24 Common John Deere 2240 Problems And Solutions

Engine-related issues, hydraulic system failure or malfunctioning, 3-point hitch difficulties, transmission hassle, electrical issues, and steering issues are mostly faced by John Deere 2240. 

Go through this post to enlighten yourself about these cases. This way, you will use your expertise to sort out what is wrong with your tractor and apply it to troubleshoot as far as possible. 

In this article, I am going to inform you about the cases, their reasons, and fixes.So, without further ado, let’s get started-

Mostly Faced Problems of John Deere 2240 with Troubleshooting

Key Points	Individual issues	Troubleshooting
Engine	Difficult to start	Clean fuel filter, bleed out the system, clean fuel injectors and fuel injection pump
	Insufficient power	Fix fuel injection pressure, keep oil and air filter clean, avoid overloading engine
	Noisy engine	Refill engine oil, warm up engine, change broken pistons
	Overheating	Add coolant and fix the cooling system, ensure enough engine oil
	Shuts down at low idle speed	Adjust low idle speed, keep fuel injector nozzles clean
	Stops while running	Adjust fuel injection pump timing
	Excessive engine oil consumption	Use proper oil type and fix any leakage
Hydraulic system	Lack of hydraulic oil pressure	Refill hydraulic fluid, fix any leakage in the system, keep hydraulic pump and cylinder in good condition
	Overheating	Accurate hydraulic pressure, adjust main valve, bleed out air and ensure clean hydraulic oil
3-point hitch	Difficulty in raising	Add hydraulic oil, warm up hydraulic fluid
	Difficulty in lowering	Adjust hydraulic spool valve, change damaged cylinder components
	Jerky hitch	Examine hydraulic system and do required servicing
Transmission	Low power	Add transmission oil, change the worn out relief valve
	Insufficient transmission fluid pressure	Ensure enough transmission fluid, service relief valve
	Difficult to shift gear	Adjust the clutch, change shift forks and broken gear shifting mechanism components
	Noisy transmission	Change bearings, keep enough and clean transmission fluid
	Transmission fluid overheating	Add transmission fluid, replace cooling components, and avoid overloaded transmission
	Leak of transmission oil	Install seals or gaskets, fix or replace oil return tube
Electrical system	Starter motor turns slow	Charge the battery properly, fix damaged battery wiring
	Starter is not working	Replace dead battery cells and connect the wiring harness properly
	Battery is not charging	Repair damaged wiring harness and loose, or corroded terminals
Steering	Hard to steer	Install steering column properly, add steering fluid, tighten any loose joints in the system
	Front wheels wander to right or left	Inflate tires, adjust toe-in, set front hub bearings correctly
	Excessive free play of steering	Change steering shaft, steering control valve, steering pump

John Deere 2240 Tractor Problems: Troubleshooting Information

1. Engine is Difficult to Start

Engine appears difficult to start if there is any air, dirt, or water in the system because of a clogged fuel filter.

If fuel doesn’t reach the system from the tank because of the fuel shut-off valve or cylinder compression is poor, you will find it difficult to start your JD 2240.

Faulty or dirty fuel injectors and fuel injection pump is also a potential reason.

Solution:

Bleed out your system and keep your fuel filter clean. If needed, install a new fuel filter. Check your fuel shut-off valve to ensure the fuel flow.

Examine your cylinder and replace defective components. Clean fuel injectors, fix fuel injection pump and replace them if any or both of them are broken.

2. Lack of Engine Power

Dirty engine oil filter or air filter, damaged fuel injectors, misadjusted fuel injection pressure, and an overloaded engine will cause you insufficient engine power.

Incorrect valve clearance and low idle speed can cause you the same. 

Solution:

Service or change your oil and air filter. Fix or replace fuel injectors. Adjust fuel injection pressure. Reduce loads off your engine. Set the correct valve clearance and proper low idle speed for the desired result.

3. Noisy Engine

Loud engine is caused by misadjusted fuel injection pump timing, insufficient engine oil, worn out or dirty injector nozzles, broken piston rings, cold engine, and damaged main bearings.

Solution:

Adjust your fuel injection pump timing. Refill engine oil from time to time. Take care or replace your injector nozzles.

Change broken piston rings. Warm up your engine. Look for damaged crankshafts and change the components of the main bearings accordingly. 

4. Engine Overheating

Lack of coolant or cooling system failure is the basic reason for the engine being overheated. Lack of engine oil, failure of the thermostat, damaged belt, and inappropriately adjusted belt tension is also potential reason.

Solution:

Look for any leak in the cooling system and fix it. Keep enough amount of coolant. If the cooling system gets dirty, flush it.

