John Deere 3010 idles, then dies

I was digging up some tree roots with my diesel 3010 industrial model and it just died out of the blue. It starts right back up, but only runs from 1-30 seconds before dying again. It seems to run longer if it sits longer between starts. It also will sometimes rev up and other times idles fairly slowly. When it is running, it sounds smooth. I've flushed the fuel tank, replaced the fuel filters, repalced and/or tightened every fuel line and bled it all the way to the injectors, and nothing changes. I hate to buy a $600 injector pump and find out that's not it. Any suggestions?

It sounds like you have a restriction somewhere in the fuel system. It is either in supply or in the return circuit. If you dont have any problems refilling the filters with the hand primer then you have almost certainly eliminated the supply lines and lift pump.

Be sure to check the return lines off the top of the injectors. Take the supply line loose then start the tractor to see what happens.

It sounds like you have a restriction somewhere in the fuel system. It is either in supply or in the return circuit. If you dont have any problems refilling the filters with the hand primer then you have almost certainly eliminated the supply lines and lift pump.

Be sure to check the return lines off the top of the injectors. Take the supply line loose then start the tractor to see what happens.

If you checked all the rest of the fuel supply, then it probably IS the injection pump. Pull the little timing window off and take a look inside for little pieces of debris that look like mouse turds. If you find any, the pump is the problem. The debris plugs the return-fuel valve where it exits the pump. It's a common problem in all Stanadyne D model pump until after 1985. It comes from the governor weight retaining ring falling to pieces (it's pellathane plastic).
In regard to the $600, that only applies if you send the pump out. Anybody with some pump experience ought to be able to pull the pump apart, fix it, and put it back together in an hour - and with $18 to $50 in parts. It's not that complicated and is just a glorified hydraulic pump.
A complete new seal kit including shaft seals and a new governor retaining ring costs $18. A new bronze bushing for the pump where the seals ride is $8. Often, that's all it takes. Most all of the minor parts are cheap.

My last statement said "take the supply line loose".

It should have read "Take the return line loose"!

Sorry!

Any idea where I can get a rebuild kit for the injector pump? I've been looking around with no luck.

There are many places. One is US Diesel in Fort Worth Texas, a Spaco and Stanadyne dealer and will ship. 800-328-0037. www.usdiesel.com
Spaco is an Italian company and sells injection pump parts, and from I've used, every bit as good a OEM Stanadyne. They sell on anyone. Here's a few prices from a year ago - last time I bought a bunch of parts.

JDB or DB injection pump complete seal kit - Stanadyne # 24371 - Spaco U24371 $12.10

JDB or DB pilot tube (bronze bushing) - Stanadyne # 16320 - Spaco U16320 $4.83

If the injector pump hasn't been rebuilt, its the culprit. A plastic governor ring rots. If you take off the return line you will find it clogged with bits of plastic.

Doesn't take a new pump, but the shop rebuild isn't cheap either. And as for doing it yourself, it needs to be kept surgically clean or it will wreck.

Gerald J.

(quoted from post at 16:05:24 03/15/08) I was digging up some tree roots with my diesel 3010 industrial model and it just died out of the blue. It starts right back up, but only runs from 1-30 seconds before dying again. It seems to run longer if it sits longer between starts. It also will sometimes rev up and other times idles fairly slowly. When it is running, it sounds smooth. I've flushed the fuel tank, replaced the fuel filters, repalced and/or tightened every fuel line and bled it all the way to the injectors, and nothing changes. I hate to buy a $600 injector pump and find out that's not it. Any suggestions?

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did you ever get your tractor to run. I have a 3010 with the same problem
I have replace the fuel filters put a new lift pump on took the fuel out blew air into the tank,and had the injection pump at the tune of $877.00.and it still runs about 30sec and quits as its out of fuel. I just took of the injectors return line and blew it out I have not tried to start it Yet.I did connect a outboard motor tank with diesel to the lift pump and it seem to run longer.if anyone has a suggestion let me know I have taken the injection pump off and put it on before with no problems. TJLUKE36

(quoted from post at 19:40:35 03/07/09)

(quoted from post at 16:05:24 03/15/08) I was digging up some tree roots with my diesel 3010 industrial model and it just died out of the blue. It starts right back up, but only runs from 1-30 seconds before dying again. It seems to run longer if it sits longer between starts. It also will sometimes rev up and other times idles fairly slowly. When it is running, it sounds smooth. I've flushed the fuel tank, replaced the fuel filters, repalced and/or tightened every fuel line and bled it all the way to the injectors, and nothing changes. I hate to buy a $600 injector pump and find out that's not it. Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

did you ever get your tractor to run. I have a 3010 with the same problem
I have replace the fuel filters put a new lift pump on took the fuel out blew air into the tank,and had the injection pump at the tune of $877.00.and it still runs about 30sec and quits as its out of fuel. I just took of the injectors return line and blew it out I have not tried to start it Yet.I did connect a outboard motor tank with diesel to the lift pump and it seem to run longer.if anyone has a suggestion let me know I have taken the injection pump off and put it on before with no problems. TJLUKE36

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Has anyone solved this issue it seems I am having the very same problem with our 3010, although we have replaced the injector pump and tractor would start and run at low and high idle didn't have any problems other than low batteries charged them up started ran 5-10 min. then died like ran out of fuel started back up quite a few times and ran a few seconds and died as if no fuel

hope someone has solved their issue and can help.
Thank you in advance for any help.