2025R Mystery

[Shawn T. W.]

Could you just get a length of fuel line to go from the little filter to the lift pump, doesn't have to be routed the same, even leave the original in place, but to rule out that section of hose as being the restriction.

However, since you have a rototiller ... I'd probably hook that up and see what happens ...

 

[dodge man]

I’d hook up the tiller, find a hill, turn the tiller on and go up the hill. If it passes that test sink the tiller in and work it a little bit. This experiment may help you decide if it’s the tractor or sprayer.

 

[jdwebster]

OK, Cal Coast took the tractor back about a month ago and sounds like John Deere says it meets all the specs and so Cal Coast doesn’t know what to do. I let them know that it may meet specs, but it’s not performing in the field… and it did fine before.. and that’s what’s important. I think I might have to go into battle with these folks so I’d appreciate any advice on that. John Deere feels like a law practice that just happens to make tractors.

 

[Seven Gables]

OK, Cal Coast took the tractor back about a month ago and sounds like John Deere says it meets all the specs and so Cal Coast doesn’t know what to do. I let them know that it may meet specs, but it’s not performing in the field… and it did fine before.. and that’s what’s important. I think I might have to go into battle with these folks so I’d appreciate any advice on that. John Deere feels like a law practice that just happens to make tractors.

I’m leaning towards something with the sprayer has changed and is increasing the load. One very simple thing to check that would increase the load is your air pressure in the sprayer tires. Under inflated tires can add a surprising amount of increased drag . This combined with a marginal amount of hp and going up hill could be all it takes to cause your issue. I’d air them up to max recommended and see what happens.

 

[dodge man]

Of course JD doesn’t know a thing about what’s going on with your tractor, they are just responding to what the dealer is telling them. You really need to do some other kind of test to load the tractor down with another implement. I’ve found it’s almost impossible for me to stall out my 2025r unless I actually try to do it.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

While my SCUT has slightly smaller tires, they will generally spin, before the engine lugs down.

Have you tried the rototiller yet?

 

[rScotty]

OK, here’s an update, but the bottom line is… no improvement.
Added anti-algae additive
Changed both fuel filters again
Ran it backwards up the hill- no change so angle doesn’t seem to be an issue
JD and I both looked in the tank- nothing noted
I did note that if I fill the sprayer tank and don’t engage the sprayer (the PTO), the tractor does fine up the hill with the tank off the ground (3 point up). With the tank on the ground and when I engage the PTO it seems to overload… and that’s with the fan off. Turning on the fan will load even more.

Anyone had experience with a kink in the fuel line or something like that which would restrict fuel supply under load?

JD is still stumped as well.

What does the engine temperature gauge show when you make those changes?

 

[Seven Gables]

Just curious if you ever got the issue figured out?

 

[jdwebster]

Sorry for the lack of updates. Here you go.

Cal Coast sent one of their more experienced mechanics out to look at the tractor. Very good guy. He spent a good 3 hours looking at the tractor and taking stuff apart and looking at what has already been done and looking at other cases in DTAC (JD history of other cases). One thing he caught that I feel a little stupid about is that in the history of what was done when the tractor was at the shop at Cal Coast is “put unit on the dyno and was unable to extract rated HP (18HP at PTO) before unit tried to stall. Completed a compression test to verify engine is in working order. Compression test gave great results.” Then they replaced the injector pump and fuel system, put the unit back on the dyno and it performed the same- low HP. They then did a wet compression test and said “unit provided optimum results” which, I guess means that the compression was good (which it also was for the dry test). Finally, they tested the rockshaft for damage and it had no sign of issues.

So bottom line is that they can reproduce the issues I’m having in the field on their dyno. I asked why they didn’t do anything further in the shop and the mechanic didn’t know but noticed that the injectors hadn’t been replaced, so that’s their next step.

I’ve taken to going down a vineyard row, then around then down the next row because the unit cannot even make it up the row at speed with 10 gallons in the tank and the PTO running. Once I go down the row, I turn off the PTO so that I have enough power to go back up the hill. Inconvenient for sure.

I’m waiting for them to come replace the injectors, and then we’ll see where we go from there. There’s clearly something wrong because they can reproduce the issue on the dyno.

I continue to be unimpressed with John Deere and their approach to dealing with these issues. Cal Coast has generally been good, but I sure wonder why they didn’t let me know that they could reproduce the issue on their dyno and then still delivered the unit back. Just glad I asked for the service record. I think that if the new injectors don’t fix the problem, I’ll need to dial things up on the legal side.

 

[dodge man]

So they replaced the injector pump when there was nothing wrong with it probably. Injectors can be pulled and tested. They don’t want to do that?

 

[beenthere]

Assume you are unimpressed with this dealer. Prolly Deere is also unimpressed.

 

[jdwebster]

Mechanic came and replaced the injectors. No change. =( If anything, it’s getting worse. Can’t go 15 feet uphill on a 20% slope with the sprayer and fan on without trying to stall.

 

[jeepcoma]

Fuel, air, compression.

Per your report, compression seems good.

Has the entire air intake path been checked, from the first opening to outside air through the filter and to the engine intake? No chance there is a nest in there somewhere or a tube collapsing that could be starving the engine during peak demand? Any blockages in the *exhaust*? Muffler baffles broken and obstructing flow, nest in the canister, soot buildup? Exhaust flow is just as important as intake.

Similar for the fueling - any restriction causing starvation at peak demand? They replaced the injectors - why? What made them suspect fuel delivery? Did you tell them about the biodiesel (which still seems to be the origin of your problems), what could that affect in the fueling system?

It's good they verified on the dyno there is a problem. That eliminates any of the ideas about fuel pickup issues up-hill or pinching lines at weird angles or anything happening on the PTO- it's a purely engine-related problem. Fuel, air, compression.

 

[dodge man]

Did they try replacing all the light bulbs? I’ve read a bad one can use up all the electricity and use up all the power. I joke but them guessing sure isn’t helping fix your tractor, they are just throwing parts at it.

Assuming all the things @jeepcoma said to check are ok I’d take the valve cover off and see what the cam and valves look like. At some point you have to suspect a mechanical problem.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I know previous years of that engine had a problem with the valve cover breaking due to the air filter mount vibration, the valve cover is part of the intake design ...

IIRC they changed the air filter location back like it was before, not mounted to the valve cover ... Not sure what years this effected ... But if a hunk of valve cover for into the valves, it could have one not closing all the way, but a compression check should have shown that . . .

Seems odd to say the least that they found the complaint on the dyno, but didn't bother to find and FIX the problem!

 

[IH3444]

What are the hydrostatic transmission checks? Could it be causing a drag on the engine by having an internal problem?

 

[dodge man]

Mine is a 2019 and the air cleaner is no longer mounted to the valve cover. I think the OP’s is newer so most likely not the issue.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

One of the best things I bought for my 3038 was a performance module.
Easy to install, I keep setting on high. It runs better & smoother, increased fuel economy and 38 to 51hp.
Wonder if they make one for a 2025? Probably so.

 

[IH3444]

Is the parking brake stuck on and not releasing properly?

 

[jdwebster]

Is the parking brake stuck on and not releasing properly?

They checked it. Nope.