John Deere 3050?

[Joe S]

were going to go look at a 3050 is there anything special to watch out for?
good places to look for parts?
are solid ish cabs bad to find?

 

[gmc541]

Hydraulics Hydraulics Hydraulics

 

[Kevtherev]

Watch the brakes haven't been run down
Bits in oil
Check the head has been done if it's high ish hours as they can drop valves.
Hi lo unit seals can go too.
@Boothy will tell you

 

[smcapstick]

Steer, then let go of the wheel as you move - if the steering wheel keeps going, you have an orbital unit to clean.

4wd drop box seals seem to be common but are an easy swap.

 

[Wilkster]

Drop the arms to the floor, pull the lever back to lift them & then turn the steering wheel as the arms are coming up - if they judder (or stop altogether) then the hydraulic pumps are probably on their way out.

 

[Joe S]

@davieh3350 u got anything useful to add?

 

[davieh3350]

There's the trick about putting the hi/lo shift into low and pulling the stop so the revs drop low, it should stay in low till after the engine has stopped.

Try putting it in and out of gear when it's running, if it grates like hell then it could need the gearbox bearings preload adjusted or replaced.

when I got mine (bought without seeing it and with assurances from the biggest j.d dealer in Scotland... That it was a grand machine) I couldn't get it in gear without a lot of grinding and swearing, the engines thrust bearings had dropped out and the fly wheel was burying itself into the block. I've had the whole thing apart and taken a couple of bean cans worth of cast iron paste out of the back end, new seals and worn plates replaced, bearings, low pressure pump replaced, main pump overhauled, list goes on... But I never got the bearings in the gearbox set right due to my inexperience and it still grates a bit unless it's ticking over,
will be back into it later in the winter.

Check the front axel swivel pins aren't eating their way through the carrier casting.

Try the electrics, if there is a few things not working drive him down on the price, but it's quite an easy fix, the connectors in the dash printed circuit board are probably needing re soldered.

Smoke from the engine... Oil or water mixed together...

Tyre wear...

Cab rust...

Worn linkage and puh...

Brakes binding could be cast iron paste building up in the bottom of the brake cylinders not letting them back...

Is the seat still bouncy...

Steering with a mind of it's own...

Does the radio work...

General wear and tear..


I can get the 2650 in to the major sections... Engine, cab, front axle, wheels,front axel carrier, mid section of gearbox, trumpets and main gearbox all separated and on the workshop floor in one long summers day by myself (388 days to put back together....) they are quite good to work on and plenty spares available (and advice) from nick young.

How much is it going for?

 

[John 1594]

Another tip, when putting the power on and letting off, or on the overrun going downhill....if the 1-4 gearlever jumps forwards in its gate it means the gearbox selectors are getting worn

a chattering sound from the front end when idling is usually a sign the rubber coupling in the hyd pump drive is getting worn out

if the diff lock is the push and screw type, make sure it works, as a few ive driven have been buggered due to people not bothering to disengage them while turning

40K, high lift but without the cumbersome later type steps would be my choice....if only it didnt have a cab with a hoofing great bar right down the middle of the windscreen

 

[Mursal]

Back in the day, that bar was supposed to line up with the exhaust pipe ..........

Good tractor in their day, but if you buy a rough one, it could be a headache in the shed and on the pocket.

 

[biggles]

There's the trick about putting the hi/lo shift into low and pulling the stop so the revs drop low, it should stay in low till after the engine has stopped.

Try putting it in and out of gear when it's running, if it grates like hell then it could need the gearbox bearings preload adjusted or replaced.

when I got mine (bought without seeing it and with assurances from the biggest j.d dealer in Scotland... That it was a grand machine) I couldn't get it in gear without a lot of grinding and swearing, the engines thrust bearings had dropped out and the fly wheel was burying itself into the block. I've had the whole thing apart and taken a couple of bean cans worth of cast iron paste out of the back end, new seals and worn plates replaced, bearings, low pressure pump replaced, main pump overhauled, list goes on... But I never got the bearings in the gearbox set right due to my inexperience and it still grates a bit unless it's ticking over,
will be back into it later in the winter.

