4020 problems while running

[ericl72]

I have a 4020 that ran really well up until November. It starts good , but idles rough and when you put it under load it stalls. If you pull the choke out it will come back to life and run OK. if you feather the choke back in, it will drive around OK in lower gear. Always runs rough and always stalls out under load. Does anyone else have this problem? I had it to the local Deere repair shop last year and it ran good after. Lat year we did the usual, new plugs ,points, condenser and coil. Also replaced the distributor cap. Also cleaned the carburator and changed the fuel filter. Any ideas?Thanks, Eric

 

[Tx Jim]

Have you ever considered electronic ignition?

 

[ericl72]

Hi, I considered it last year but stuck with original. If I knew that it would cure my problem, I would change in a hearbeat. The dealer, ( now a former John Deere dealer) didn't mention when I had it in their shop. I just don't know if it is ignition or carburetor related. I guess electronic gnition is cheaper to try than a rebuilt carburetor.

 

[Tx Jim]

I have read on other tractor discussion forums that changing to electronic ign on the JD 4 & 6 cylinder gasoline engines improved their performance. Also one brand carb is a lot better than the other also.

 

[ericl72]

Ok Thanks. I will check it out.

 

[raheimdal]

Could be something as simple as bad fuel. We have a 3020 gas that my dad has owned since the 70's. Always have performed regular tuneups and it has done everything we asked of it from plowing to chopping silage. One summer it started running rough and to have any power, needed to have the choke part of the way out.

Changed the plugs, points, condenser, coil, put new plug wires on it, new fuel filter, adjusted the carb, nothing would help. Had an old tractor mechanic come look at it. He took one listen and said had to be the gas.

We had a small 80 acre farm so were getting 150 gallons at a time from the local co-op in a 300 gallon barrel. Wasn't a recent fill, probably had used 2 tanks out of it and had ran fine on those. We drained the tractor, put some new fuel from a station in town in, and it was back running like it used to.

Had the co-op come test the fuel in the barrel. They said there was nothing wrong with it. So just to see what would happen I put some in a '71 Ford truck we kept around the farm for fencing and plowing snow. It immediately did the same thing, ran rough and no power. Told the co-op to come get it.

They claimed that they used up what they pumped out of our tank in their forklifts and never had a problem. Who knows, but what we drained out of the 3020 and the pickup didn't even do a good job starting brush piles on fire. We changed suppliers after that.

 

[ericl72]

This seem just like the trouble I am having. It would be the least expensive option at this point. I have to fill up with 5 gallon containers I fill up and bring home, so I am always dumping fresh gas in, but the gas could have gotten contaminated the late fall and all the new gas just gets mixed with the old. It is going to warm up this weekend and I will drain the tank and try fresh gas. Thanks.

 

[SPYDERLK]

... I think you have a little water drop in the carb. It sits right under the main jet and when significant gas is needed under load the drop sucks up a little and obstructs the jet. If you can get hi idle under no load try quickly applying full choke to suck the drop thru the jet. Let off before engine stalls. Better? If it doesnt respond to this ploy you probably have particulate blockage it the main jet and maybe the idle jet that was missed in cleaning ... or got there afterward.
larry

 

[ericl72]

Hi,
I am going to give this a try, but I think that I am going to end up draining the tank and cleaning the carburator. If the weather cooperates tomorrow, I will let you know.

 

[ericl72]

I drained the gas tank completely----gas looked sick. I will use that up in the lawn mower this summer. I rigged up a pipe to my shopvac and vacummed some crud from the bottom of the tank. Refilled the tank and added some Heet. Seems to run better, at least I didn't have to choke.I checked the plugs and they look pretty bad. I 'll replace them this coming weekend. Supposed to get to 30. I also drained the carb by taking off and checking the float. The carb shouldn't have any old gas or water in it.

 

[kevin37b]

Shopvac a gas tank ? Not a good idea .

 

[ericl72]

Please explain. Thanks.

 

[raheimdal]

The danger of using a vacuum, is that gas vapors pass through the motor. If you have any sparking from the brushes, BOOM! :-(

 

[diesel lover]

I have a 4020 that ran really well up until November. It starts good , but idles rough and when you put it under load it stalls. If you pull the choke out it will come back to life and run OK. if you feather the choke back in, it will drive around OK in lower gear. Always runs rough and always stalls out under load. Does anyone else have this problem? I had it to the local Deere repair shop last year and it ran good after. Lat year we did the usual, new plugs ,points, condenser and coil. Also replaced the distributor cap. Also cleaned the carburator and changed the fuel filter. Any ideas?Thanks, Eric

sounds like the gasoline engine is running lean!!! Our Ferguson F40 has done this and every time there is a blockage found in a fuel line before the sediment bowl.

Lean fuel mixture

Large vacuum leak that your making disappear by cutting off some or all of the air supply

Carburetor issues causing a fuel delivery problem

I'm on the path to thinking you have an engine with a lean fuel mixture

 

[ericl72]

Hi, I considered this, but I had drained the tank and it had sat empty for 24 hours. There was no liquid and little vapor. I also used a long hose so the motor was about six away. My vac has a separtion between the motor and the stuff you vacuum. Thanks.

 

[diesel lover]

Hi, I considered this, but I had drained the tank and it had sat empty for 24 hours. There was no liquid and little vapor. I also used a long hose so the motor was about six away. My vac has a separtion between the motor and the stuff you vacuum. Thanks.

HUH ? I was referring to vacuum created by the engine. Any older engine can have clogged up fuel lines etc

 

[raheimdal]

HUH ? I was referring to vacuum created by the engine. Any older engine can have clogged up fuel lines etc

ericl72 was replying to the post about using a shop-vac to remove sediment from the fuel tank.

 

[diesel lover]

ericl72 was replying to the post about using a shop-vac to remove sediment from the fuel tank.

Okay I can see that now. Thanks for pointing that out !

 

[ericl72]

HUH ? I was referring to vacuum created by the engine. Any older engine can have clogged up fuel lines etc

Hi,
An earlier posthad warned me against using a shopvac to vacuum out a gas tank. I was replying to that.

 

[kevin37b]

Hi, I considered this, but I had drained the tank and it had sat empty for 24 hours. There was no liquid and little vapor. I also used a long hose so the motor was about six away. My vac has a separtion between the motor and the stuff you vacuum. Thanks.[/QUOTE A little vapor is all it takes . Explain your separation unit .