Kohler KT-735 issue when mowing.

Hi folks!

I have a new Toro MX5050 with the Kohler KT735 24hp engine. This unit is brand new. I Will try to keep this short.

The mower starts up fine (Its the chokeless model) and can drive it around with no issues.

so when I go to mow starts off fine but then within 2-5 min it all the sudden starts spuddering and shooting out black smoke. Almost as if the choke was set on, but since this is a chokeless system I am not sure what to think.

It happens at random times during the mow, more when it detects a load on it such as going up a small hill or nice patch of fresh grass.

The only way to get it to stop is to either back off the throttle a bit (seems to me you shouldnt have to do this since it says to use it with throttle all the way up) or disengage the blades for a bit, let it catch its breath and then continue on.

Can someone help me diagnose this because it happens a lot and dont want to hurt the machine if something is wrong.

Thanks!
-VooDoo_B

Mower running rich? Never settles into smooth operation

We were given a cheap push mower when my wife and I moved into our house. It didn't run, and supposedly only ran a handful of times before dying. I decided to get a Honda and see if my brother and I could get it running so he could have it as a backup mower at his house.

So far he has:

replaced and gapped the spark plug
re set the spacing on the ignition coil
replaced the diaphragm/gasket on the carb
replaced the air filter
ran a couple tanks of fuel through it to clear of old gas


It's a 098902-1110 b1 motor

FEBDA881-78D7-42F8-AF28-FE2AD7EE8C18.jpg

Any ideas?

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Purchased my first Zero turn

I was needing a new mower for 1 acre lot. I have never been on a zero turn before. I was set on a Scag Freedom Z cause I mostly see Scags being used commercially in my area. I went to the tractor store sat on the Scag, great seat armrest etc. store was closed though. ( Four Brothers )

Went back when they were open and spoke to a salesman. Told him my needs and asked him what he advised I try. He put me on a Snapper Pro s125xt and said he didnt have one in stock but the Snapper Pro s50xt was almost the same mower and would be in stock today or tomorrow. He also showed me a Farris is600z told me it was the same mower as the Snapper just had Suspension. He said he would sell me a Scag if thats all I would take but recommended the Snapper or Farris. I got literature on some mowers and went home to do some homework (hours of reading on this forum). The Following mowers were in the running all 48 inch cut.

Snapper Pro S50XT Kawi FX, 3100 trans, icd velocity style deck, dual tanks, greasable spindle, no ROPS, $4999

Ferris IS600Z Kawi FS, 3400 trans, icd velocity style deck, larger tires, suspension, greasable spindle, ROPS $4499

Scag Freedom Z Kawi FR, 2800 trans, box style deck, sealed bearings, ROPS $4999

Kubota Kommander Kohler, 3100 trans, box style deck, sealed bearings, ROPS $4999

Bad Boy ZT Elite Kohler, 3100 trans, box style deck, sealed bearings, No ROPS $4999

Went to Kubota dealer, really liked the look of the kommander but really wanted a Kawasaki due to read ing alot of great things about them.Went back to the original dealer and the Snapper Pro was in stock. What a great mower I was ready to pull the trigger when the salesman told me they just opened a SALE on the mowers making the Ferris $5045 and the Snapper Pro $4750.
So I test drove both of them. What a difference the suspension and the 3400 transaxles made, it was faster and way smoother. I thought it over and pulled the trigger on the Ferris IS600Z due the ride and it just seemed beefier due to the bigger tires and ROPS. The very close second choice was the Snapper Pro. It was a tuff decision due the FX Kawi on the Snapper Pro. Did some homework and the only difference between the FX and FS is the upgraded air filtration unit on the FX along with the metal casing. The dealer even threw in some armrests for free.
Shopping for Zero turns is fun. Just wanted to share my experience.

Craftsman 917.377151 won't start

I have a Craftsman 917.377151 that will not start. I can spray carb cleaner in the carb and it will run for maybe 2 seconds then die again. I put a carb kit in it last year. My stepson blew the carb out again a few weeks ago. It ran okay, although a little sluggish, for mowing my yard once, a week or so ago. It will not start again. It is the same problem as before my stepson blew out the carb. I use my riding mower mostly and use this push mower for getting close to the house, etc.

My stepson suggested I drill a very small hole in the gas cap to help the vacuum but that did not do any good either.

I know that it is a carb problem. Does anyone have any ideas what I should try next?

Thanks!

22 hp Briggs Intek melted voltage regulator?

voltage regulator melted and smoked while trying to start. Just acquired this Yardman 22hp mower. Only Electric issue I can spot is that seat switch connector is MIA

Mower won't go in 1st or 2nd gear

I have a 2004 MTD riding mower that runs great but won't go in 1st or 2nd gear. I replace the belt just about a week ago. 3rd, 4th, 5th gear runs great but not 1st and 2nd. I tried to adjust it but I can't figure out how to. I have a manual for it, but it doesn't show you much. Please Help!!!

Jared

Pull start rope

I have an older Briggs 130202 5HP engine and after it is started the starter rope spits out of the recoiler and I have a loud squeal noise heard. It was fine when I put the rototiller away last year. Any suggestions?

22 hp briggs and stratten ranch king lawn mower runs on 1 cylinder only

cleaned carb new fuel lines new mags both plugs firing. only runs on one cylinder

need fuel tank for small engine mower model 20107 or suggestion on how to seal seam?

The gas receptacle on the mower is opening at a seam . I don't see a fuel tank on the internet toro parts lists so in the alternative does anyone know what I could use to reseal the seam? the tank seems to be made of a plastic like substance. Usually I turn to JB weld for repairs but I don't know if it will bond with plastic. Any help with finding a tank or repair solution? Thanks for any insights.
Kspence

craftman dlt3000

i have a craftsman dlt 3000 about 9 years old.
changed oil, fuel filter and spark plug brand new battery this is what i am getting trying to start.
mower will not start it just clicks.

298 hrs On Troybilt Bronco How far will it go?

I brought it used last May in fairly decent shape I use it to cut 10 yards season.

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Repairs yardbug ignition

After checking the ignition with a digital multimeter I found it was no good so I ordered a new one, problem is I cant figure out how to remove the old ignition on this yardbug. I removed the key and the rubber cap to find an oblong kind of nut but it doesnt appear to be a threaded nut so Im not sure how to remove it. I would sure appreciate it if someone could help with this , theres not a whole lot of help on the internet.

rzt50 going problems need help please

Im new here an this is my first zero turn. i just bought it today an when mowing i noticed that the right side didn't pull as hard as the left side. Does good on flat but just a slight down grade it don't seem to pull very good any suggestions. Thank You

2003 castelgarden twin cut plus constant alarm, wanting wiring diagram

Hi all.

As the title suggests. My Castelgarden ride on mower is sounding a continuos audible alarm. Not the intermitant alarm which indicates that the grass catcher is full. The warning alarm sounds from the moment I turn on the ignition and only stop when I shut it off. None of the warning lights (battery, grass catcher, oil) are on and everything is functioning normal, engine runs fine, blades engage and drives perfect. If more detail is needed, let me know.
Tested all microswitches and all are working fine. I really need a wiring diagram or 2003 service manual.
Thanks in advance

Engine Kick back when starting

When starting i get a bad kick back from pull starting GX200 what causes this?

new Brit member

Hi all I'm Rich an Ex-pat Brit living in France and i'm just looking around hoping to pick up some advice

Have you ever used a Hunter MP1000/2000/3000 nozzle in a Toro popup ?

At a plumbing store the salesperson demo'd these Hunter nozzles which screw into a Toro 6" pop-up. Supposedly they send out rotating streams of water for better coverage, less water waste (less misting), and reduced GPM. They were about $8 each.

Very tempting.

Anyone use them ? Reports ?


LINK -------> MP Rotator | Hunter Industries

1998 MTD Yard Man HN 7180

Hi everyone,
Does anybody out there own a similar lawn tractor and can advise me on the PTO clutch area please ?. The shaft on the right of my photo is a puzzle - is it the right part and what is its purpose? Presently it is angled to the front of my machine and is not in contact with anything. The top of the PTO clutch pictured, which has the wiring socket, rotates until it strikes a pulley - something is amiss here.

Many thanks for your help - a photo of your machine's PTO clutch area would be brilliant.

020.jpg

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JD 185 No Start

Hey guys I've got a JD 185 and have had it for almost 25 years. It started right up this spring so I moved it about 10 feet and changed the oil, cleaned the filter, and sharpened the blades. Then when I went to start it.....nothing. The dash nor the head lights will light up. When I put a screw driver and cross the starter it will jump whirl but thats it. I bought a new ignition but did not help. I checked the fuses and they seem to be good. Any ideas? Thanks.

Converting Self-Propel to Push, as simple as it seems?

Folks,
I am wanting to aquire an older Snapper HIVAC for a renovation project. Once I have the mower I am planning to remove the self-propel to make it a push mower. Is this as simple as it sounds? Just remove drive train, lever, cable, etc(anything related to the propel feature) so it will operate as a push mower. I will replace the engine with a new honda as well with the mechanical throttle.

thanks for your help/advice! I will of course post the project with plenty of pics once it's going :thumbsup:

I need a B&S (3x2) Wire Connector for a Inteck 21 HP Engine

I re-power my old Snapper with a Intek and need a connector for the Mower to plug into the engine..
Anyone have any ideas where I can find one without buying a whole wire harness?

2" governor spring

Hey guys, there is a spring on the governor that attaches to one of the holes on the control panel on this 17 hp Kawasaki FH500V - ES10 engine ... probably goes to the throttle linkage but I'm not certain and the cell phone pics I took of it a few months ago don't show it. Anyone know which hole the north end of this spring attaches to?

Thanks everybody - Pop

Lawn rolling

I bought a smaller roller last fall as I move from the country to town and did not need such a huge roller as I had. Question I have is how much is too much weight for the roller. The roller I have, you just add water for weight. Do I need to add more weight or is this enough? I have read that rolling is not good for lawn but I like to roll to get rid of thr frost bumps so when the kids play they do not roll an ankle. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Another local power equipment business shuts down

I stopped to buy some Stihl oil and was shocked to see their showroom almost empty, not a good sign in April and no Stihl oil!
I have known the owner/operator for many years and having been a mech and service manager at several businesses over the years, I have chatted "shop talk" with him.
About 7 years ago I carefully brought up the subject of service turnaround time with him and he firmly assured me that their turnaround time was in line with other local servicing dealers, of course I knew better and I did this after my neighbor asked me if a 12 week service turnaround on a machine was normal.
His long time service manager was crass and nasty with many folk and foul language was his norm regardless of the customer, not the attributes of a good service manager by any means.
Other local power equipment dealers are busy and thriving!! Life goes on!!
Mad Mackie in CT:smile::biggrin::laughing:

Engine runs rough and backfires under throttle

Hi. My Ryobi mower (Kohler Courage 19 hp) runs really rough and sputters/backfires hard under load. First season doing this. Cleaned the carb 2x, new air filter, plug, and the gas is new. Fuel solenoid seems fine. Fuel supply seems fine. What's weird is I thought I had the problem fixed (after the 2nd carb cleaning) but during mowing, after about 30 minutes of use, I turned a corner under normal mowing conditions and the problem immediately returned as if a switch had been thrown. Now the engine also runs rough/sputters/surges under all throttle settings. I get a little oil in the exhaust at startup (been that way for a couple seasons). Other than that, the mower has runs fine for 5+ years. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Kohler sv720s 23 hp air filter (HELP)

I have bought a replacement air filter from 3 different dealers now and none of them fit. They are all too tall and a little too thick to the point neither the wire holder or the plastic lid will close. The part number it claims it calls for is 32-083-03-S and that is what I have bought. I threw the old one away already so I can't compare.

Can someone please help me find the correct air filter.

2011 ltx 1042 manual pto lever

What are the steps for replacing the lever mentioned here. After removing the bearings, it looks almost impossible to remove the lever through the space available and obstructions from the deck lift mechanism behind it. Any ideas or is this strictly a professional service job?

Has anyone here tried Aqua Smart on an established lawn ? Comments ?

Aquasmart PRO

We have a water shortage here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Will this really help ? 50 lbs. = $50.

PROPANE

How many do or have run propane in their mowers ?

Husqvarna yth1542xp

The engine instantly stops when I engage the electric clutch. I think a bearing must be frozen. Does anyone have a suggestion. The mower has not been used for two years but was covered with a tarp. The engine runs perfectly prior to engaging the mower blades switch.

Pavers

How do you guys go about pricing these kinds of jobs? Ive got a small walkway im doing. Ive done it before, just have no idea what i should be charging. Thanks for any info!

pto

any idea why my pto wont engage to run the blades on my 145lt cubcadet tractor. it ran for about 1minute then quit and wont run again I think it is a 2006 tractor hydrostatic driven

Homelite Backpacker II - Runs Erratically

I am repairing a Homelite Backpacker II leaf blower. The blower has a Walbro WYC-6 carburetor. I rebuilt the carburetor and replaced the primer bulb, fuel lines and fuel filter. The blower then ran, but the throttle response was sluggish. The blower shut off unexpectedly when at idle, and was very hard to restart. After this occurred multiple times, I suspected that the mixture was too rich. So I got the blower running and removed the air filter. The throttle response improved. Unfortunately, the carb has no mixture screws, so I couldn't adjust it. About this time, the blower refused to start at all and blew fuel out of the air intake when I turned the engine over. I took off the muffler and replaced it because it was full of carbon, but the carburetor still would not perform.

I looked up the cost of a replacement carburetor. It was close to $50, much more than I wanted to pay. So I installed the Zama C1U-W18 carburetor from a Weed Eater FL20 string trimmer. The blower started and ran, but it still shuts off unexpectedly.

I am not sure if the Zama carburetor is working correctly. A new one is $13, should I get it?

Here are some facts that might be useful:

1. The blower will not run with its Walbro carburetor.
2. The blower runs with the Zama carburetor, but it still shuts off unexpectedly.
3. The replacement muffler is used, but it doesn't look clogged inside like the original.
4. I tried replacing the ignition coil (with another used one,) but it didn't make a difference.
5. When the blower won't start, it does have spark.
6. The timing is not incorrect.
7. I thought that the pulse signal from the engine (that operates the fuel pump) might be entering the carburetor throat and blowing the fuel out the air intake, but all of the intake gaskets are in good condition and are not torn.

In case you were wondering, the used muffler and ignition coil are from a Homelite Yard Broom handheld leaf blower with the same engine. I have most of the parts from this blower (excluding the carburetor,) and can use them as necessary.

