John Deere 5210 Problems (A Complete Guidelines)

You can face many different problems when running a tractor. Unless you’re an expert or have enough experience with tractors, it’s nearly impossible for you to identify and fix such problems on your own.

Your John Deere 5210 can have several problems ranging from a weak engine to a draining hydraulic. Engine problems are the most prevalent in these tractors with starting problems, knocking noise, overheating, and such. You might also face some troubling steering problems and fuel issues.

As you can already understand, you can face many different problems. It might sound quite intimidating to you. But don’t worry.

This article has all the common problems explained with their reasons and solutions for your convenience.

John Deere 5210 Engine Problems

Problem	Reason	Solution
Engine is having low power	The injector pump plunger is damaged or old	Replace the plunger
Engine is stalling	The fuel filter is dirty	Replace filter element
Engine is knocking	The oil is insufficient	Add more oil
	The coolant temperature is too low	Raise the coolant temperature
Engine is having starting problems	The injector nozzle is clogged	Check and unclog the nozzle
Engine is overheating	The coolant is insufficient	Add more coolant
	The engine is overloaded	Reduce the load
	Thermostat is defective	Replace the thermostat
	The fan belt is loose	Adjust the belt’s tension

Problem 1: Engine is Having Low Power

Sometimes you might face weak engine performance from your tractor. Your engine won’t get enough power if the tractor’s injector pump plunger is worn.

Solution:

If you have a bad injector pump plunger, the solution is easy. Replace the damaged plunger and install a new one.

Problem 2: Engine is Stalling

If the engine keeps stalling while starting or even while running, chances are you have a dirty fuel filter.

Solution:

Cleaning your fuel filter isn’t too complicated. Just follow these steps:

Necessary Tools: Wrench, drain pan, new fuel filter.

• Turn off the fuel shutoff valve.
• Use a drain pan to contain the excess fuel.
• Take the filter head off by twisting it in the left direction.
• Add clean fuel to the new filter.
• Put your new filter into the filter head by twisting in the right direction.
• Check if you have any fuel leaks. If there is none, let the fuel flow.

Problem 3: Engine is Knocking

Your engine makes a knocking noise when the fuel inside is burning unevenly. This is a common problem that occurs when your engine has insufficient oil.

Solution:

As you can already tell, the solution is pretty simple. If your engine doesn’t have enough oil, you need to add more oil to the engine.

Problem 4: Engine is Having Starting Problems

Your tractor’s engine not starting or being hard to start a troublesome issue. The reason behind this is usually clogged injector nozzles.

Solution:

This problem needs to be concentrated cleaning to unclog the nozzles. Unless you’re an expert and already know how to do it, you need to get the job done by a qualified mechanic.

Problem 5: Engine is Overheating

Engine overheating is one of the most common problems you’ll face. Several reasons can cause it. Some frequent reasons are insufficient coolant, an overloaded engine, a faulty thermostat, or a loose fan belt.

Solution 1:

The coolant system must function properly to regulate the engine’s temperature. So, you must always keep the coolant system up to the proper level. Add more coolant following these two steps:

• Take off the coolant system’s cap.
• Fill the system up to the required level.

Solution 2:

In case of an engine overload, you have to reduce the voltage load by adjusting the wiring and connections.

Solution 3:

Check to see if your tractor’s thermostat is faulty. If it is, then replace it with a new one.

Solution 4:

If your fan belt is too loose, you need to tighten it. You can watch this video for detailed explanations.

John Deere 5210 Steering Problems

Problem	Reason	Solution
Steering wheel is rotating without friction	The steering cylinder is damaged	Replace the cylinder
	The steering pump is broken	Replace the pump
Steering wheel is hard to rotate	Power steering is worn	Replace power steering
	The ball joints are too tight	Loosen the joints
Steering isn’t working	There is air in the hydraulic system	Bleed out the air
	The oil level is too low	Add more oil

Problem 1: The steering Wheel is Rotating Without Friction

Your steering wheel can sometimes have excessive free play and rotate without any opposition. This makes the steering inaccurate and should be fixed soon.

