3720 died and wont start

[Johndeere3720]

Tonight, i was mowing brush in one of our horse pastures. Everything was running fine and the tractor just suddenly died. The mower didnt even hit anything. I tried to start the tractor up and after some hard cranking, it only stays running for around 3-5 sconds then dies. we tried starting it at high and low throttles but it wont stay running. There are no warning codes on the dash and there is no leaks anywhere. The tractor does need to be serviced and has 1068 hours on it. There is a clicking sound that is louder than normal, like when you turn the key and the dash lights up prior to starting the trator. i dont have any idea why it is making the clicking noise but it is coming from the area where the fuel pump and filter are located and the fuel filter was recently replaced. So now the tractor has to spend the night outside in the back corner of the pasture. Any ideas why it wont start?

 

[aczlan]

Loose connection to the fuel shutoff solenoid?

Aaron Z

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Out of fuel?

 

[Johndeere3720]

Out of fuel?

Has a full tank of fuel

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Has a full tank of fuel

Sorry, just had to say the obvious. That would have been to easy if it had been that.

Has to be the fuel though, check the system from the tank on. Don't jump around, start at the tank and check each thing in order as you go towards the injectors. I think that you will find the problem before you get that far though.

Good luck

 

[Cocre]

I don't trust a John Deere 3x20 series OEM battery. Mine failed with very odd behaviors. I would take out the battery and replace it with a known good unit, just to see if the issue goes away.

 

[zzvyb6]

I presume this is a diesel. All your symptoms suggest its not getting fuel to the injection pump. The recently filled tank could have gotten some water or crapola that's plugged the filter(s). Does the filter have an air bleed on it? I so, attach a length of clear tubing onto the drain port and turn the key on. The fuel pump will fill the filter when you open the drain cock.

You may have to bleed off injector #1 to remove the rest of the air. This is actually pretty easy to do. (I had the same hangup on my F935 a week ago). Just loosen the tap on the first injector and crank until it spurts. Then tighten it up and it should start as if nothing was ever wrong. This assumed you've cleared the rest of the filters and lines of whatever was the original problem. (Is the fuel delivery shutoff valve closed?)

 

[Johndeere3720]

(Is the fuel delivery shutoff valve closed?)

The valve is open. We just went to John deere and we think we found out what the problem is. On the 3x20 series, when you first turn the key to start and watch the dash, there is usually a noise comming from the secondary fuel pump prepairing to start the engine. well, now we think there may be a loose line somewhere causing it to suck too much air and making it hard to start and shut off on its own. I guess i'll find out tonight when we can work on it.

 

[daveinmo]

I agree with Cocre. My 3720 is on its third battery. The first failed with loud clicking when trying to start and flashing of the instrument panel warning lights. It would not start at all. I thought it was electronic problem but dealer replaced battery and all was well, until the replacement battery died 16 mo. later (one dead cell, others OK) Remove the battery and replace with another. Don't try jumping unless you completely disconnect the battery leads from the old battery. I failed to do this and had the 3720 hauled to a dealer.

 

[Johndeere3720]

Well, last night i was looking at the 3720 and decided to look in the fuel tank to see really how much fuel is in it since the fuel sensor does not work. There is sort of a line in the tank that looks like where the fuel is but when I shook the tractor back and fort it didnt move at all. I went into the shop and put some diesel in the tank and it fired right up. So in the end, I found out that it just ran out of fuel. Now it has a true full tank and I mowed brush and hauled bark and manure all day.:thumbsup: