L3901 Shutting Down When Using PTO

[WazzuInOregon]

L3901 w/230 hours. I was out with my brush cutter the other day and about 30 mins into it, the engine RPMs dropped and then died. It would not restart immediately. After about an hour or so, it would restart and I could run it for another 30-ish minutes. My first thoughts were the typical air or fuel issue. I tried running without the fuel cap and got the same result. It was due for a general service, so I replaced the fuel filter, cleaned out the water separate and put in a new filter there. I admit, however that I did not remove any fuel lines.

After that, I did not immediately start brush cutting again. I went and did some loader work for about an hour and a half with no issues. After that, I hooked up the brush cutter again and started cutting in our field. After about 30 mins, the RPMs dropped and it died. Again, it wouldn't start until an hour or so passed.

Why is this happening only under PTO load? Fuel pump issue? Other?

Suggestions and thoughts appreciated.

 

[Dave_eng]

L3901 w/230 hours. I was out with my brush cutter the other day and about 30 mins into it, the engine RPMs dropped and then died. It would not restart immediately. After about an hour or so, it would restart and I could run it for another 30-ish minutes. My first thoughts were the typical air or fuel issue. I tried running without the fuel cap and got the same result. It was due for a general service, so I replaced the fuel filter, cleaned out the water separate and put in a new filter there. I admit, however that I did not remove any fuel lines.

After that, I did not immediately start brush cutting again. I went and did some loader work for about an hour and a half with no issues. After that, I hooked up the brush cutter again and started cutting in our field. After about 30 mins, the RPMs dropped and it died. Again, it wouldn't start until an hour or so passed.

Why is this happening only under PTO load? Fuel pump issue? Other?

Suggestions and thoughts appreciated.

Your L3901 is a very modern tractor and therefore I would expect to see some error code pop up on the dash when it shuts down.

Here is one page of the typical codes:

You are thinking fuel related problems. I am inclined to think Operator Presence Control aka safety switch issues.

When the tractor shuts down, will it crank but not start or does it not even crank?

Is it possible you have some rodent living in your tractor and dining on the wiring in some out of the way place like behind the dash.

On the modern tractor, a dealer with their diagnostic software is often the path to a solution,

Dave

 

[Russell King]

Sounds like it is getting hot (dying) and cooling off after some time. Check out any screen in front of the radiator to make sure it is clean.

 

[lugbolt]

on FB and on here you didn't say whether it will crank over after it dies. I mean, does turning the key crank the engine, does the engine just not start?

I suspect fuel related issue.

Could be:

plugged or restricted fuel outlet in the tank
bad injector (injunktor)
bad lift pump
bad fuel line
plugged or restricted filter housing
plugged or restricted separator housing
bad supply pump
plugged filter
gas in the fuel
water in the fuel

With that, you can do basic stuff like doing a fuel flow test (from tank to electric pump). If ok, your options are limited, really need diagmaster to log SCV current SCV voltage, etc etc. If you're not a dealer you won't have access to any diagnostic software. And I am hearing diagmaster is going to be replaced (if it ain't already been) throwing even more wrenches into the proverbial spokes. I hope they make the new as functional or more, yet a little easier to use (not that I had any issues aside from the terminology that the japanese use).

If you have to take it in, and you don't have any of the 5 year emissions warranty left, make sure to tell them to call you with an estimate before repairs are made as replacing injectors or supply pumps can easily go 4 figures possibly 5 depending on how much damage there is.

if it just won't crank over at all after it dies does the meter show anything like OPC where the hourmeter is? If it says OPC, you have a switch or wiring or ecu issue, with a switch being the most likely, wiring second, and ecu least likely.

 

[WazzuInOregon]

AND the inner is: OVERHEATING. I hadn't been too focused on the overheating because the water temp gauge read normal. That was a mistake. I checked the coolant, it was low, started pouring some in just to see it continue to through to the ground. The supply tube to the engine had popped off. I secured it back in place, refilled the radiator, and then ran it with the brushcutter for over 2 hours with no issues whatsoever. So, anyway, it's got all new filters and it's 200 hour service and fresh coolant, so I should be good to go for a while. I'm glad I didn't start draining the fuel tank and such!

Thanks for all the troubleshooting ideas!

 

[number two]

I'm surprised that the temp gauge read normal.
If the coolant level was low enough to cause overheating,I would have expected the gauge to read dead cold since there should not have been enough coolant for the temp sensor to read.
Glad you're up and running.