It usually indicates either a damaged steering cylinder or a broken steering pump.

Solution 1:

The solution is pretty simple. You just have to install a new steering cylinder.

Solution 2:

This solution is also as simple as the previous solution. You need to replace the broken steering pump with a new one.

Problem 2: The Steering Wheel is Hard to Rotate

You might sometimes face difficulties trying to turn the steering wheel. This is a very common problem in John Deere tractors. In most cases, you just have tight ball joints. In other cases, you have a damaged power steering.

Solution 1:

If your power steering is too damaged or old to function, you must replace it with a new one.

Solution 2:

If the steering wheel’s ball joints are too tight, just use a wrench or a screwdriver to adjust the joints accordingly.

Problem 3: Steering isn’t Working

A malfunctioning steering is a serious issue as you can’t drive the tractor if it doesn’t go where it’s supposed to. This problem usually arises when there’s air in your hydraulic system or the hydraulic oil level is insufficient.

Solution 1:

If you suspect there’s air stuck inside your hydraulic system, follow these steps to bleed out your hydraulic:

• Check the power steering fluid by rotating the steering wheel a number of times.
• Pour some more fluid if the fluid level is low.
• Apply some penetrating oil on the bleed valve. Insert a long clear vinyl tubing on the valve.
• Keep the tubing’s opposite end on the drain container and start your engine.
• Open the valve just a little now.Keep rotating the steering wheel.
• Finally, close the valve and pour in more fluid. Continue repeating the steps until the fluid becomes completely free of any air.

Solution 2:

If your oil level is too low, the obvious solution is to add more oil to the tank till it reaches the right level.

John Deere 5210 Fuel Problems

Problem	Reason	Solution
Diesel engine isn’t rotating	The fuel type isn’t correct	Change the fuel
	Fuel pump timing isn’t adjusted correctly	Adjust the timing
Diesel motor isn’t starting	The starter speed isn’t fast enough	Change the speed
	The fuel pipes have contamination	Clean the pipes
Diesel engine has starting problems	The oil viscosity is not proper	Change oil type
	Battery has low voltage	Recharge the battery

Problem 1: Diesel Engine isn’t Rotating

If your diesel engine isn’t turning over or rotating, you won’t get enough engine power to drive the tractor. The wrong fuel type or incorrect fuel pump timing generally causes this problem.

Solution 1:

If the fuel type isn’t proper, the solution is obvious. You need to change the fuel and get the correct type of fuel according to your tractor.

Solution 2:

Adjusting the fuel pump timing is pretty simple. Follow these 3 steps:

• Open the fuel valve.
• Insert a rod inside the piston.
• Keep turning the crank until the rod reaches the required point.

Problem 2: The Diesel Motor isn’t Starting

If your diesel motor isn’t starting at all, you need to fix it as soon as possible. Or else you can’t use the tractor at all. There are usually two reasons behind your diesel motor not starting; a slow starter or contaminated fuel pipes.

Solution 1:

You can fix a slow starter by tightening loose connections using a wrench. If the connecting pieces are corroded, replace them with new ones.

Solution 2:

If you’re dealing with dirty or contaminated fuel lines, just flush them out by following these steps:

Necessary Tools: Wrench, drain container, fluid extraction pump, air compressor, and fresh replacement fuel.

• Take off the fuel caps.
• Put the drain container below the fuel tank.
• Open the pipe nuts at the bottom of the tank.
• When the tank is completely drained, clean remaining fuel and particles at the base using the extraction pump.
• Now, take off the fuel pipes and put the air compressor’s nozzle inside the hose.
• Blow air backward to clean the pipes.
• After they’re cleaned, put the pipes back in and tighten the nuts.
• Fill the tank up with fresh fuel and start the engine to bleed out the fuel system.

