JD5420 Stuttering/Loosing Power Under PTO Load

[GaryBDavis]

Well, after 700+ flawless hours, my JD5420 hiccupped on me today. I went out to shred and it started loosing power when I engaged the PTO. So, I went back to the shop figuring the fuel filter had clogged up. It was time for an oil change anyway, so I changed the oil and fuel filters and blew out the air cleaner. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, but that apparently wasn't it.

I can tell from how the engine runs that the shredder isn't loading it down, but I checked it anyway and the shredder turns nice and freely. The engine is more of a stuttering than a bogged down sound and feel.

The tractor starts up just fine and runs down the road in high gear without missing a beat. The throttle is instantly responsive and the engine doesn't hesitate a bit. But once I engage the PTO at rated PTO RPM speed, the engine runs fine for a few seconds and then begins to stutter and the RPMs go down to around 1500-2000.

I thought I might have some air in the lines or some trash, so I bled the fuel just like it says to in the manual and then shredded for a half hour, but it never cleared up. There are no fuel leaks, so I'm at a bit of a loss. I did fill up the tank the night before, but if it was bad fuel, I would think it would run rough at any speed. The fact that it only stutters when under a load at high RPM tells me I have a fuel supply issue, but I don't know how to troubleshoot any further.

Anyway advice from the JD5000 series experts would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

 

[gfd_703]

Change the fuel filter. 700 hours is a long time with todays fuel.

 

[GaryBDavis]

I change my oil about every 250 hours or so and I always put a new fuel filter at the same time. But that didn't fix this issue.

 

[the bear]

have you tried the pto with out the shredder on it ,if it runs down the road fine with out missing a beat its not fuel im thinking pto problems

 

[GaryBDavis]

Okay, problem solved. You guys would never guess what was wrong.

More troubleshooting:
1. Tractor parked with no equipment hooked up to the PTO. Runs at PTO RPM speed with no issues. Engage PTO and it starts to sputter after a few seconds.
2. Tractor parked with no equipment hooked up to the PTO. Runs at idle speed with no issues. Engage PTO and it starts to sputter after half a minute or so.
3. Hooked up chisel plow and tore up the ground as deep and fast as she would go. Engine loaded up and it ran just fine with no issues.
4. While plowing, engaged PTO. Tractor started to sputter within just a few seconds and then died. I had to crake it quite a bit to get it started. Sounded like it was out of fuel

Problem
Some time in the recent past, I must have run over a stick and it wedged the PTO control cable between the fuel line (coming out of the tank) and a hard steel line. It almost squeezed the fuel line shut. However, when you engaged the PTO lever, it tighten up the PTO cable just enough to squeeze the fuel line to the point where it was starving the engine. It took one whole finger to un-wedge the PTO cable.

And I thought my faithful JD5420 had failed me. Oh me of little faith...

 

[pitt_md]

Glad to hear is was not expensive and you got it going again. Lord knows those JD's are hard to keep running

 

[wkpoor]

I've got a 5400. Thats going to be one to remember. Probably never happen again in 100yrs. Glad it turned out easy. Good eye!

 

[burnetma]

Interesting problem. I will certainly keep that in mind.