Have sufficient engine oil. Examine your thermostat and replace it if required. Adjust the belt tension and fix or change the broken belt according to necessity. 

5. Engine Shuts Down at Low Speed

Your JD 2240 will stop at low speed because of incorrect low idle speed and failure of the fuel injection pump. Inappropriate valve clearance and dirty fuel injector nozzles can be a reason as well.

Solution:

Adjust the low idle speed. Repair or replace the fuel injection pump. Make the valve clearance correct and change your dirty fuel injector nozzles. 

6. Engine Stops While Running

Misadjusted timing of the fuel injection pump, clogged fuel filter element, and damaged or dirty fuel injector nozzles are most likely the reason for stopping your JD 2240 while driving.

Don’t ignore clogged air cleaner and worn-out fuel injection pump as a threat as well.

Solution:

Adjust the fuel injection pump timing. Keep both of your fuel and air cleaner elements clean or change them as needed.

Fix your broken or faulty fuel injector nozzles and worn out fuel injection pump or replace the unfixable component. 

7. Excessive Engine Oil Consumption

Engine oil consumption will be higher than usual if there is any leak in the system or the oil viscosity is incorrect. Some other cases might be worn piston rings, valve stems, and damaged cylinder pistons.

Solution:

Avoid high engine oil consumption by examining the system to find out any leaks and repairing them while using the correct oil viscosity.

Check your piston rings, valve stems, and cylinder pistons if the previous two factors are good to go, and do servicing or replace the defective part. 

8. Lack of Hydraulic Oil Pressure

Your hydraulic system pressure will be low for lack of hydraulic system fluid, faulty hydraulic oil filter and malfunctioning hydraulic pump.

Look for any leakage in hydraulic lines. Check if the hydraulic spool valve is misadjusted. Damaged or worn out cylinder will cause you the same. 

Solution:

Refill hydraulic fluid from time to time. Service your faulty hydraulic oil filter or replace it. Repair any leakage in hydraulic lines.

Adjust your hydraulic spool valve. Examine the hydraulic pump and cylinder, fix their issues, or change them. 

9. Hydraulic Overheating

Improperly adjusted hydraulic pressure, misadjusted main relief valve or the very valve being damaged will cause your hydraulic system to overheat.

Contamination of hydraulic oil or air in the hydraulic system might be a reason as well. 

Solution:

Set hydraulic pressure properly. Adjust the main valve or replace it if needed. Keep your hydraulic oil contamination free and change the oil upon contamination. Bleed out the system to get rid of stuck air.

10. Difficulty in Raising 3-Point Hitch

You will find difficulties in raising your 3-point hitch if there is any shortage of hydraulic fuel, the hydraulic oil filter is dirty, the hydraulic fluid is cold or the hydraulic oil pump is damaged.

Misadjusted or worn-out main relief valves can be a reason as well. Don’t forget the malfunctioning hydraulic cylinder and disconnected hydraulic suction pipe.

Solution:

Maintain the hydraulic oil level, clean the hydraulic oil filter or change it if clogged, give some time to warm up the hydraulic fluid, fix or replace your damaged hydraulic oil pump to lift your 3-point hitch smoothly.

Adjust the main relief valve, and change it if required. Examine the hydraulic cylinder for replacing damaged components. Keep the suction pipe connected. 

11. Difficulty in Lowering 3-Point Hitch

Hitch becomes hard to lower because of a faulty or misadjusted hydraulic spool valve, worn out hydraulic cylinder, and hitch cross shaft. Any individual part of the hitch being damaged will cause you the problem as well. 

Solution:

Set the hydraulic spool valve or replace it if needed. Bring in new cylinder components for damaged ones and replace the shaft. Do servicing or replace faulty or broken hitch parts. 

12. Jerky Hitch

The 3-point hitch of your JD 2240 becomes jerky for any failure in the hydraulic system. Thus, inspect your hydraulic system according to the previously mentioned ways.

Solution:

Upon inspection, take required steps to make your hitch movement smooth. 

13. Low Transmission Power

Lack of transmission oil, inadequate charge pressure, and broken relief valve will result in low transmission power.

Solution:

Add transmission oil, check and ensure proper charge pressure, and change the worn-out relief valve for avoiding low transmission power.

14. Insufficient Transmission Fluid Pressure

Low amount of transmission fluid, clogged transmission oil filter, and faulty relief valve will make your transmission fluid pressure insufficient. 

Solution:

Maintain required transmission fluid, clean or install a new transmission oil filter, and service or change the relief valve to have enough transmission fluid pressure.