Problem 3: The Diesel Engine Has Starting Problems

Your tractor’s diesel engine might be hard to start or need a lot of cranking to start for two reasons. You either have the wrong type of oil or your tractor’s battery doesn’t have enough charge.

Solution 1:

You’ll start facing starting problems really soon if you’re using high-viscosity oil. So, to solve this issue, just check the oil type and change it with the correct type.

Solution 2:

Usually, if your battery is losing charge while running, the battery is going to die soon. With a dead battery, you’ll have to jump-start it to start your engine again. If the battery keeps losing charge, you’ll have to replace it. Here’s how to jump-start your tractor’s battery:

Necessary Tools: Jumper cables, and a charged battery.

• Put your low-charge and charged batteries side by side.
• Connect the positive jumper cables to the positive posts on both batteries.
• Now, connect the negative cable to the negative post on the assisting battery.
• Connect the other negative cable to the metal ground of the low-charge battery’s tractor.
• Start the tractor after waiting a few minutes.
• After completing the whole process, carefully remove the cables. Always disconnect the negative first and the positive later.

John Deere 5210 Transmission Problems

Problem	Reason	Solution
Transmission shift is difficult when the speed is low	The shifter lever assembly is damaged	Replace shifter lever

Problem 1: Transmission Shift is Difficult When the Speed is Low

If you’re facing hard shifting in transmission, it usually indicates cold fluid. In that case, shifting becomes normal after the fluid warms up. But it could indicate a worn or damaged shifter lever assembly if it doesn’t.

Solution: 

The solution is as simple as it sounds. Take out the bad shifter lever and install a new one.

John Deere 5210 Hydraulic Problems

Problem	Reason	Solution
Hydraulic is being drained too fast	The relief valve is defective	Set up the relief valve properly

Problem 1: Hydraulic is Being Drained too Fast

If your tractor is losing all its hydraulics within minutes of starting the engine, that is a serious problem.

In most cases, if you clean the hydraulic sump screen, it fixes the problem. But if it doesn’t, you probably have a defective relief valve.

Solution:

If the relief valve of your hydraulic system is faulty, you need to adjust the valve. Set up a relief valve in the following way:

• Locate the faulty valve.
• Take off the hydraulic hose that is beside the valve’s system side.
• Plug the hose and the valve with proper JIC caps to prevent fluid loss.
• Put a pressure gauge in between the pump and the valve. Use an adapter if your system doesn’t have a gauge port.
• Loosen the valve’s adjustment as much as possible.
• Start the engine and check the gauge. The reading on it should be near zero.
• Now, tighten the adjustment clockwise till the gauge reads the required value according to the tractor’s manual.
• After that, properly tighten the adjuster’s lock and turn the engine off.
• When the pressure bled off, take off the JIC caps and connect the hoses back.

FAQs

What is Considered a Lot of Hours on a John Deere Tractor?

Around 2000 hours is considered a lot on a John Deere tractor if you maintain it properly. John Deere tractors usually last 500 hours at the very least. These tractors can last you up to 30 years if you take good care of them.

What is the Most Sought After John Deere Tractor?

The John Deere 5105 tractor is the most sought-after John Deere tractor. It has 40 horsepower and a fuel tank of 60 liters. It is very popular among customers because of its great performance at an affordable price.

Which is the No 1 Tractor in the World?

Although John Deere is the best-selling brand in the US, Mahindra comes up at No 1 as the world’s best-selling tractor brand. Mahindra is well known for its top-notch customer service and for delivering what its customers ask for. Currently, they have over 500 dealer locations all over the US.

Conclusion

And that concludes everything about John Deere 5210 Problems. Hope you now know everything about the reasons behind the problems you might be facing and how to solve them.

Remember to take safety precautions when working with mechanical objects.

Reach out to us if you have any other questions. Good day!