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Home / Farm Tractors / John Deere Tractors / JD 2038R

John Deere 2038R Troubleshooting

The John Deere 2038R is a 4-wheel drive compact utility tractor from 2R-series. This model was manufactured between 2017 and 2021. The components of John Deere 2038R driveline system: a 95.8 cu.in (1.6L) Yanmar 3TNV86CT-NJT2 4-cycle 3-cylinder direct injection turbocharged liquid-cooled diesel engine and 2-range hydrostatic transmission with infinite forward and reverse gears.

The engine has a cylinder bore of 3.38" (86 mm), piston stroke of 3.54" (90 mm), maximum power of 36.8 hp (27.7 kW), and 127 Nm (93.7 lb-ft) of peak torque at 1625 rpm. The maximum travel speed (forward and reverse): 15.4 mph (24.7 kph) / 13.8 mph (22 kph). The open center hydraulic system includes a gear pump with a rated capacity of 5.3 gallons per minute (20.2 liters per minute). The main relief pressure is 172 bar (2500 psi).

The John Deere 2038R is equipped with a power steering system, wet disc brakes, 7.00x12 (AG) or 200/60R15 (Turf) front tires, and 12.4x16 (AG) or 300/70R20 (Turf) rear tires. The wheelbase is 67.8" (1725 mm). Compatible attachments for the tractor: 60" or 72" mid-mount 3-blade mower decks with hydraulic lift system, John Deere 220R front-end loader with lift capacity to full height of 1120 lbs (508 kg), and John Deere 270B backhoe with maximum digging depth of 84" (2130 mm).

Engine Troubleshooting
Engine won't start or hard to start
Fuel filter clogging - Change filter element
Fuel shut-off valve closed - Open the fuel shut-off valve
Fuel-line is leaking air - Retighten clamps, replace defective pipes
Clogged fuel injectors - Check fuel injectors and replace if required
Fuel injection pump is broken - Repair or install a new fuel pump
Poor cylinder compression - Check and replace worn parts
Engine stalls while running
Low coolant temperature - Normalize the temperature by warming up the engine
There is air in the fuel system - Bleed the system
Fuel injection failed - Use correct settings
Fuel filter is clogged - Clean the filter or install new filter element
Clogged or damaged injectors - Clean or replace fuel injectors
Diesel starts and stalls suddenly
Timing of fuel injection pump is wrong - Check the fuel injection pump timing setting
Clogged fuel filter element - Clean or replace the filter
Faulty fuel injector nozzles - Install new set of properly balanced nozzles
Defective fuel injection pump - Install a new fuel pump or repair
Air cleaner element is clogged - Change or service air cleaner element
Engine stops at idle
Incorrectly adjusted low idle speed - Normalize low idle speed
Fuel injection pump is broken - Change pump or rebuild it
Clogged or defective injector nozzles - Service or replace injector nozzles
Valve out of adjustment - Adjustment procedure required
Engine is overheated
Engine has a lack of coolant - Refill to the correct level. Check for coolant leaks
Cooling system is clogged or cooling parts are worn - Change faulty components or flush the cooling system
Not enough engine oil - Add oil to the engine crankcase
Fan belt tension is incorrect or belt is broken - Adjust belt tension correctly or replace it
Defective thermostat - Thermostat needs to be replaced
Diesel engine is losing power
Clogged fuel injectors - Inspect fuel injectors and replace if necessary
Fuel injection pressure is incorrect - Adjust pressure to proper level
Air filter is dirty - Replace filter or install new filter element
Dirty oil filter - Replace or service engine oil filter
Diesel engine overloaded - Reduce load on the engine
Valve clearance is not correct - Adjust valve clearance according to specifications
Incorrect low idle setting - Adjustment required
Fuel hoses or pipes clogging - Clean fuel pipes and hoses
Engine losing compression: Leaking or broken valves - Valves need to be replaced
Engine noises or knocks
Timing of fuel injection pump is not adjusted - Fuel pump timing settings need to be corrected
Fuel injector nozzles are defective or dirty - Check and change nozzles as required
Engine oil level is low - Add oil to the engine crankcase
Engine not warmed up - Warm up engine as required
Worn crankshaft or main bearings - Worn parts replacement required
Defective or broken piston rings - Piston rings replacement required
Flywheel bolts are loose - Bolts need to be tightened
High engine oil consumption
Oil leakage: Worn gaskets or seals - To repair leaks, replace worn parts
Improper oil viscosity - Fill up with the correct oil viscosity
Stuck or worn piston rings - Install new piston rings
Worn valve stems and valve guides - Change the valves
Pistons or cylinder liners are scored - Inspect liners and pistons, change as necessary