Thanks!

Piston Hitting Spark Plug

I have a 2000 John Deere 425 that I just purchased with a Kawasaki liquid cooled 20HP FD620D engine and I pulled the plugs to check them and the plug on cylinder 2 was smashed down and a indent on the piston. Cylinder 1 piston has slight contact with piston. BPR4ES factory gap is .030 and cylinder 2 plug was .005 and cylinder 1 was .016. Valves were out of lash. Cylinder 2 Exh was at a .015 Intake was .025(correct) Cylinder 1 Exh .025 (correct) Intake .008. Would this cause piston to hit spark plug? Rods look slightly and I mean real slight bend, nothing even really noticeable. What is the problem??

valve/push rod question

I have a 17.5 hp overhead valve engine that was not running well. I removed the rocker cover and discovered the push rod on the bottom valve had broken off. I replaced the push rod, but when I turn the motor the top valve moves in and out but there is no movement from the bottom valve. Is this an indication of a stuck valve and if so is there an easy solution? Also, how can I tell if the bottom valve is the intake or the exhaust valve? Thanks for your help!

Engine engine dies after a few minutes

I have a John Deere X324 with a 675 cc Kawasaki engine that runs for a few minutes then dies. I can hold the choke and get it to run a little. I have spark in both cylinders. The gas is new with no ethanol and has Sta-Bil in it. It does not smell like it's flooded. This just started. After it cools, it runs fine for a few more minutes. The engine was manufactured in 2009. Any ideas?

mtd 32 inch cut lawn tractor

engine runs fine until i engage pto--then the engine starts to miss and sputter and die. tractor runs fine if i do not try to engage the pto-----------help need to cut the lawn

Repairs riding mower

I have craftsman riding mower GT5000. after u start it while releasing clutch pedal it will die. also after you start it with clutch pedal still depressed if u pull out button to engage blades it will die. HELP!!

Electrical-HELP Please

I have a Craftsman Lawn Tractor that will not start. There is no electrical response at all. When I turn the key the head lights don't even come on. Took the battery, had it checked and was told it was fine. So now what?

Nevermind! Think I got it, just had to open my eyes a little more and take a better look at the fuse!

Starter motor

Hello,I'm new to the forum and hoping for some guidance. I have a 2006 Troybilt Super Bronco with a Kohler Courage SV590 engine. I began mowing yesterday, the mower started fine, ran well for about 10 minutes, the engine then began to pop and ran as if it was " over choked " ... I checked .. it was not, the engine also appeared to lose power.
After shutting the motor off I find now that the starter motor will not spin the engine, only if I remove the spark plug will the starter motor turn the engine over ???.Do I need a new starter,or is there something else going on ... relative to the engine running badly after initial start up ?.

Thank you so much for any and all assistance.

Britfellow.

electrical trouble?

i've got a craftsman 42" mower(model 917.273764). it's just started to cut off when a load is put on it. the engine starts and runs great, it will idle and rev up like normal, but when you try to move it or engage the mower blades, it dies until you push in the clutch or disengage the blades, the the engine picks back up and runs normally. i'm wondering if one of the safety switches could be bad. any ideas? thanks in advance for any help.

Engine my zero turn rzt 50 need to change starter does anyone know if this process

my zero turn cub cadet rzt 50 need to change starter how hard is this process

Blades yardman 38 cut

engin runs fine until i engage pto--then it starts to sputter and die---help. ran fine all winter with snow blade

Help! I broke my husband's mower!!

Murray 42" deck Model # 13AM77LS058
I've never used a riding mower before and wanted to hel!p while he's working so much overtime!
Left blades(driver's side) are stuck down. Started mowing and well I kinda panicked when I came across
an area of rock in the ground. I meant to lift blades.....lowered by accident to lowest setting.
I spent hours putting belt back on (before I realized blade issue).
When I got belt on it started right up, but when I engage blades it dies.
Only left side is hanging down to ground...no matter what position I put
lever in. I've researched a bit and think it's a spindle problem.
So, how do I know what all to buy? Spindle with bearings in it, shaft,
Pulley, belt??

LT1000 will not crank after running into a rock

We have a Craftsman lawn mower LT1000 20HP model 917.271920. It had been running and cutting great.

The operator was riding the mower through a gate from the back yard to behind the fence when he ran into a big flat rock that was sometimes used to hold the gate open.

As he recalls, the blade was not engaged, and only the outside of the deck hit the rock. The blades look fine. However, the engine shut down immediately, and we have not been able to start it again.

When we turn the key, we just hear and feel a single loud thunk -- not just a click. With the transmission engaged (via rod in the rear), we feel the thunk under the hood and under the seat; when disengaged, only under the hood. The engine does not crank.

We tried to jump with a battery booster, but still only the single thunk.

The following sums up what we know:

Battery is new and has well over 12V
We also see 12V at the solenoid and at the starter
Cable connections look good
The fuse by the solenoid is good
We jumped the seat switch to make sure it was not the issue
The mower deck moves freely up and down
The mower freewheels, we can push it around

What would you suggest we check next? Thanks in advance!

Hello from Kansas

Just signed up to the forum. I had to replace my old lawn tractor and did a lot of research using this and other forums. I'm getting a new Gravely ZT HD 60. I'll get it Saturday and will post my impressions after using it a bit. I hope the Kohler engine is a good choice as a lot of machines also come with Kawasaki engines. I've heard a lot of opinions both ways but the local guys that work on them like the Kohler 7000 series.

Thanks for the great info on here! :smile:

Hello from South Carolina!

Hello all. I'm a retired Air Force aircraft mechanic who now gets to tinker with small engines when I find them for cheap or free. Right now I have a Husqvarna 48" riding mower with the 24HP Kohler V-Twin. A little bit of overkill for my less than 1 acre of grass but it's a lot easier on my broken back than a push mower. The back is the reason I want to switch over to small engines. Not nearly as much heavy lifting compared to a Rolls Royce turboprop! I hope to find some good information on this forum to help me with any projects I may encounter.

Briggs 550E Series won't stay running

Hello everyone, new guy to the forum. I just picked up, for pretty much nothing, a Murray push mower with the Briggs & Stratton 550E series engine. I got it for nothing because the previous owner couldn't get it to start after being stored for the winter. So I went ahead and drained the oil and gas, cleaned the carburetor, put everything back together with fresh oil and gas, new spark plug, tried to start...nothing. Shot some starting fluid down the carb and it fired up and died, so I have spark. The carb isn't clogged because the compressed air goes through it like nobody's business. However....the primer bulb is doing absolutely nothing. The bulb itself is not cracked or rotted, but I did find a nipple right next to the main fuel line that appears to be part of the primer system. No hose connected to it and I can't seem to find where the hose would connect to. Any help would be great because I think fixing the primer system and being able to properly prime the carb would help me figure this thing out.

What paint to use for steel deck honda mower (HRT216)

Need to touch up the deck in a few spots and would like to get as close to factory color as possible. Anyone have suggestions for spray paint from HD, Lowes or Wally World that get close to the factory color?

Sears mower 502.256210 mower belt keeps coming off

I changed the belt on the mower deck and now it keeps slipping off the pulleys when the mower is lower. Any ideas as to what to do?

