Premature Engine Failure…. JD 5303

Just curious if anyone else has had this issue. A friend of mine bought a new 5303 a few years back and as of this year has about 400 hours on it. For some strange reason while idling he heard a loud knocking like loose parts sound coming from the engine. He ran over to it and shut it down immediately. Apparently there were one or more bolts or pins in the engine that worked loose causing the issue. Took it to the dealer and said it would need a rebuild at 10-12k in cost. So he decided to order the kit and have a couple friends help. Still cost almost 6k for the parts though. Dealer told him these tractors / engines coming from India are not of the quality of a typical Deere. Just curious if this is a common issue.

Thanks,
 
The story is rather ambiguous and lacking hard facts.
Sounds like a lot of $ to rebuild a three cylinder .
It would not be the first time the temperature sensor circuit
failed which prevents timing advance to assist cold starts.
Several engines have been ruined when Bubba is going to
save the day with a can of ether.
That dreaded treat the symptom mindset instead of repairing
the cause. few have heard of trouble shooting and making
repairs.
Nobody seems to remember the ether when telling the story
how the engine mysteriously blew up all by it's self.
 
We have 2 5303 tractors. Our 2004 has 2700 hours and
is used for everything. I just asked a John Deere
mechanic about how long the engines last. His answer
was he hasn't seen a failure yet. The engines are
built in France and are the same ones used in the
U.S.A. built tractors.
 
(quoted from post at 05:11:57 07/28/14) We have 2 5303 tractors. Our 2004 has 2700 hours and
is used for everything. I just asked a John Deere
mechanic about how long the engines last. His answer
was he hasn't seen a failure yet. The engines are
built in France and are the same ones used in the
U.S.A. built tractors.

It was actually warm as he was putting up hay and got off the tractor to take a break. As for the engine JD used two different suppliers. We know this as the first kit that arrived was for the France made engines I guess. New kit was reordered. Not sure if this was a running change or dual supplier or what. So it sounds like this hasn't happened much is what I'm looking for. Dealer seemed to think specific bolts were not correctly torqued at manufacture. Thanks for your replies.
 
Engines for the India sold 5303 tractor are made in Pune, India. Perhaps because of US emissions regulations those engines in the 5303's for the US market might be made at Saran, France. That same engine comes out of Torreon, Mexico when used in a similar US made tractor. Now I may be a bit out of date on all this but there's a serial number plate on the side of the engine that will tell where it's made.
 
(quoted from post at 08:24:49 07/28/14)

As for the engine JD used two different suppliers. We know this as the first kit that arrived was for the France made engines I guess. New kit was reordered. Not sure if this was a running change or dual supplier or what.

I find only one(1) piston/liner kit part number(RE520768) listed for a 5303 built for N. American sales
mvphoto9605.jpg
 

This is what happened then. The dealer probably looked it up and only seen 1 kit so placed order. So why would they not list both? The dealer called someone at their parts supplier which is when they found out there are two different engines.
 
Mr. B&D,
I'm going to ask WHY is ether so bad? I have zero diesel experience, but I see a common thought about ether.... I'm not disputing the advice, but I'd like to understand the Why part of the equation.
What is it that ether does that causes so many problems? I always though ether was simply a starting assist tool, what am I missing in the bigger picture?

TIA, Bob
 

Combustion chamber pressure spikes via shock waves that are 2 to 3 times above normal maximum full power combustion pressure.
A natural aspirated diesel will run an approx 350-500psi compression pressure . Combustion pressure from the progressive burning of diesel is approx 1000-1100psi.
The detonation/knock/shockwave/pressure spikes from ether can bend rods, crush rod bearings, break rings, break piston ring lands, crack pistons , deform valves, push soot back into the injectors, stretch head bolts and fail head gaskets.
The ether kickback or lockup has damaged starters too.
It gets real interesting when some Bubba ethers an engine equipped with in intake manifold heater or glow plugs .
 
I'm almost certin that when I purchased my 5303 new,
I was told NOT to use ether on it because of
damaging the engine. In fact not to use it on any
diesel manufactured in the last 20 years.
 
(quoted from post at 19:14:32 07/28/14) I'm almost certin that when I purchased my 5303 new,
I was told NOT to use ether on it because of
damaging the engine. In fact not to use it on any
diesel manufactured in the last 20 years.

I guess my question is why would you even use ether for diesels manufacture in past 30 years. I have tractors all the way back to 1971 and even my 71 model cranks in 15-20F temps. My next up is a 1980 Ford 4600SU and cranks even better. Now my 10 year old and newer stuff is even better than that so not really sure why we even speak of ether for a 5303. Another friend has a JD 990 and it's super fast to crank. You guys must be talking about worn out engines and stuff built in 50's and 60's.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top