John Deere 317 Skid Steer Troubleshooting

The John Deere 317 skid steer loader driveline system components: a 149.1 cu.in (2.4L) JD PowerTech 4024T vertical 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with a rated power of 57 hp (42.5 kW), and single-speed hydrostatic transmission. The hydraulic system has a pump with a rated capacity of 17 gal/min (64 l/min). The system relief pressure is 3450 psi (238 bar). The John Deere 317 is equipped with vertical-lift loader boom, 80 HD drive chains, and 10x16.5 tires. The skid steer loader has a boom lifting force of 3100 lbs (1407 kg) and bucket breakout force of 5500 lbs (2497 kg). The rated operating capacity is 1750 lbs (795 kg), and tipping load is 3500 lbs (1590 kg).

Engine Troubleshooting

Diesel engine hard to start or doesn't start

Air in fuel tank - Bleed fuel tank.
Fuel filter element clogging - Clean or replace the filter.
Faulty or dirty injection nozzles - Install a new kit of correctly balanced nozzles.
Water in the fuel system - Change fuel and repair fuel system.
Valve clearance is wrong - Check and adjust.
Fuel injection pump is damaged - Rebuild or replace pump.

Diesel starts and stalls immediately

Clogged air cleaner - Install new air cleaner element.
Fuel filter element is dirty - Clean or change the filter.
Fuel injection pump has loose connections - Tighten the connections.
Defective or clogged fuel injectors - Inspect fuel injectors and change as required.
Fuel injection pump malfunctioning - Replace or rebuild injection pump.

Engine stalls after running

Engine is not warmed up to required temperature - Warm up engine as required.
Fuel filter is plugged - Clean or change the filter.
Air in the fuel pipes - Bleed the fuel pipes.
Clogged injection nozzle - If necessary, replace with a new nozzle.
Improper setting of fuel injection pump timing - Check the fuel injection pump timing adjustment.

Engine stalls when idle

Low idle speed setting is incorrect - Correct low idle settings.
Fuel injection pump is defective - Change pump or rebuild it.
Dirty or defective injectors - Test and replace fuel injectors if necessary.
Incorrect valve clearance - Adjust valve clearance.

Low engine power

Air cleaner is clogged - Clean or change.
Dirty or faulty injection nozzles - Check injection nozzles and replace if required.
Fuel injection pressure is incorrect - Adjust pressure to proper level.
Valve clearance is not correct - Adjust valve clearance.
Incorrect low idle speed adjustment - Test and adjust.
Dirty fuel hoses or lines - Clean fuel hoses and lines.
Damaged cylinder-head gasket - Change cylinder head gasket.
Defective or worn piston rings - Replace piston rings.

Engine is overheated

Engine coolant is insufficient - Add coolant fluid and inspect the cooling system for leaks.
Insufficient engine oil - Fill up the engine oil.
Radiator core is clogged or radiator cap is leaking - Change cap or clean radiator.
Fan belt is worn or faulty - Fan belt must be replaced.
Engine is overloaded - Load reducing is recommended.

Oil pressure is low

Engine oil insufficient - Checking oil level and add if necessary.
Clogged oil filter element - Replace or clean engine oil filter element.
Wrong oil viscosity - Fill up with the correct oil viscosity.
Excessive oil clearance of crankshaft bearing - Replace bearings.
Oil pump malfunction - Check and replace if necessary.

Abnormal engine noise or knocking

Engine oil level low - Need to add engine oil.
Engine is cold - Warm up the engine.
Incorrect adjustment of fuel injection pump timing - Check the fuel injection pump timing adjustment.
Improperly adjusted low idle speed - Correct low idle adjustment.
Fuel injectors are faulty or clogged - Change or clean fuel injectors.
Misaligned or faulty connecting rod - Replace or align connecting rod.
Broken or worn pistons - Install new pistons.

Drive System Troubleshooting

Drive system сan't work in either direction

Insufficient hydraulic fluid - Add fluid as required.
Worn drive chain - Check drive chain and change faulty components.
Worn input drive shaft - Replace or service the drive shaft.
Relief valve is defective - Repair or replace relief valve.
Hydraulic filter or suction line is clogged - Clean suction line or replace hydraulic filter.
Hand or foot controls failure - Replace or repair.
Damaged drive pump or motor - Inspect and change as required.