Replacing drive belt

I have a Wheel Horse 15 - 38 sn 9900301. What is require to replace the drive belt? Also what type lub is used in the hydrostatic transmission?

Collective wisdom a best seller

This forum reveals knowlege that would create a best seller paperback, even in this nation of throw away stuff. If one of you could produce it I will buy it and eventually you could retire in luxury off the proceeds. :laughing:

No Bad Boy?

in "Equipment by Brand" :thumbdown:

Grasshopper tires

Hi,
I have Titan 21x11.00-10nhs tires on a 928 D grasshopper with a 72 inch deck. I need to replace these tires. dose anyone have a good resources to recommend.My local prices are over 160 per tire.

Thanks

Repairs Honda Parts Reasonably Priced

Honda Power Equipment OEM Parts, CyclePartsNation Honda Parts Nation

old Mississippi mechanic

Hello everyone, been spinning a wrench for at least 40 yrs now. Automobiles. aircraft, motorcycles, ATV, welding and fabrication and now for the past years , small engine. You know you have to be part crazy to do this stuff all day. Just wanted to say HELLO.

Repair

Pulling 26HP Kohler engine off frame. How do you get pulley off shaft that is above electric clutch. Don't see a locking screw & I don't have a puller. Can I get this off without a puller? Thanks

self propelled mower

looking to buy a self propelled mower....doesn't have to be new...wondering what would be some of the better ones out there? Would be used a lot on steeper banks back problems are forcing me to look for an easier way to mow the banks

Common decks

Does anyone know if the Craftsman 42" zero turn and the Troy Bilt Mustang 40 use the same deck?

Back in the game

Howdy everyone I have been living in Mexico for 5 years and have decided to come back to the USA and have at the mowing business once again. Blue Skies Dave Verner

Repairs How to repair or adjust my Honda lawn mower (propel lever) ?

This might be simple. On this Honda HRR2167VKA there's a central handle which when pushed downward propels the unit forward. Recently the lever handle has to be pushed much further in order to propel the unit, so far that it becomes perpendicular to the ground. Did the cable stretch ? Did the handle unit slip on the bar?

What to do to that it need not be depressed so much to operate ?

Thanks !

Craftsman Lown Mower 24 hp Briggs Stratton Engine, Model 917.288560

When engine runs, it surges in low and high rpm. We cleaned the carburetor, the fuel filter and set the valves. It starts up very easily but still surges a little and appears to be running lean. I do not want to cut the lawn for fear of running it hot and causing an overheat. Thank you for your help. MaryAnn and Frank

John Deere ltr180

i bought my mower in 2002. I had long wanted a John Deere because of their reputation for reliability. After years of repairs and breakdowns and jams of the grass catcher, I am ready to replace my machine with one I can depend on. I am now thinking about a Simplicity. Hopefully that will be a better decision than the John Deere was.

LT300 Briggs & stratton 20hp runs ruff flooding out

My B&S starts but runs ruff, won't run wide open, floods out, pinch off fuel line it will smooth out. When running at idle speed it surges.

MTD push mower starts then stalls

The other day my kid wanted to surprise me and do the first mow of the season before I got home. Problem- the mower had not yet been filled with oil. He ran it until it died out and wouldn't start. This is an MTD mower with a B&S 300 series motor. (MTD 11-020B029)

I came home and didn't realize the oil thing immediately. I cleaned the air filter and cleaned the carb and spark plug, and then finally checked/added oil. After all this I am able to get the mower to start but it will immediately stall out.

If I do nothing I get one start/stall and that's it. BUT if I turn the blade a rotation or 2 it will always start up on a single pull time and time again. It seems that the rotation of the blade is related to the stall.

When rotating there is a spot that binds a bit (nothing grinding just not smooth movement) and at there is a quiet audible honk or forcing of air. I will add that it's not every time the binding occurs, sometimes I get a couple smooth turns.

Could anyone tell me any way to troubleshoot this? Or is there a high likelihood that some serious damage was done running with no oil like a bend rod or something else.

Thanks

Murry Hydrostatic model 42910X92A 14.5 hp Swapped to 19.5 Horse Briggs Model 42E707

Hi! I have the above mentioned Murry Hydro model 42910x92a. It had a bad 14.5hp Briggs & Stratton.

I swapped bad engine out with a 19.5 HP Briggs & Stratton that was removed from a Craftsman T10000 series mower.

19.5hp has 3 wires. one by itself coming from coil and the other 2 wires together in a white pulg in coming from in under flywheel

and i have no idea what these wires are for.

I have gotten it to crank and have spark at both plugs but cranking is slow and will not fire over.. any suggestions?

thankyou

Craftsman 917.272352 Lawn Tractor wont fully start

We have the above lawn mower, and it wont start. it turns over, but thats about all. We have replaced fuel filter, battery, and spark plug. we also took carb out and cleaned it well. we have a wire that we arent sure where it goes, anyone have any ideas? (see attached)

thanks im advance for any help!

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mower blade

what should the mower blade on a Toro Garden Tractor be torqued at?

Echo srm 230

Hello every one Im new to this forum just joined I bought my first echo about 3 years ago manufacture date sep 2011 a PB250 blower and have been happy with it, so recently I mean this weekend I bought an SRM 230, I like how it feels and the ergo I can reach places that were not possible with my now retired craftsman 32 cc and Cub Cadet 25cc such as well under my benches on the lawn

My question is this echo feels rough at idle and vibrates and has a jerky rythem more so than my 2 cycle craftsman and my four cycle Cadet is this normal the only time it smooths out is wide open throttle so what should I expect will it smooth out after brake in?

I have tried two other samples one a a little smoother but the head fell off and i took it back for an exchange, I really like this trimmer and want to keep it so what say yous.

ZTR50 Wont Stay Running

I've used the mower 3 times this year. I went out to start it and it wouldn't start. Tried starting fluid and it ran 5 seconds so I figure a fuel delivery problem. Checked the fuel pump and it works. Took the bowl off and it's got gas in it. The two "metering tubes" were not clogged so I tried again. Doesn't start. Where do I go from here?
Kawasaki 22 HP FH661V

18 hp Vanguard problem. (HELP)

Let me start out by saying that I have never worked on small engines. With that being said, I am pretty handy with tools. So be be "gentle" with me. :laughing:
I have a 618 Grasshopper that had a Triad Kohler in it(had) so I replaced it with a 18hp Vanguard. Ran great for three year and then started puking oil into the breather.
Weird thing is, the motor starts right up and has plenty of power.. \? So I am told to do a leakdown test on the engine, which I just did. The one head has 10% leakage, the other head is blowing air up thru the oil return in the head at 100% ! I think that probably is a bad thing correct? So the question is WHY? Cracked head or blown head gasket possibly? BTW, there is no air blowing out the dipstck tube.
Any comments , help, instructions would be greatly appreciated.:confused2: Thanks, Tommy

scag cub hydraulic hot

my 2002 scag hydraulic oil is very hot. Mows fine. The wheel motors are not hot. The pumps are hot. The pully on pumps are free with no play. The filter and oil have both been changed. The fluid is at correct level when cold. After running few minutes the fuild pours out top of cap. I'm lost on what is wrong. help!

Need help on wiring

I'm doing a engine swap from a Kawasaki FC420V to a 17.5HP Briggs. I need a wiring diagram to change the wiring from KW to Briggs. The mower has a regulator and is a 2 wire alt. Briggs is a 1 wire alt. Any help would be appreciated.
This motor is on a Snapper SPE140KW Walk Behind Mower with electric PTO.

John Deere x520, PTO won't engage.

Found when mower running get off seat mower keeps running. Can start mower without pushing down down on brake pedal
Mower running pull up on PTO switch, it won't engage the deck.

When & How Often & How Much ?: Lime and/or Gypsum. Aqueduct ?

Hi everyone.

I have bags of pelletized gypsum and bags of Encap Lime. Haven't applied either in over a year. How much to apply of each and how often ? Which will help in a water shortage, if either.

Anyone ever used "Aqueduct" granules ? Will it help in a water shortage ?

riding mower and not damaging lawn

Hello,
I just bought a lawn tractor and have never even driven one before.
So this is probably a silly question, but do I need to do anything special to keep my lawn healthy when mowing it?
The property had been vacant for some time, so neighborhood kids had been riding their ATVs around our backyard, tearing up the lawn pretty badly in some spots.
I would like to reduce further damage while I work to get the lawn healthy again.

I was thinking along the lines of:

• mowing length-wise one week, alternating to go width-wise the next week
• does time of day matter for preventing damage? (morning dew, sun intensity,etc.)
• I saw someone mention making a Y-turn. So when i turn at the end of a row I mowed, should I do a Y turn instead of a U?

Thanks for any tips or advice!

Repairs 721 Transmission

I have a 721 Grasshopper 21 HP Diesel that is in need of a Gemini transmission for the left side. If anyone knows where there is one available for parts or a transmission please contact me or post. I dont know if this one can be rebuilt or not. These transmissions are no longer available from the dealer. They dont make them anymore. thanks Rightway

Repairs MTD Yard-Man Wiring Problem

Hello,
Advice sought please : my 1998 MTD Yard Man lawn tractor keeps damaging the wiring to the PTO clutch. The wiring under the machine runs close to the deck drive belt and pulleys. The top of the clutch (which contains the plug for the wiring from the switch) is not fixed and can rotate partly which presumably flexes the wiring, causing it to rub against the pulleys etc. Has anyone else encountered this problem and can offer a solution please?

Buying Advice Simplicity Pacer 1534

Hello everybody. I have been struggling to find a new mower for my challenging lawn. You can see a few pictures here along with my initial thread - http://ift.tt/1bB81oM. In any event, I ran across a used Simplicity Pacer 1534. I was wondering if any had any experience with this model and how difficult would it be to handle my hills and beds. Any advice is appreciated.

HELP!!!! My Cub Cadet Is Making Us Crazy!

We have an SLXT1054 Rider and we have changed all the belts and pulleys when we started noticing that when we drop the deck and engage the mower to anything low, it bogs down even when you are on concrete. Not sure what is causing it, but when you look under it and drop the deck, it seems like it is on a drastic angle, and not sure if thats what it is suppose to look like, just know it will not perform like it did when we first got it when you drop the deck below like 3-4. And when you drop it lower it sounds as though the motor is more sluggish. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!

How to you bypass the safety switch under the seat?

Hello I have a Craftsman 18 HP-OHV Model # 917-274822 and I would like to know how to bypass the safety switch under the seat?

Shroud Studs/Nuts Spinning

Anyone run across this....two of the three nuts holding the recoil starter in place are spinning the studs....kind of don't know what to do.

hrt2162tda

John Deere z810a hard starting

When I turn the key the mower (2008 with just 1400 hours) tries to crank but doesn't seem to have enough power to turn over. Almost sounds like the battery is dying.

It will eventually start and then will be fine for next few starts. But then it does same thing either hours later or next day. In other words, problem is a bit intermitent.

I had the battery checked and it is fine. It's also fine in the morning, so I don't think there is a drain.

I checked connections and from what I can see they are OK --- though I can't see everything. And it would seem to me that if it were a bad connection that I would get nothing --- not a crank-and-no-turn-over.

Could this be something as simple as need new ignition switch? Or if it were the switch would it not even crank??

Or could it be the solenoid?

Ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions?

Hi, My Name is....

Hello, needing some good advice on some older snapper self propelled and have come to the right place. Everyone have a great day and look forward to hearing from yall!

Exmark pioneer s series 60 or gravely pro turn 60?

Hello all,would like some opinions on these 2 mowers.I will be cutting 1 to 5 acres with this mower and would like to know which mower is the best bang for the buck?

The gravely pro turn 60 has the Kawasaki engine it.The Exmark pioneer 60 has a Kohler zt740 engine in it and I know that the Koehler engines had some problems with them.Did they get the issues resolved with the Kohler engines?i like the features on the Exmark better over the gravely.Which mower would you buy and why?

Honda Parts Quick Reference

Need a part for your Honda mower? Here's a brief list of the most-requested parts.

Step 1 is to get the full serial number off the back of the mower deck:



Lookup the parts on these charts, then Google any part number to find a Honda Dealer selling it online, or use this link to find a Honda Dealer in your area: Find A Honda Dealer

Need parts not listed? Go to the official parts site from Honda here: Honda Power Equipment, Engines and Marine Factory Parts Lookup

Grasshopper suspension seats

I have a grasshopper 325 and I am looking for a grammar seat or comparable seat.

Blades won't turn on gravely ZT Sport

I just bought a used ZT Sport 32 in cut and have used it once. When I went to cut my grass today the blades won't turn. I found a pulley hooked to an arm that has a spring that is not connected to anywhere. I think this is a tensioner of sorts and I am lost as to which way it hooks up.

New here...Need help with McLane 20" reel

I need help identifying what my problem is with the rear axle on my 20" McLane reel mower. I don't know if this is the correct subforum or not. The problem is that the rear axle shifts from side to side 1/4". It causes misalignment of the chains and sprockets and it has caused the reel chain on the outside of the mower to rub into the chain guard. I have a video of the problem on Youtube if someone wants to view it. I've got a parts manual and all of the parts seem to be on my mower. I just can't figure out where that 1/4" is coming from. It seems like a simple spacer or bushing may have fallen out but nothing like that shows up on the diagram.

If this is not the correct place for this, can someone steer me in the right direction. I've emailed McLane but I don't know what's up with them. They haven't gotten back to me.

Thanks in advance.

http://ift.tt/1ENA5CW

Tom in Decatur, Ga

04 Exmark Lazer Z EFI loses power when hot!

I have an 04 Exmark Lazer Z EFI (book says serial #440,000 and higher) , Kohler Engine CH740-0045, When mowing it runs fine for the first 30-45 mins. After that when you move left arm in reverse, then to go forward again it loses power an acts like it wants to die, if you move arms quickly to Neutral rpms pick back up and you have to ease forward to keep rpms up. Once you get moving it runs fine down strip until turning again. If I let the mower sit for 5 mins or so, it will run fine for 5-10 mins then start doing it again. It does seem to only be doing it with the left arm primarily, but sometimes does do it with the right. Also does it without pto engaged. Dealer couldn't replicate the problem when taken to them and one thing they said it could be is an O-ring in the pump. Oil Level is fine, hydro fluid and filter changed at end of last year level good as well. has approx. 500 hours. any help is greatly appreciated as I don't want to take back to dealer and have them tell me same again.

Resale value

I have an R8237 and an 8270 which both run well and self propel works well. Not cosmetically great, but acceptable.
Are they worth $100 each?
Thanks

torro12-38 xl stalls out

Hello &help
I have a toro 12-38 XL will run at lower speed but when speeding up or engaging the deck stalls out, seems to flood out.
ran it with the air cleaner off and could see the gas splash out have cleaned the carb and new gas.
The tractor has a new batt and replaced the solenoid (used a spare from a car i had here and only used the white wire from ignition switch ,left the black and white from the safety relay off)
My guess (and thats what it is) is ignition breakin down or a valve sticking . any thoughts?
thanks wayne

Hustler Z not charging

I have a Hustler Z 60" deck 24hp Honda. 1700 hrs Mowed for the first time last week and everything went good. This week I mowed all the front and went to the back. Engine started to sputter then died. Would just click after that. Jumped it and headed back to the house. I kicked on the PTO and mowed 2 strips and sputtered and died like before. Jumped it. Checked the battery with my meter. Full throttle about 12.4 v. Unplugged my coil leads and got 36.67 vac and about 14.06 amps. This is the 20 amp charging system. I know the amps are a little low but I'm thinking it's a bad 20 amp rectifier/ regulator. I would like to know for sure before spending $100 on a new rectifier/ regulator. Thanks

Can't stop wanting a Snapper HI-VAC

Hey folks, Anyone have one of the newer Hi-VAC models from Snapper? I've been wanting one for awhile but I'm stuck in that I don't need a mower so it's hard to justify the cost. My current mower is doing fine. But I've always wanted a Snapper HI-VAC and can't stop wanting one. Snapper even offers it as a Push model which I prefer and the 875 professional series B&S engine looks awesome, especially for a residential mower. I always bag and prefer the clean lawn and my kids play outside all the time. My current mower bags okay but it's not the best by any means. I would say it's average in bagging but I do find myself wishing it did a better job. And these Hi-VAC are suppose to tbe the best. Anyone care to share your experience if you have one? Or in regard to quality in the newer Snapper mowers?





HI VAC Push Mower | Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers | Snapper

2004 MTD model 609 shift problem

I have a MTD model 609 from Tractor supply that was slipping while in gear, belts were old and wore out/ Put new correct number belts on upper and lower transmission drive. Now when in gear the only way I can get it to stop or shift is to turn off the key killing the engine. The lower belt has play in it in neutral the upper belt is tight. Runs fine whem]n in gear just can't shift while running. Need help

graveley 460 proturn,gas

With only 67 hrs on mower engine has started to spit and pop. If you shake the mower while running it starts to pop really bad. I am going to take a fuel sample and then pull the carb to look for trash.

Georgia Machinist (retired) in the Yard

Hello Y'all :)

no fire from plug

are there any lawn mower schematics showing the kill switch

Stihl 009L Chainsaw when warm no start

I can start the saw up cold no problem. After I run out of fuel & fill it back up I can' t get it to start. It has a new plug & I put in a carb kit. Any thoughts?

Wiring Question: 21 HP Intek. Can Charging Wire go to Battery or must go Key Switch

HELLO,

My first post..

Wiring Question: 21 HP Intek. Can Charging Wire go to Battery or must it go to Key Switch?

I am worried it will discharge battery if it goes direct to battery..

I re-wired my old Snapper with a 21 HP Intek and everything is fine but want to know if I need to run it though the key switch and not the battery..

Thanks

Dixon model 4422 Cone drive adjustment question

I just picked up a Dixon model 4422 with a 42" deck and 14hp motor. the right side handle is not nearly as strong when moving or turning as the left side. the cones are worn but not overly so to the point they need to be changed. one interesting point is the person replaced ONE of the cones but not the other... is there a way to adjust it to make it work again or is there something else i should be checking for (another broken part some place). the mower runs extremely well and looks pretty good so i would like to get it fixed to use it without fear of breaking it further.

New Mower idle concern

I've just received my brand new John Deere d-130 riding mower today 4-27-15. Everything seems perfect, runs great except for the idle; its rough a little jerky and is hinting at popping back through maybe an exhaust valve? I know the logical thing is to return to the dealer, but could this be a non issue due to the fact it is not yet broken-in (only .2 hours on the meter). Any suggestions or comments are welcome. The engine is Briggs-Stratton 22 hp 724cc V-twin cyl. (rough and uneven idle speed when idled down, maybe a spark plug going out?) Shouldn't idle be fairly smooth on this V-twin? Thanks for any advice...........

Mower deck Grasshopper Mower Deck 3461R "Rear Discharge Deck" is side discharge, I'm confused

I'm confused.

I have a Grasshopper Mower Deck Model 3461R described as a "Rear Discharge Deck".
Yet it's side discharge.

Does this mean this deck can be converted to rear discharge?
IF SO
How hard is this to do, and is there any downside?

Brake release kills mower

I have an 08 Dixie Chopper Silver Eagle that I made 3 laps around my yard with last weekend and had to get off to pick up and move planters and when I got back on and started the mower I released the brake and it killed the mower. Bought a new safety brake switch and replaced it today but that wasn't the issue! :( Have checked fuses all good, checked all other switches all good even jumped across on the seat safety switch and still didn't correct the problem. SO before I take the mower to the shop 50 miles away and spend an arm and a leg trying to figure out what and where the problem is, I am turning to yall for help! Thanks so much TK

Which would you buy?

I've narrowed to 3 with prices, all are priced with the 60" deck and Kawasaki FX engine.
Gravely Pro-turn 100 $7,999
Hustler Fastrak SDX $7,799
ExMark Pioneer $7,499

I will be mowing 4.25 acres.
A quick search of my posts would indicate that I asked a similar question last year. However, being the end of the year I decided not to buy and plenty has changed since then; gravely now has a local dealer, Fastrak sd was redesigned, etc.

engine shorting to off

Have a snapper series 23 rear engine. Starts fine with clutch fully engaged but when pedal is lifted the engine dies. I removed the shorting wire to the magneto shorting screw and it runs fine. I cannot locate the culprit?

mower

My murray riding lawn mower will not move

445 overhaul question

I am having to bore my 445 .020 oversize does anyone know what the piston clearance should be?

Toro 460 LX will only go in Reverse

Quick question. My 2005 Toro 460 LX will only move in reverse. When trying to go forward, there is a slipping/ grinding noise in gear box. Not sure what exact cause is. I have opened gear box and confirmed no internal damage. Not sure if the brake disc (pad adjustment)is the issue, the drive belt is going, or clutch collar is worn out.Any info would be appreciated.

Craftsman Model 917.377842 - Oil in air filter compartment

:confused2: I did the usual prep for the lawn cutting season. I had my blade sharpened & balanced, changed oil, changed spark plug & put fresh gas in. I've never had a problem and starts after 2 pulls. In taking off & putting the blade on, I must have tipped the lawn mower the wrong way. The only thing I can think of. After several pulls it didn't start. I looked around the deck & found oil below the air filter compartment. I opened it up & there was oil. The air filter was soaked. I tried cleaning the filter but it was too soaked. I tried starting w/o filter but that didn't work either. I bought a new filter but wonder if it'll happen again. 2 people have given me a couple of things to try. 1. - Pull the spark plug out, pull the engine 5 or 6 times and then squirt about a teaspoon of gas in the hole and put plug back in. 2. - Squirt starter fluid 2 or 3 times into the carb & pull until the oil burns off. I'm not sure what to do. HELP! I sure would appreciate any help. Thanks

New to forum and advise on purchasing a new electric mower

I intend to but mower for my new lawn of about 4000 sq ft. Need advice as to which is the powerful and sturdy electric mower with long warranty and good post sale service. I can spend $500.