Check the front axel swivel pins aren't eating their way through the carrier casting.

Try the electrics, if there is a few things not working drive him down on the price, but it's quite an easy fix, the connectors in the dash printed circuit board are probably needing re soldered.

Smoke from the engine... Oil or water mixed together...

Tyre wear...

Cab rust...

Worn linkage and puh...

Brakes binding could be cast iron paste building up in the bottom of the brake cylinders not letting them back...

Is the seat still bouncy...

Steering with a mind of it's own...

Does the radio work...

General wear and tear..


I can get the 2650 in to the major sections... Engine, cab, front axle, wheels,front axel carrier, mid section of gearbox, trumpets and main gearbox all separated and on the workshop floor in one long summers day by myself (388 days to put back together....) they are quite good to work on and plenty spares available (and advice) from nick young.


How much is it going for?

Ive got a 3350 that grates if trying to engage gear at anything other than tick over, do you think this will be the gearbox bearings as you describe? what is the cure for this, is it an easy fix? cheers

 

[Mursal]

I would have thought to much clearance in the clutch, or its not breaking properly.
Before starting into the gearbox?

 

[John 1594]

Back in the day, that bar was supposed to line up with the exhaust pipe ..........

Good tractor in their day, but if you buy a rough one, it could be a headache in the shed and on the pocket.

It may do for some, for me it doesnt

something to do with a lower back injury i sustained when i wrote an astra van off by putting it upside down in a ditch, ever since then ive always leant slightly to the right, from the base of my spine upwards. Not by much, but enough to mean when drilling to the center of the bonnet, i spent 2 years thinking the tractor was crabbing while on the drill...when it was how i was sitting in the seat

have since moved the seat 2" to the left, now it feels like im sitting where i should be

 

[davieh3350]

Ive got a 3350 that grates if trying to engage gear at anything other than tick over, do you think this will be the gearbox bearings as you describe? what is the cure for this, is it an easy fix? cheers

Try adjusting the clutch as @Mursal says first.
Mine had to come apart so that I could fix the worst bits so that I could actually drive it to see what was needing fixed!

I love working on them now, they are simple and come apart and go back together quite easily.

Just remember to refit an oil seal in the low pressure pump if you decide that the pump is serviceable after you've stripped it.....

 

[biggles]

How do you adjust the clutch on these, had it for years and never been done so it might be something simple like that.

 

[davieh3350]

How do you adjust the clutch on these, had it for years and never been done so it might be something simple like that.

There's a threaded rod at the master cylinder, screw it out to take up the slack. Try bleeding the system too, the bleed nipple is beside the master cylinder.

 

[Joe S]

Thanks everyone big help tractor has been sold before we got to it!still looking though so it's all helpful! It would have been a project ruff ish they were only wanting 4K

 

[smcapstick]

Thanks everyone big help tractor has been sold before we got to it!still looking though so it's all helpful! It would have been a project ruff ish they were only wanting 4K

£4,000?

No need to ask what to look for - the whole tractor is the answer!

 

[Selectamatic]

It may do for some, for me it doesnt

something to do with a lower back injury i sustained when i wrote an astra van off by putting it upside down in a ditch, ever since then ive always leant slightly to the right, from the base of my spine upwards. Not by much, but enough to mean when drilling to the center of the bonnet, i spent 2 years thinking the tractor was crabbing while on the drill...when it was how i was sitting in the seat

have since moved the seat 2" to the left, now it feels like im sitting where i should be

Nothing to do with your accident, that will be down to the size of that wallet your carrying in your arse pocket!!

 

[Joe S]

£4,000?

No need to ask what to look for - the whole tractor is the answer!

Aye u may have a point!we are looking for a project though we like them! Chance of it ever doing proper work is slim! Just ploughing and transport...a toy really[emoji23]

 

[smcapstick]

Aye u may have a point!we are looking for a project though we like them! Chance of it ever doing proper work is slim! Just ploughing and transport...a toy really[emoji23]

It's a buyer's market for 'projects'. Just go on to eBay, select 'Tractors', select 'Buy It Now' and choose 'Price - lowest first'.

You'll find all the projects you'll ever need!