Electrical System Troubleshooting
Battery won’t charge
Battery is defective - Use a new battery
Bad battery electrical wire harness - Check wires for malfunctions, repair or replace
Loose or corroded battery terminals and cables - Tighten or clean terminals and cables
Belt is defective or belt tension is improperly adjusted Change belt or correctly adjust belt tension
Starter cranks slow
Battery voltage is low - Low battery charging, charge as required
Battery discharges quickly - Service or replace the battery
Bad battery wiring harness - Inspect wiring for malfunctions, replace or repair
Loose or corroded battery terminals and cables - Service or tighten battery terminals and cables
Starter is not working
Battery voltage is low - Charge the battery
Drained or faulty battery - Recharge or change battery
Starter motor failing - Starter needs to be changed
Improperly connected or disconnected cables - Check battery cables and connect properly

Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting
Hydrostatic transmission noise
Transmission oil level is too low or oil is dirty - Change the oil or fill to required level
Speed control rod linkage is damaged or unadjusted - Replace rod linkage or adjust correctly
Relief valve sticking - Replace relief valve as required
Transmission overloaded - The load should be reduced
Worn or damaged parts of transmission - After disassembly and checking, replace worn components
Transmission oil overheats
Insufficient fluid supply - Add transmission fluid as required
Transmission oil filter element is clogged - Change or clean the transmission oil filter
Plugged or defective cooling components - Check all cooling components and clean or replace if required
Excessive loading - Reduce the load is required
Loss of power
Oil level is low - Correct the transmission oil level
Low charge pressure - Check charge pressure
Relief valve is worn or defective - Replace the valve
Transmission oil leakage
Gaskets or seals are defective Seals and gaskets replacement required
Transmission housing internal pressure is excessive - Inspect transmission parts for malfunction and change if required
Plugged oil drain pipe - Service or change drain pipe


Hydraulics Troubleshooting
Hydraulic system overheating
Improper hydraulic pressure adjustments - Adjust it correctly
Unadjusted or defective main relief valve - Set up or change the relief valve
Hydraulic oil is dirty - Hydraulic oil change required
Air enters in hydraulic system - Check the suction line, pump seals, and fittings
Low hydraulic fluid pressure
Not enough hydraulic fluid in the system - Need to add fluid
Hydraulic oil filter element is dirty - Change hydraulic filter element or clean if necessary
Hydraulic pump is faulty - Test pump performance and replace pump if necessary
Hydraulic spool valve block is faulty or out of adjustment - Set properly or replace
Hydraulic cylinder failure - Check cylinder components for wear or damage and change if necessary
Leakage in hydraulic lines - Identify leaks in the system and repair it
3-point hitch lifts slowly or won't lift
Not enough hydraulic oil in the system - Add oil to the hydraulic system
Cold hydraulic oil - Warm up the oil
Hydraulic fluid filter clogging - Clean the hydraulic filter or install new filter element
Hydraulic pump not working - Test the pump flow rate and change pump if required
Main relief valve failure or incorrect setting - Adjust or change relief valve
Hydraulic spool valve block is faulty or out of adjustment - Replace or adjust correctly
Defective hydraulic cylinder - Inspect the cylinder components for damage or wear and change if required
Disconnected or damaged suction pipe - Connect or replace
3-point hitch drops slowly or won't drop
Defective or incorrect setting hydraulic control valve block - Replace or set properly
Hydraulic cylinder is defective - Check cylinder components for wear or damage and change if necessary
Worn hitch cross shaft - Change the shaft
Defective mechanical parts of the hitch - Change worn or damaged hitch parts
Hitch jerks when lower or lift
Aeration in hydraulic system - Check the suction pipe, fittings, and pump seals
Hydraulic oil is dirty - Hydraulic oil change required
Hydraulic pump not working - Test the pump flow rate and change pump if required
Damaged or incorrect adjusted hydraulic spool valve - Set properly or replace
Hydraulic cylinder is broken - Inspect the hydraulic cylinder parts for damage or wear and replace if required

Steering System Troubleshooting
Steering wheel is very heavy to turn
Damaged or improperly fitted steering column - Fit the steering column properly or change it
Air leaks in steering system - Bleed air
Incorrect toe-in - Adjust toe-in wheels properly
Tire pressure is improper - Inflate the tires properly
Faulty steering pump - Steering pump needs to be replaced or repaired
Damaged or worn power steering control valve - Inspect and replace as required
Relief valve is stuck or worn - Replace or service relief valve
Low steering oil level - Fill up the steering oil
Steering system oil leak - Retighten joints of the hydraulic steering pipes and hoses
Excessive free play of steering wheel
Worn steering column shaft or coupling - Replace defective component
Worn or defective power steering control valve - Change or repair steering valve if required
Steering pump failure - Steering pump needs to be repaired or replaced
Steering tie-rod ends or linkage are worn - Replace failed part
Front wheels wander to left or right
Tire pressure is not correct - Check tire pressure and inflate as required
Toe-in adjustment is incorrect - Adjust toe-in wheels properly
Faulty or worn steering linkage or tie-rod ends - Change damaged part
Damaged or worn power steering control valve - Inspect and change as required
Steering cylinder is faulty - Repair or change steering cylinder
Worn or incorrectly adjusted or worn front hub bearings - Change or adjust the bearings properly

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