The 5065e John Deere tractor is a fantastic all-around machine that, at first glance, might seem like it doesn’t pack much power. However, thanks to its 65hp engine and various comfort/usability upgrades, it has become the unit of choice for medium plots of land.
Generally speaking, it’s received good reviews from owners and is considered a solid machine that can handle itself well as a ‘do everything’ machine.
However, users have reported encountering several issues you should be aware of. So in this article, we will cover the most common problems with the 5065e and how you can fix them. And finally, give our take on whether this is a worthy purchase despite the common issues you might encounter.
The most common problems with the John Deere 5056e
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Not to be confused with the 5056m, the 5056e is powered by John Deere’s own PowerTech 3029, 3-cylinder engine. This 3-litre, supercharged, liquid-cooled diesel engine is going to be able to handle all but the most demanding of tasks.
That, combined with its vast attachments, makes it a fantastic ‘does all’ machine you can use for everything from farming to mowing large plots of land in challenging terrain.
But unfortunately, it does seem to encounter some electrical and hydraulic systems problems. Here’s a rundown of what those problems are as well as some suggested solutions on how to get them fixed so you can get back to work as soon as possible.
1. Wiring/electrical problems
While not a unique problem to the John Deere 5065e, you will have to maintain the electrical systems in almost any tractor/mower you buy. The 5065e utility tractor seems particularly prone to issues with defective sensors and faulty indicators.
Usually, the issue is not with sensors/indicators but rather the wiring systems connecting them to the machine. So the main thing to check is the power system and wiring behind them.
Using a multimeter, you should also all the connection points to see if any wires cannot supply power to their respective components and fix them accordingly. Be sure to look for any loose connections or signs of corrosion.
Once you have repaired all the loose/bad connection points, you should find everything is functioning as usual.
2. Battery issues
Some users have reported running into problems with their 5065e utility tractor suddenly running out of battery, even after its recently been charged.
There are two primary causes of this. The first is a bad connection that may have become loose or corroded, preventing the adequate supply of power to the machine.
In this scenario, we need to look at all connections to the battery. If any of them are corroded, they may need to be cleaned with a wire brush or repaired.
Once you are confident all the connection points are solid, if you are still encountering your battery running out of juice too fast, it may indicate an issue with the cells within the battery. Unfortunately, this is not something you can fix, and you will need to replace the battery.
3. The engine keeps stalling
It’s not unusual to experience the odd engine stall if you’re trying to use it in frigid weather after idling for a long time or when it’s under a hefty load and is due for service soon anyway. However, many users have experienced frequent stalling under even a light workload, indicating a more severe problem with the fuel tank and fuel filter.
If the fuel filter becomes clogged up with debris, it won’t be able to supply an adequate amount of air to the engine, throwing off that all-important fuel-to-air ratio and causing it to stall.
You can try to clean the air filter, which should restore everything to working order for a time, but eventually, they will need to be replaced, or these issues will come back.
Ideally, you should introduce cleaning/replacement of the filter into your regular maintenance routine.
4. Problems with the hydraulic system
Another issue that can occur on many John Deere tractors and is can generally be circumvented with a good maintenance routine. If you find that your hydraulic systems, such as the lifter, are struggling with heavier loads, it may indicate that the hydraulic fluid level is low and needs to be topped up.
This can be an easy thing to forget, which is why so many users will encounter this unexpectedly. Check the fluid reservoir and fill it up to the correct level.
If you have recently filled your fluid up and are still experiencing this issue, it may indicate a leak in the hydraulic system. You should check all the connection points for any breaches or leaks, which will cause your hydraulic fluid level to drop continuously.
Once that is fixed, just checking the fluid level and topping it off every time you service the machine will prevent this issue from occurring in the future.
5. Leaking issues
While we did mention previously to keep an eye on hydraulic fluid leaking problems, users have reported many leak-related issues all over the machine. Unfortunately, one of the downsides of the 5065e is that the valve connections and tubings are not that great, and various breaches will occur over time.
If you notice either leaking fuel, cooling fluid, or the aforementioned hydraulic fluid, you should stop the machine immediately and try to identify where the leak is coming from.Â
Once the breach has been identified within the fuel line, it can be repaired.
Unfortunately, you will have to keep an eye on this over time. As we can see from user reports, this is an ongoing issue with the 5065e compact utility tractor.
6. Clogged valves
Over time, the valves in the JD 5065e compact utility tractor can become clogged. Many users have reported needing to constantly clean them out, or the engine’s performance will noticeably decrease.
Of course, you can introduce valve cleaning into your regular maintenance schedule, which will help to circumvent the issue. However, you can also use a higher quality fuel to promote less buildup. Also, introducing a fuel stabilizer into your fuel tank should help prevent the valves from getting clogged up.
It’s not a complex problem to solve, but it is one you will notice if left unchecked for long periods.
7. Damaged or defective switches
Many switches on the JD 5065e are used to operate various mechanical functions. Users commonly experience one or more switches suddenly stopping working for no apparent reason.
The most common cause of this issue is dirt, grime, or debris building up in the connection points. This can prevent the switch from providing the electrical current to the relevant component.
Removing the switch, cleaning it thoroughly, and removing any noticeable buildup so it can provide a clear connection will circumvent this issue.
In rarer cases, the switch might fail entirely, so you should replace it with a new working one.
John Deere 5065e problems: are they a deal-breaker?
There is no denying that for the price point, this machine provides a lot of value and versatility, making it ideal for those with moderate areas of land where a smaller machine isn’t quite enough.
But with that being said, while there are no significant flaws with the machine itself, it does require a considerable amount of maintenance and upkeep to keep it in good shape and working order.
None of the problems you will run into on the machine are too challenging to fix, and we are confident the average user should be able to manage and take care of the 5065e easily. So providing you are happy to keep up with the maintenance requirements, we recommend this as a good purchase.
If you use the machine intermittently and cannot keep up with regular maintenance, you might find it causes too many minor nagging issues, making it troublesome to use. In that case, we suggest perhaps picking a slightly more robust, higher-end model requiring less maintenance.
Marvin is an expert in farming equipment with a strong background in agricultural engineering. He graduated from Kansas State College of Agriculture, where he received a degree in Agricultural Engineering and specialized in farm equipment design and maintenance.
