JD 855 stalling

[laurelrun]

Finally finished basic maintenance and overhaul of my 1989 855. Ran fine at idle yesterday for 45 minutes to get the engine hot for oil and hydraulic fluid changes.

Today, running it again to go reconnect the FEL, and it stalled after about 5 minutes. Idled down and then quit slowly.

Thinking perhaps it's an air leak in the fuel filter assembly, one of the parts I didn't replace. Thoughts?

Thanks everyone in advance for any help or ideas.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Finally finished basic maintenance and overhaul of my 1989 855. Ran fine at idle yesterday for 45 minutes to get the engine hot for oil and hydraulic fluid changes.

Today, running it again to go reconnect the FEL, and it stalled after about 5 minutes. Idled down and then quit slowly.

Thinking perhaps it's an air leak in the fuel filter assembly, one of the parts I didn't replace. Thoughts?

Thanks everyone in advance for any help or ideas.

If you didn't touch the filter or disconnect it, that's unlikely but easy to check. Open the tank valve and then uncrew the bleeder screw and see if you have fuel filling up the filter and expelling air bubbles.

Fuel starvation is the usual reasons for a run down on a diesel. That can be caused by a fuel blockage at the tank outlet or a plugged filter. If you have a solenoid operated fuel shut off, the power supply to the solenoid or the solenoid itself can fail. That usually results in a quick shutdown rather than a run down which takes place more gradually.

the first place I would look, asuming you have fuel in the tank, is the fuel filter. Take the out let fitting off and make sure the tank valve is open. See if you have fuel to the injector pump. If you don't move to the other side and see if you have incoming fuel to the filter. If you do, the filter is clogged. If you don't the fuel outlet is most likely clogged. The fuel supply tube could be crimped also but more often then not there is some trash in the tank outlet strainer.

 

[Willl]

Idled down and then quit slowly.

Sure sounds like fuel.

 

[brewdog]

That happened to me once. I failed to open the fuel shut off valve completely after changing the fuel filter. I would idle, but that was all.

 

[laurelrun]

Thanks for the feedback!

To explain further, I did replace the fuel filter element. We did bleed the lines but I think when we had the filter assembly off the tractor to repair the muffler, that the elbow coming into it is now loose and sucking air.

When I first bought the tractor I had a mechanic look it over and he suggested that the filter assembly should be replaced. For $50, it seems like a good preventive fix to try. I'll update if that solves the issue upon installation and bleeding.

 

[laurelrun]

Update on my issue, but unfortunately not a positive one.

Replaced the entire fuel filter unit, bled the lines well. She started right up, and I felt really great. Then after a few moments it stalled again.

Pump seems to be working fine.

I'm scratching my head and thinking the next answer is to try draining the entire fuel tank, cleaning out any water or trash and starting with fresh fuel.

Thoughts?

 

[Wnc3]

Crack(loosen) the fuel line on the top of each injector one at a time while running or pumping the manual pump to get the air out of the lines. If it is all fuel and no air move to the next and repeat.
Did you fill the fuel filter with diesel before you tried to restart?

 

[Wnc3]

I still think it is air, but your next step is what you we thinking....
Drain and refuel.
Diesel ain't what it usta be...

 

[moship]

I had a very similar problem with my JD750 and it was due to the fuel going bad. Replace the diesel with fresh before doing anything else. It's crazy what can grow/survive in diesel.

Keep us posted.

 

[laurelrun]

Thanks guys. I'll let you know how it goes.

Read a thread about stalling where the issue was a clogged return line, so I'll check that too.

There was definitely old fuel in the tank when we bought it back in November. So I am leaning toward that as a solution. Will keep you all posted.

 

[laurelrun]

Here's an update on this issue, although it still is not resolved.

The fuel pump is not keeping up with the draw from the filter. So the stalling is occurring once the fuel in the filter cup runs out. Since I already cleared the lines back to the tank, I'm assuming it is the fuel pump itself. Input is welcome, but I feel like we finally have it figured out at least. Now just need to wait for the part to come in...

 

[laurelrun]

After replacing the fuel filter again and fully bleeding the system, it's still sucking air.

So I pulled off the hood, pulled the sending unit out of the fuel tank, and found the screen and hose broken off the sending unit. Time to replace those and the gasket for the sending unit, but I figure now I might as well replace all the fuel lines, pull the tank out, clean it out, and go from there, since it has to be sucking air from somewhere.

My guess is it's the broken screen and line on the sending unit. This would explain why it ran ok before, as the fuel level was probably higher. Also would be easy for it to suck debris into the line clogging it up and causing loss of suction, I think.

I'd rather not replace the entire sending unit, since it's $70+, but I have a feeling that's my ultimate fix.

Between ordering and waiting for parts and only having time to work on this on the weekends, this has taken entirely too long.

 

[phiferpharm]

Bite the bullet, empty the tank, and check to see if there is a filter in the fuel valve going out to your fuel pump. I've been going nuts with the same type of problem for several months - 30-45 minutes of run time, then bye-bye power.

I kept taking the easy way out- change the fuel filters, put in injector cleaner, etc. When I finally emptied the fule tank and took off the valve, there was a small screen filter on top of it that was completely gummed up. Cleaned it, put the diesel through several strainers to be sure it was clean, and BINGO, tractor ran better than it has since I first got it.

I'm thinking of adding a see-through inline filter in place of the one in the tank, but regardless, I know where to go look if the same problem occurs again. :thumbsup:

 

[laurelrun]

Final update on this thread.

I found that the screen and small hose on the supply line from the sender were broken off, which allowed trash to clog the fuel line.

Pulled the Fuel tank, cleaned it out, strained all of the fuel several times, replaced all of the old rubber (new fuel lines and gasket for sender).

Everything is working great now.

The old screen was pretty much completely clogged when I fished it out of the tank. It's sitting in my parts washer now, so I can have a backup.

Just have to put the hood and sheet metal back on, and I'm good to go for the spring.