B2930 stalling

[suzannaski]

Please let me apologize in advance, I'm not very engine savvy, and I don't know how I would begin to search the forums for this problem.
My dad had a stroke, and I am taking up the work on the farm.
The tractor (a B2910 hydrostatic) used to just stall occassionally when I step on the gas, I thought it just needed to warm up more.
Next, we changed the fuel filter and checked the fuel line, which was clear. We even checked to see if there was sediment in the gas tank. We checked to see if the air filter was clogged. No, and no. We checked the dipstick for the transmission (the yellow dipstick under the seat) and there was fluid there.
Now, the tractor runs fine until any demand is placed on the engine, either by stepping on the gas (either forward or back) or by engaging either the midmount or the rear PTO.
Friends have suggested to check: air in hydraulic lines? fuel injectors?
Thanks for your patience, understanding and help.

ETA: the correct model number is B2910. Sorry.

 

[hodge]

How many hours are on the tractor?

 

[Breeze]

Any excess smoke when it starts or when the engine stalls? Does it miss when it stalls or just shut right down?

You report a good air filter, what about crud, up stream of the filter? Did you try to run it without a filter, for a test?

It sounds to me like lack of fuel or lack of air.

 

[suzannaski]

I'm not sure how many hours, less than 1,000 I would think.
Yes, one puff of smoke at turnover.
Yes, ran it without the filter, no change in problem.
It goes from idle to stall almost instantly.
We can slow the stalling (just bog down the engine instead of a full stall) by not releasing the clutch completely after engaging the PTO.
Also, we get the same effect whether there is an attachment or not on the PTO, FWIW.

 

[Breeze]

1,000 hours is not a lot of time on the tractor.

The puff at starting is normal, especially if the glow plugs are not used long enough.

Can you check the air path, behind the filter element towards the engine intake? If you had a good filter in place it is unlikely that something got "up" there but a clear path eliminates one more issue.

These tractors have safety switches on the seat, PTO and other spots but you describe it slowly bogging down when you slowly release the clutch. This does not sound like a safety switch, which is on/off.

1) Stall occurs with PTO not engaged as treadle pressure is applied to move tractor forward or reverse?

2) Stall occurs with tractor stopped, PTO selected, no implement attached, as the clutch is engaged?

3) In neutral, parking brake applied, can you start and increase RPM to PTO speed, (+/- 2500 RPM)?

4) Is there any smoke when it stalls?

What I'm trying to do here is ask the right questions. I don't have an answer but there are people on this site that probably will, if they have the correct symptoms.

 

[suzannaski]

I checked the hours, 614.3 hours clocked.

1,000 hours is not a lot of time on the tractor.

The puff at starting is normal, especially if the glow plugs are not used long enough.

Can you check the air path, behind the filter element towards the engine intake? If you had a good filter in place it is unlikely that something got "up" there but a clear path eliminates one more issue.

These tractors have safety switches on the seat, PTO and other spots but you describe it slowly bogging down when you slowly release the clutch. This does not sound like a safety switch, which is on/off.

1) Stall occurs with PTO not engaged as treadle pressure is applied to move tractor forward or reverse?.

Yes! Light touch on either forward or reverse can get it to roll, but further pressure stalls it out.

2) Stall occurs with tractor stopped, PTO selected, no implement attached, as the clutch is engaged?

Yes!

3) In neutral, parking brake applied, can you start and increase RPM to PTO speed, (+/- 2500 RPM)?

Yes! We can adjust the throttle (the stick next to the steering wheel) up & down and the engine RPMs increase/decrease without hesitation.

4) Is there any smoke when it stalls?

None

What I'm trying to do here is ask the right questions. I don't have an answer but there are people on this site that probably will, if they have the correct symptoms.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

 

[suzannaski]

Re: B2930 stalling: Solved!

A friend of a friend came over, and started checking all the safety shut offs.
The switch for the seat had a broken wire connector. The tractor would run when the ends would touch, but not if they separated.
The last bump apparently knocked the wire end farther away from the the connector to the actual switch.
Once the connection was repaired, the problem resolved! Yay!