15. Difficult to Shift Gear

Misadjusted clutch, broken gear shift linkage, worn-out shift forks, and damaged gear shifting mechanism will make your gear shifting hard. 

Solution:

Adjust the clutch, fix or replace the gear shift linkage, and change shift forks for smooth gear shifting. Examine the gear-shifting mechanism for damaged components and replace them accordingly as well.

16. Noisy Transmission

Broken bearings, insufficient transmission fluid, and contaminated transmission fluid will make your transmission noisy. Inaccurate backlash, damaged or broken gears, and shift forks can be a factor too.

Solution:

Change bearings, keep enough transmission fluid, and obviously keep the fluid clean. Set backlash properly, fix gears and shift forks or replace them if needed. 

17. Transmission Fluid Overheating

Insufficient supply of transmission fluid, plugged transmission oil filter, failure of any cooling components, and overloaded transmission will make your transmission fluid overheat. 

Solution:

Add transmission fluid, service or change the transmission oil filter, and repair or replace damaged cooling components to refrain your transmission fluid from overheating.

Always avoid overloaded transmission at the same time.

18. Leak of Transmission Oil

Unfit gaskets or seals, clogged oil return pipe, or too high internal transmission case pressure will cause you transmission oil leak.

Solution:

Install intact seals or gaskets, fix or replace the oil return tube, and replace faulty transmission components upon inspection. 

19. Starter Motor Turns Slow

If the battery of your JD 2240 fails to meet the required output, or drains faster than expected, the starter motor will eventually turn slow.

Defective battery wiring harness and corroded or loose terminals may play a role in different cases. 

Solution:

Charge the battery properly and have the charging system serviced or replace dead battery cells for sufficient output. Fix damaged battery wiring or install the new one. Inspect the terminals and service or replace them.

20. Starter is Not Working

Low output of the battery, discharged or dead battery cells, defective starter motor, and disconnected or misconnected wiring harness will make your starter stop cranking. 

Solution:

Charge the battery, replace dead cells, install a new starter motor, and connect the wiring harness properly to keep your starter motor working. 

21. Battery is Not Charging

Battery stops charging due to dead battery cells or damaged wiring harness in the battery system. It can be the outcome of loose battery cables and terminals, inappropriate belt tension, or the belt being entirely broken.

Solution:

Bring in fresh battery cells. Repair or replace the damaged wiring harness. Fix loose or corroded terminals as required. Adjust belt tension and replace the belt if broken to keep your battery charging. 

22. Hard to Steer

Inaccurate installation of the steering column, the air being stuck in the steering system, low tire pressure and improper toe-in will make your steering hard to turn.

Seized relief valve, not enough steering fluid, oil leakage in the steering system, and broken power steering valve will result in the same.

Solution:

Reinstall the steering column as required, bleed out the system, inflate the tires, and examine and set proper toe-in to steer well.

Install a new relief valve, add steering fluid, tighten the loose joints (pipes and hoses), and replace the damaged power steering valve according to necessity.

23. Front Wheels Wander to Right or Left

Deflated tires, inaccurate toe-in, and damaged steering box components and linkage will get you a pull to the right or left.

Worn-out power steering valve, and faulty or misadjusted front hub bearings may also do the same. Don’t forget the malfunctioning steering cylinder. 

Solution:

Inflate tires, adjust toe-in, change defective steering box components, fix or replace power steering valve, set front hub bearings correctly or change them if required. Do servicing or replace malfunctioning steering cylinder. 

24. Excessive Free Play of Steering

Badly worn-out steering shaft, faulty power steering control valve, malfunctioning steering pump, and worn out steering linkage will get this trouble for you.

Solution:

Change the steering shaft, steering control valve, steering pump, and faulty components of the steering linkage to get rid of the issue. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many horsepowers is a 2240 John Deere tractor?

The engine of a JD 2240 put out 50.7 PS (37.3 kW; 50 HP) of power at 2,500 rpm.

What is the gear pattern for John Deere 2240?

Four gears (1-4) in two ranges (I and II) plus reverse (R) range. 

What comes the most effective to deal with the hydraulic overheating of JD 2240?

Try having a good-to-go transmission oil cooler.

Final Words

Since the John Deere 2240 issues have been described duly, they won’t be a headache for you anymore. Apply these simple DIY methods to get rid of them.

Never let any of them go for a while unless you wish to encounter bigger issues. 

Don’t try anything beyond your expertise. Though JD 2240 is a fine and well-empowered tractor that is less likely to break down, consult with an expert if you are not confident in applying the troubleshooting.