John Deere 820 wont run.

banditman · Jul 30, 2015

I have a john deere 820 with a 4 cylinder diesel engine that we rake with. The tractor started to die every few mins so i changed the fuel filters and now it dies every 30 seconds or so. It starts fine and you can rev it up but it dies in a few seconds. Any ideas what is wrong?

beenthere · Jul 30, 2015

banditman
Interesting how you managed to get a 4 cyl diesel when the 820 is a 3 cyl Yanmar. Maybe you meant 3 cyl.

Look for contaminated fuel in the tank. May have algae which can cause supply problems. Will need to follow the fuel lines back to the tank and be sure there is no restriction in the flow.
Also, check that the vent in the fuel cap is not plugged. But that usually shows up as a shutdown after a longer period of run time.
Be assured that there is no air in the system. The manual will tell how to check that out after filter change, I believe.

Tx Jim · Jul 31, 2015

Check to see if fuel return line or return line fitting that attaches to IP is plugged. If fuel is controlled by electric solenoid it could be the problem.

Tx Jim · Jul 31, 2015

beenthere said:
banditman
Interesting how you managed to get a 4 cyl diesel when the 820 is a 3 cyl Yanmar. Maybe you meant 3 cyl.

Interesting as I've never seen a Yanmar engine in a 820. Maybe you meant Saran

Zebrafive · Jul 31, 2015

Tx Jim said:
Interesting as I've never seen a Yanmar engine in a 820. Maybe you meant Saran

I was thinking the same thing, 3 cylinder, but not Yanmar.

beenthere · Jul 31, 2015

You guys are right.. I glanced too quickly at the tractor data . com and saw what I was looking for (3 cyl) and must have mentally made the Yanmar connection, thanks for the catch. But it is 3 and not 4 cyl.

TractorData.com John Deere 820 tractor information

coveredbridge · Jul 31, 2015

Did you bleed the fuel system after changing the fuel filters? Sounds like air trapped in the fuel lines somewhere.

banditman · Jul 31, 2015

sorry meant 3 cylinder. Beld the entire system I have fuel clear through the system but still the same symptoms. I think maybe the alternator is going bad could that cause the fuel shutoff to turn the engine off due to low voltage?

beenthere · Jul 31, 2015

Is there low voltage? How low?

Tx Jim · Jul 31, 2015

banditman said:
sorry meant 3 cylinder. Beld the entire system I have fuel clear through the system but still the same symptoms. I think maybe the alternator is going bad could that cause the fuel shutoff to turn the engine off due to low voltage?

Do you have to jump battery to get engine t start after it dies? I still think you have a plugged return fitting or line.

coveredbridge · Jul 31, 2015

banditman said:
sorry meant 3 cylinder. Beld the entire system I have fuel clear through the system but still the same symptoms. I think maybe the alternator is going bad could that cause the fuel shutoff to turn the engine off due to low voltage?

Could it be a bad fuel pump? Did you check the crankcase for "extra" oil?

Egon · Aug 1, 2015

Does this tractor have a fuel solenoid? If so prove the fuel delivery system and then start looking at the electrical systems and shutoff's if it has those.

banditman · Aug 1, 2015

I tried hooking up a battery charger to the tractor to see if it was a voltage problem but it still does the same thing. Im not sure how the shut off works on these tractors there is no selonoid on the out side of the pump like on a piston pump this tractor has a rotary pump. The lift pump is leaking is leaking but it is pumping could this be the problem that it is not pumping enough fuel?

Tx Jim · Aug 1, 2015

banditman
Which IP does our tractor have? Here's a parts photo of 1 the Roosamaster IP electric solenoids(parts key 9)

banditman · Aug 1, 2015

It has the roosamaster injection pump

jenkinsph · Aug 2, 2015

If the lift pump is leaking I would change it out, about $40 from NAPA iirc. I would check for 12 volts to the terminal wire on the injector pump and ground. I would use a meter to determine whether the 12 volts is constant to the solenoid when the engine dies. A 12volt test lamp probe could be substituted if you don't have a meter and should glow when the ignition switch is turned on and should stay lit while in place.

Did you check the return line as Jim recommended? That is an important point to consider and Jim is a retired shop foreman and Deere mechanic. I recommend you follow his advice.

When you have compound problems it can be confusing which is the culprit. If you start with a fully charged good battery it should be able to run the fuel solenoid for quite a while so that would eliminate the voltage issue.
I would change the lift pump if it leaks because it may be sucking in air causing your problem but more importantly it may be leaking diesel into the crankcase thinning the oil.

I would also (out of curiosity) take a fuel sample from the bottom of the tank in a clear glass to see what the fuel looks like. There should be a petcock there for this purpose. My 820 had one and had a fuel cut off there too.

banditman · Aug 6, 2015

Just found that there is diesel in the oil. So does that mean that it is the lift pump or the injection pump?

Tx Jim · Aug 6, 2015

Diesel fuel in crankcase could be from lift pump or IP.If it was my tractor I'd change lift pump 1st because it the easiest to change.

coveredbridge · Aug 6, 2015

I had this issue with my 820 several years ago. I think it could be either, but I was advised to replace the lift pump first as it was the more likely culprit and much cheaper than replacing or rebuilding the injection pump. I replaced the lift pump and haven't had a problem since.

buickanddeere · Aug 6, 2015

beenthere said:
banditman
Interesting how you managed to get a 4 cyl diesel when the 820 is a 3 cyl Yanmar. Maybe you meant 3 cyl.

Look for contaminated fuel in the tank. May have algae which can cause supply problems. Will need to follow the fuel lines back to the tank and be sure there is no restriction in the flow.
Also, check that the vent in the fuel cap is not plugged. But that usually shows up as a shutdown after a longer period of run time.
Be assured that there is no air in the system. The manual will tell how to check that out after filter change, I believe.

It's a three cylinder 300 series Dubuqe/Mannheim/Saran not a Yammer Hammer.