3150 won't start with warm engine

BradWans

New User
We just bought a 3150 with 48xx hours. Runs good. New steering orbit motor. Good tires all
around. Interior is in great shape. A/C is pretty decent. Problem is starting it after engine is
warmed up! Starts fine when engine is cold. Fuel pump was supposedly replaced by the dealer we
got it from to fix the issue.(he's a used equipment dealer. As is, where is type...) Hadn't had
to start it warm until today. I'd been working on the dash ground issue that seems to plague
these particular models and brother in law walked up to talk. I shut it off and we talked a few
minutes then I went to restart it, and it would crank, but no joy. Like it was out of fuel. I
cracked line at the fuel pump and got lots of fuel. Cracked return line at injector pump,
cranked, and got lots of fuel. It finally started so I let it idle as I put dash back together.
Shut it off and then tried to start it again, same thing. No joy. Got tired of trying so I quit
for the night. Damn thing purs like a kitten when it's running. Just don't like starting warm!
Any ideas? Both batteries are new. Lots of cranking power. Cranks plenty fast enough. I'm waiting
on repair manual for it since I know next to nothing about Deere. Everything else we own is red.
And OLD...
 
You have injection pump issues. The head and rotor in the pump are shot. Dad had a 2240 with the same problem. He would dump cold water on the pump and then it would start. Tom
 

Welcome to YT
2 things that might or might not help. You could relocate battery ground cables so they attach to engine block/starter mounting bolt. You also could install a $15 hyd pump destroking screw to see if stopping hyd pump from pumping might help it start. If you decide to pour cold water on jnj pump be sure pump shaft/rotor isn't turning.
 
Thanks for the welcome TX Jim. The hydraulic pump issue seems to be manageable by simply turning steering wheel as motor cranks. Sometimes it'll find a sweet spot and you don't have to wiggle it at all. I'm not sure I follow what you mean on the cold water regarding the pump shaft turning? As in not cranking as you pour water on? I'm going to experiment this morning with that very thing to verify the injector pump is the issue before I tell the old man he got screwed...
 
did not know that. Thanks for the advice Jim. I'm getting ready to start it and let it warm up for the test now.
 
It seems the water trick worked to diagnose the problem. Had to do it repeatedly to prove it to the old man but I finally convinced him he doesn't know everything. Or ANYTHING about john deere tractors for that matter. Now I just have to convince him to get rid of it... Thanks for the help guys!

Brad
 
Talked to the guy we bought the tractor from. He agreed with me the injector pump was bad, after I drove it to him, shut it off, then asked him to start it. It JUST cranked and cranked and cranked. He says "Well i thought the new lift pump would fix that! We'll put another lift pump on it and you'll be good to go. Must've been a faulty one, huh?" I smiled and asked his "tech" to bring me a bucket of cold water. Poured it over the pump and told him to try it again. Low, and behold! She fired right up! He was amazed! Do it again, he says! We let it run 20 minutes, shut it down, tried to start it. Nothing. Just cranked. Poured water on it and Shaman! She purred like a kitten. I asked what he'd like to do about it, take it back and refund the money, or fix it? "Well, do you want the tractor, or your money back?" (I secretly want the damn tractor! First John Deere we've ever owned, and the damn thing is in excellent shape beyond the minor mechanical crap. FWD is in good working order. Doesn't smoke excessively. Rides better than either 1486 or 1466 we have, and it does almost everything i need it to...) I said "The old man says he's afraid it'll nickle and dime us to death. Give a refund. We'll keep looking." "How can we make this work?" He says. "One year warranty on all major systems. Engine, drive train, hydraulics" I say. He snowed and blowed for few minutes about how it was "As is, Where is". Ok. Write the check to the old man, I said. Started toward my truck. He caught me before the door closed. "I'll have a new pump on it next week. Warranty paperwork will be ready when you pick it up."
Sometimes it's nice to work with people you grew up around. Really nice when they see you're not a kid any more. (I turned 49 the 12th of this month. People tend to see you as you were, not as you ARE.)

AGAIN... Thank you guys, for the help and sharing your knowledge with the rest of us! I'll be picking your brains again real soon I'm sure, because this tractor ain't Red, and the book don't tell you everything!

BRAD
 
Sometimes you can get by (even if it is not good), by adjusting the pop pressure of the injectors on the very low side of the spec.
It is not good, but it helps a leaky pump to open them.
 

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