get fuel bubbling at an injector line, then close that line and move to the next. More often than not, once you get 1/3 to 1/2 of the cyl's bled on a diesel she will go ahead and crank up.. if so continue to tighten each line as it bubbles fuel, untill all cyls done.

next, many pumps have a return line to the tank, and most of the time the injectors have leak off lines.

make sure the lines for the leak off and pump return are not blocked.. some units will not run with blocked leak/return lines.

This was an in general post. Some machines have onle a single filter, some have multiple.

some have electric pumps, some have manual hand pumps, some have NO pumps before the injector pump... those are usually gravity.

for systems that do not have bleeder screws or ports, you are left with loosening lines. do so with tools.. keep skin away from fittings that could spray pressurized oil under the skin. most of these lines are ultra low flow but high pressure.. so once loose, fuel barely drips and dribbles, but when closed make high pressure / low volume, so be carefull right when tightening / loosening fittings as you can have pressure to spray at that moment.

GManBart · Nov 12, 2015

MinnesotaGuy84 said:
View attachment 447025

I got the fuel filters to bleed. I disconnected the line at the injector pump that came from the fuel filter, gave a hand prime on the lifter pump and got fuel. Then I opened up the fitting shown on this photo and cranked the engine. Air spat out a bit, eventually it started, ran a few seconds then quit. That fuel line where I got air to spit goes back to the fuel tank. So I do believe it's an issue of air in the lines. However, I just don't know where to bleed now.

You bled the return line that goes from the injectors to the tank (as you described). It got some of the air out of the lines, but not enough (can't really get all of it). What you want to do is open the fittings at the bottom of the injectors and crank the engine....that is the supply side on that model injector. You can see the lines that come from below and connect on the bottom of the injectors...they're coming from the injector pump. Crack all of them, and crank the engine. You're almost certainly going to get air, and it should start...let it run, and tighten each fitting once you don't see bubbles coming out.

MinnesotaGuy84 · Nov 13, 2015

GManBart said:
You bled the return line that goes from the injectors to the tank (as you described). It got some of the air out of the lines, but not enough (can't really get all of it). What you want to do is open the fittings at the bottom of the injectors and crank the engine....that is the supply side on that model injector. You can see the lines that come from below and connect on the bottom of the injectors...they're coming from the injector pump. Crack all of them, and crank the engine. You're almost certainly going to get air, and it should start...let it run, and tighten each fitting once you don't see bubbles coming out.

Are you referring to these fittings?

MinnesotaGuy84 · Nov 13, 2015

GManBart said:
You bled the return line that goes from the injectors to the tank (as you described). It got some of the air out of the lines, but not enough (can't really get all of it). What you want to do is open the fittings at the bottom of the injectors and crank the engine....that is the supply side on that model injector. You can see the lines that come from below and connect on the bottom of the injectors...they're coming from the injector pump. Crack all of them, and crank the engine. You're almost certainly going to get air, and it should start...let it run, and tighten each fitting once you don't see bubbles coming out.

View attachment 447109

Are you referring to these fittings?

GManBart · Nov 13, 2015

MinnesotaGuy84 said:
View attachment 447109

Are you referring to these fittings?

Yep, those are the fittings I meant.

SPYDERLK · Nov 13, 2015

GManBart said:
He probably wouldn't be getting fuel to the lift pump if that was the problem...not that it hurts to check.

Your signature is too devoid of ignorance for this forum.

jenkinsph · Nov 18, 2015

MinnesotaGuy84 said:
View attachment 447109

Are you referring to these fittings?

With these fittings shown you should be able to bleed these injector lines as Soundguy suggested.

jenkinsph · Nov 18, 2015

SPYDERLK said:
Your signature is too devoid of ignorance for this forum.

Your posting as usual should be ignored. Try being a nice guy and more respectful of others, it is not that hard to be pleasant and I recommend you give it a try.

GManBart · Nov 18, 2015

jenkinsph said:
Your posting as usual should be ignored. Try being a nice guy and more respectful of others, it is not that hard to be pleasant and I recommend you give it a try.

Pretty sure that was meant in jest

Mace Canute · Nov 18, 2015

jenkinsph said:
Your posting as usual should be ignored. Try being a nice guy and more respectful of others, it is not that hard to be pleasant and I recommend you give it a try.

SPYDERLK paid GManBart a compliment.

(And with a tip of the hat to GManBart)

Compliment = an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration.
Complement = something that completes or makes perfect.