Low power

Hydraulic oil filter is clogged - Replace hydraulic filter.
Relief valve is worn or opened - Close or change relief valve.
Transmission parts are defective or worn - Check and replace faulty components.
Input drive shaft is defective - Rebuild or change the shaft.
Air trapped in hydraulic system - Bleed air from system.

Drive system overheating

Hydraulic fluid is insufficient - Fill up the hydraulic fluid.
Plugged hydraulic fluid filter - Replace hydraulic filter.
Worn or damaged relief valve - Repair or replace.
Hydraulic motor or drive pump failure - Change or repair faulty component.
Oil cooler is clogged - Clean cooling fins as required.
Overloaded drive system - Reduce loading.

Drive system is excessively noisy

Incorrect oil viscosity - Use proper oil viscosity.
Air leaks in hydraulic system - Bleed air from system.
Drive pump or hydraulic motor malfunction - Replace or repair faulty component.
Mechanical components of drive system are worn or damaged - Check the components for defect or damage and change if necessary.

Hydraulics Troubleshooting

Hydraulic system has overheating

Hydraulic pressure is incorrect - Set pressure correctly.
Unadjusted or defective main relief valve - Set up or change the relief valve.
Hydraulic oil contamination - Change hydraulic oil.
Hydraulic oil level is insufficient - Check oil level and add hydraulic oil as required.
Hydraulic pump is worn - Replace or repair pump if necessary.

Lift arm won't raise or lower

Lift controls malfunction - Inspect and repair if necessary.
Hydraulic pump is broken - Repair or change pump if required.
Hydraulic control valve is defective - Repair or replace the valve.
Damaged hydraulic cylinder - Repair or install a new lift cylinder.
Hydraulic fluid is insufficient - Checking hydraulic fluid level and add if necessary.

Bucket won't move

Bucket tilt controls are defective - Repair or replace.
Damaged hydraulic oil pump - Change or repair hydraulic pump if required.
Hydraulic control valve failure - Repair or change the valve.
Faulty hydraulic bucket cylinder - Change or repair cylinder.
Hydraulic fluid level low - Checking hydraulic fluid level and add if necessary.

Slow boom or bucket action

Worn hydraulic oil pump - Test pump flow rate and replace pump if required.
Hydraulic cylinder oil leakage - Replace cylinder piston seals.
Insufficient hydraulic oil - Checking hydraulic oil level and add if necessary.
Worn or unadjusted hydraulic control valve - Set properly or repair.
Hydraulic pressure loss - Hydraulic pressure must be set correctly.

Bucket or boom is working jerkily

Hydraulic system is leaking air - Bleed air from hydraulic system.
Hydraulic oil filter is dirty - Clean or replace the filter.
Dirty hydraulic fluid - Change hydraulic fluid.
Cylinder rod or tube is scuffed - Replace damaged component.

Hydraulic pump is noisy

Low oil level or hydraulic leaks - Correct hydraulic leaks or top up oil as needed.
Dirty hydraulic filter - Clean or replace the filter.
Suction line clogging - Service the suction line.
Pump is sucking air - Bleed air from hydraulics.
Worn pump components - Replace or rebuild the pump.

Electrical Troubleshooting

Battery cannot be charged

Loose or corroded cable connections - Clean or tighten connections.
Battery terminal clamps are faulty - Change terminal clamps.
Faulty cell in battery - Replace the battery.
Worn or loose belt - Adjust belt tension or replace belt.

Starter turns slowly

Battery voltage is low - Recharge the battery.
Battery is draining quickly - Service or change the battery.
Disconnected wires or corroded battery terminals - Check wiring connections and replace or clean terminals.

Starter doesn't crank

Battery is drained or worn - Charge or change the battery.
Battery cables are disconnected or incorrectly connected - Check cables and connect as needed.
Low battery capacity - Battery needs to be recharged.
Starter motor failing - Starter should be changed.