I cannot afford to put effort due to my shoulder injury and thus looking for lawn mower with good maneuverability.

pump leaking

I have a 2006 ZTR M50S mower and one of the pumps is leaking I have to add fluid to it about every 2 or 3 mowings and I have 2 acers my mower starts bucking with me or I guess I should say jumping with me and I have to stop so it will calm down someone said I could have air in the leaking pump has anybody had the same experience?

hydro motor pulley removal

what type of puller works on my Hustler Z ? 2jaw,3jaw etc. it's pretty tight with the welded crosspeice plz advice thnx

Type of engine on Huskee (MTD) 21"/158cc Hi Wheel mower carried by Tractor Supply

Hi all,
Does anyone know anything about the 158 cc engine mounted on the Huskee branded MTD mowers carried by Tractor Supply?
I picked up a 21" Hi-Wheel mower at Tractor Supply farm store over the weekend when they had 'em on special for $50 off regular price.
When I put it together yesterday, (...and I did forget to pack the Model #'s for the mower and engine today to include with this post) but the first things I noticed were:
1. No primer bulb, automatic choke;
2. Engine oil drain plug is above the mower deck below the oil fill tube, not below mower deck where the blade is - making it easier to change oil;
3. from the manual, there is apparently a small, long cylindrical fuel filter in the gas line where it connects to the fuel tank - not sure about how I feel about this, particularly if the filter's always needing replaced;

Apparently not a Briggs & Stratton engine though I didn't see any name beyond MTD when I was putting it together.

I was wondering if anyone knew anything more about these mowers and particularly the reliability of the engine.
So far from what I've seen, I like it but I haven't even started it, much less mowed with it. But it appears to be a better built hi-wheel mower than the Weedeater 500 I got 5 years ago. Deck seems more substantial and I believe the Huskee is slightly heavier as a result.
The other thing I like about it, is the mower deck height control is TWO levers - one for both Front Wheels and second single lever for the Rear Wheels; there's a control rod connecting each set of wheels - again a little more weight as a result but much more convenient for quick height adjustment.

Let me know what you think and what insights you have on this engine.

One last thing, when I bought it they were really pushing the additive from Stabil gas additive that takes cares of the Ethanol added to gas nowadays.
I didn't purchase it but wondered what professionals thought of the specific additive or could you just add a few drops of Stabil to do the same thing?
Thanks,
Greynold99

Craftsman 18 HP-OHV Model # 917-274822 will NOT run at Full speed only idle

Hello I have a Craftsman 18 HP-OHV Model # 917-274822 will NOT run at Full speed (will start) but when I give it gas the engine will not run any faster, the throttle cable is working I can see it moving on the carburetor, this is what happen it was running fine while I was cutting grass, and in the middle while cutting grass the engine started to run at HALF SPEED.

I have replaced the sparkle plug, fuel filter, i took out the air filter and check the gas, still it will NOT run but at half speed (engine wise) any suggestion???

Bird Invasion

Pretty off topic but my mother just sent me some pics of a birds nest at the house. Not sure exactly how to take care of it but there really isn't a place to move the nest to a tree or something like that. But they are laying eggs and there is constant noise. I have a tall enough ladder to reach it but I am not looking forward to a bird attack.

Speed control lever question/issue...

Hello All,
I have a new to me 2012, 2750 silver eagle. It feels to me that the right speed control lever has more "power" than the left. Meaning that it feels to be the dominant control and i find myself just kind of using the left lever to "dial" it in (keep it straight). I still have to push the left lever forward, but just not as much as the right. Is this normal? or should both levers work equal? I have not had a ton of time on this machine but I am having a difficult time keeping her straight and was wondering if maybe this could be causing/contributing my problem. one more piece of information, if I get on the driveway and push both all the way forward, she slowly makes an arc to the left.
Any input/ tips are appreciated.

Snapper 28" 10.5 HP Comet II SR95 ????????????????

Well, yesterday I kinda lucked out. A gentleman just gave me outright a Snapper Comet RER lawn mower. Outright.. freebie.
Well, Ininvested in a new battery, oil change, spark plug, and it rips right off first turn of the ignition key. Much more to do as it
needs new blade also. But basically its still a firm solid unit. I need tires, manual and parts listings.
Please steer me to the right parts locations.. thanks.
PrimoDude

?Reliability? Lawn Boy Dura-Force SilverPro

Good Morning Lawn Boy-ers! :smile:

I have a line on a Lawn Boy Dura-Force SilverPro 6.3 HP that looks to be in fair condition. Has been replaced by an upgrade, needs some minor repair. Asking $40 and I'm going to be in his area tomorrow. Calling to see if it's still available.

Is this a reliable mower? Any major issues to be aware of when I look at it?

Thanks all!

John

new here from pennsylvania

just found this site, looks like a lot of good info...I currently own a 1972 bolens 1886 large frame (snow plow and basic work horse) and a 2000 John Deere Lx 255 (lawn mowing only ) thanks for having me

Scag purchase

Hello All,

I am about to purchase a Scag zero turn. I don't think I can afford the tiger cat so I am pretty sure I am going to go with the Freedom Z PRO. However, I have not been able to see any major differences between the PRO and the regular Freedom Z. Is it worth the money to go for the PRO? The only option I believe I want is the Hurricane mulching system put on. Which motor should I look for?
I am coming from a John Deere L130 and that damn thing was built to have NOTHING repaired or fixed. I really wanted to go with scag because of the quality of parts and for sentimental reasons... Any knowledge you feel like sharing about the Scag Freedom models would be great !

2007 craftsman lt2000 with Briggs and Stratton 20hp signal cylinder won't crank

Hi I have a 2007 craftsman lt2000 with a Briggs and Stratton intek 20hp single cylinder engine and it won't crank. Here is the story I was mowing and the motor recently had a oil and oil filter change so I drained the old oil and filled it back up with new oil and it started up fine and ran good. so I went out to mow and I engaged the blades and the motor sounded like it had no power so I disengaged the blades and the motor ran normally. I engaged the blades again and the motor sounded like it had no power at all and the motor eventually quite altogether and is locked up tight were you can spin it over with your hand. I have removed the spark plug and it wouldn't turn over and I've also checked all the safety switches and that didn't make a difference at all. I'm not for sure if I throwed a rod but I haven't seen any holes in the motor so what do you guys think happened to this motor. I've never had a problem with a Briggs and Stratton engine before. If anyone here can help me I would appreciate it thanks.

Fiskar Reel Mower

Always looked into getting a reel mower and I just saw in the circular that Home Depot has the Fiskar StaySharp Max on sale for $199.
Any thoughts on it? Reviews look great. Only reason for me thinking about reel mower is just for the appearance and close looking cut.

Fiskars StaySharp Max 18 in. Push Reel Lawn Mower (6201)-62016935J - The Home Depot

Grub Control Application

So with the first applications of lime/fertilizer down, when do you guys typically put down your grub control? My lawn is starting to come in nicely now and with my first cut approaching this weekend, I am wondering when I should put it down.

