Propulsion engines
John Deere marine engine service and survey
John Deere marine diesels have a reputation for being straightforward and hard to kill, which is well earned. They still need cooling system attention, injection service and valve adjustment on schedule, and that is where most of the faults I see on them originate.
John Deere on this coast
Deere marine power appears in trawlers, working boats and repowered hulls locally, valued for parts availability and mechanical simplicity.
What I see most on these engines
Cooling circuit maintenance
Raw water circuits foul on the same schedule as any other marine diesel, regardless of how hard wearing the engine is.
Valve clearance
A published interval that gets skipped, and skipping it costs compression and economy over time.
Fuel filtration
Clean dry fuel is what keeps these engines as reliable as their reputation suggests.
Mechanically simple marine diesels such as John Deere still require raw water cooling service, fuel filtration maintenance and scheduled valve clearance adjustment, and neglecting these accounts for the majority of faults on otherwise durable engines.
Factory certification is held with Volvo Penta. Work on other makes draws on 20 years of independent marine diesel experience rather than a manufacturer programme, and I will say so plainly if a job belongs with a dealer.
Services for John Deere owners
Mechanical Marine Surveys
A documented condition report on your propulsion engines and generator, from visual inspection through sea trial.
Diesel Repair
Engine, transmission and generator service on marine diesels, from routine maintenance through a complete repower.
Engine Diagnostics
Find the actual cause before parts get bought, using engine management data, live readings and a borescope.
Other propulsion makes
Volvo Penta
I spent six years at a Volvo Penta dealer and hold Volvo certification, and I began performing marine diesel e...
Caterpillar
Caterpillar marine diesels power a large share of the sportfish and motor yacht fleet on this coast, and they ...
Cummins
Cummins marine diesels are widespread in this region across sportfish, trawler and cruiser installations. I se...
John Deere: common questions
Do you service John Deere marine engines?
Yes. Over 20 years in marine diesel I have worked across effectively every make of marine engine found on this coast, including John Deere. Call with the model and hours and I will tell you honestly whether it is a job I should take or one better sent to a dealer.
Can you survey a boat with John Deere engines before I buy it?
Yes. A mechanical marine survey covers compression on every cylinder, engine management data, a sea trial under load and laboratory fluid analysis, regardless of engine make.
Do you carry parts for this brand?
Common service parts for the engines I see most often, yes. Model specific components are ordered once the fault is confirmed, which avoids paying for parts that turn out not to be the problem.
Tell me what the engine is doing
Describe the symptom on the phone and most of the time the problem is narrowed before I arrive. Surveys are booked around your sea trial date.