John Deere 1020 diesel will not turn engine

Jeff Vines · Apr 30, 2020

My 1020 ran fine then I saw a small puff of smoke from under the hood and it stopped. I think the engine siezed? I checked the oil and it was barely on the stick. Not sure where but apparently leaked out over the winter. It only took a couple of seconds for this to happen. Any thoughts about what I might do to free it up? I'm considering dropping the oil pan to see if the main bearings have seized. Any ideas would be appreciated. I've owned this tractor for 35 years.

Bob Harvey · Apr 30, 2020

Interesting that you have owned the thing for 35 years, but didn't check the oil before you started it after sitting over the winter. Good luck.

Steve@Advance · Apr 30, 2020

If there is oil on the stick, there is still some oil in the pan.

I would do more investigation before taking the pan off.

showcrop · May 1, 2020

Standard procedure for this is to remove the starter and try turning by hand with a bar into the ring gear teeth. It can't seize due to lack of oil if it really has enough to show on the stick, but there can of course be other problems. While the starter is out bench check it. If it really is stuck, next step is to drop the pan and check for a discolored bearing cap and go from there.

JDEM · May 1, 2020

If that tractor had been sitting awhile, and then seized shortly after starting? My guess would be coolant leaked into the oil. It collects
in the bottom in the oil pan after sitting. Start the tractor up and the oil-pump sucks in pure coolant and it acts like a brake-band on the
main bearings. Seen it happen many times with Deere engines with sleeve-leaks.

You ARE sure the engine is stuck and the injection pump did not just stop turning?

John Deere 1020 diesel will not turn engine

Jeff Vines

New User

Bob Harvey

Well-known Member

Steve@Advance

Well-known Member

showcrop

Well-known Member

JDEM

Well-known Member

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