Also do you guys mulch the first few weeks or pick up the grass. Usually I just like to mulch when the grass starts producing seeds.

valve adjustment on 23hp vtwin toro motor

I was watching some youtube vids on adjusting the valves on mower engines. I saw one guy that just rotated the engine until he saw the exhaust valve go fully open and then adjusted the intake and then did the reverse intake fully open and adjusted the exhaust. my manual for the motor says to find tdc on compression stroke and then adjust both. It would be easier to do the fully open method that the guy did in the video (no disassembly to see timing) and seems to be ok in my limited experience with it - what do you guys think>>

Blades Grasshopper 61" deck, blades touching

I have a new grasshopper w/ a 61" deck. I have less than 1 hour on the unit... The middle blade appears to be touching the left blade (the one away from the chute). Any suggestions on how to resolve that problem?

Thanks.

Blade engagement lever/plate/cable

I have a YTH21K46 that the blade engagement lever just moves freely. I've looked at the diagram of it and the cable is connected to the plate. It all seems to be with the lever itself as the plate, cable, nothing moves or even tries to move when I move the lever except that the lever flops around now. The diagram does not show how the lever attaches to the plate though. Where the lever connects to the plate under the dash, the looped cotter type pin is still intact and it spins with the lever as well. I can't figure out what connects the lever to the plate and how it engages the blades??? (yes, I'm a blonde female) Is it all one piece that is welded and the weld gave?? Do I need a whole new lever/plate??

Craftsman Z6000 42 inch Zero-Turn

Just got a new Craftsman Z6000 42 inch 22 HP Briggs Zero-Turn Mower 247.204110, aka MTD 17AKCACS099. Cuts GREAT. Definitely will take some getting used to........

Hello from a newby!

Hello everyone. Great forum and I'm learning a lot on my mower. But I cannot identify what exactly I have for a mower. What I do know about the mower:

1975
72" front mount
hydro drive
1.6 or 1.9 liter Ford motor

I'd like to know what the model number is so I can look for some parts. I am in need of blades specifically. thanks in advance for any help. I tried to upload some pics so hopefully they uploaded.


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Exmark Quest Not Tracking Straight

Is there anything you can do to make the Emark Quest E Series track straight. When I push the controls all the way forward it pushed to the right decently.

2014 D170 john deere lawn tractor charging problems

I have a 2014 John Deere D170 lawn tractor purchaced from the Home Depot. Ever since I brought it home it drains the battery while mowing. It does not appear to be charging the battery a s it runs. I put a new fully charged battery in it and it will kill it after only a short time. I've checked the ground to the frame and even cleaned scraped the paint and applied a light dielectric grease to the connection. Help!

craftsman LT1000 dumping fuel into cylinder

I recently puchase the above craftmsan, I replaced the battery and cleaned the terminals and dowloaded the owners maual off the internet. I filled it 1/3 ful of fuel and started right up, ran fine in all gears, raised and lowered the deck and enganed the blades and cut fine for about 2000 sg ft of grass, I checked the belts and the tensioners and lubricated everything prior to starting it.

Went out to the garage next day and it was leaking fuel from around the spark plug and had drained all the reaming fuel from the tank. I removed the spark plug and it just drained gas from the cylinder. I let it dry out for 2 days without the spark plug in, I replaced the spark plug with a new one, and put alittle fuel in the tank. It cranks over just fine but wont start, I removed the air filter and noticed when cranking it and even after turning it off is just dumping fuel into the cylinder. I again removed the spark plug and fuel came out for the cylinder.

Any ideas here, thank

craftsman trimmer rocker adjustment

i bought a craftsman 30cc 4 stroke trimmer today. Manual states that you must check rocker tolerance after 10 hours. I can't find the spec or procedure anywhere on net. its model 316731970 and from what I can see it's an MTD engine that is used in many trimmers. spec would be great - procedure would be better

Trying a Snapper before buying a JD.

I have a one acre of grass that is flat with one small pitch. I currently have a craftsman push mower that is falling apart and need some sort of tractor or rear rider. My acre is mostly bumpy and can get dusty with dirt. As I search for a new mower I got to borrow a new Snapper rear eng rider with B&s 11.5 hp , good turn radius but best of all was a HI VAC suction. It sucked up leAves and grass like a Vacuum cleaner. It also cut grass well with 28" deck

I was wondering if JD D tractors suck like a vacuum like a Snapper? Would be great for fall leaves. And do they Have a turn radius like JD? Thanks for feedback for cutting my grass. I don't need any hauling.

Craftsman DLT3000 Tranny Slip

Peerless 6892P91 Tecumseh 6731-P1 tranny slips forward and reverse.
Shot! :thumbdown:
Replace internal parts?
Replace Hyd Pump?
Or Replace whole transaxle & Pump?

Thanks

John Deere S240 or Husqvarna YTH24V48?

Would love to get your opinions on which of these models is the best option for me. Here's what I'm looking for:

- Something around $2k
- To be used on 1 acre (residential), mostly fairly flat, except for the drainage ditch along the front of the property. Some trees.
- A mower that has the flexibility to do other things (aerate, spreader etc)

I've narrow it down to the S240 Sport and YTH24V48, both are relatively speedy (important in the short term as I have to 'drive' to the site - about .75mls down a quiet street), and get decent reviews on various sites. I've ruled out the Zero-Turns on the basis that you don't get as much for your money at this price point, and they're really only good for mowing....reluctantly though, they look like more 'fun', and can easily be convinced that they'd be a good option.

I'm totally new to ride-on's, so aside from exhaustive web-site reading, I've no experience of them.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Pete

New member, thanks for having me,

great to be part of this, I have a Land Pride 52'' ZTR. Right now I think I have a bad electric pto clutch, figuring out how to remove it.:confused2:

murray 18.5briggs

engine runs o.k. until it gets hot. then it backfires and dies.had it worked on. guy said he put on used coil,new sparkplug wire and adjusted valves.what can be wrong?

Briggs&Stratton 158cc

Have a Briggs & Stratton lawn mower brought new at Wallmart. Ran a few hours, then lost all compression.

Husqvarna YTH21K46 blade engage lever disconnected from cable

As the title says the blade engage lever has become disconnected from the plate/cable (not sure how it connects to cable) under the dash area and it just spins freely. Can't find a clear enough (for us non-techs) diagram to see if we can fix this, perhaps it is just a spring that sprung off or a broke cotter pin we can replace or if we should call a tech out. Advice and/or diagram would be appreciated.

Lt160 carburetor question

My mower won't run well unless the choke is on. I started removing the carburetor to clean it and the electrical wire to the solenoid broke. Can I replace this part alone and if so, how? Single mom and need some help please.

Mower deck I have an Ancient Cub Cadet 1030

My Cub Cadet was made in the USA.
It is a 1030 riding lawnmower. How do I replace the mower deck belt. There are 2 belt guards on the front pulley that I have removed, but I can't get the belt to feed around the back pulley.
Any help would be appreciated.
Bill

troy built mower wont run 11A-436M011

troy built mower, briggs and stratto...stratton motor:confused2:

need part name or part #....

I have a John Deere L100 riding mower.....smelled gas in man cave today and noticed a small puddle of gas under my mower. Opened the hood and noticed a unit on the side of the motor, towards the back with several fuel lines going to it...looks like it is leaking.......what is that unit called? So I can look it up.Thanks.

Honda HRX217VKA rough movement going backwards

Hello. I just purchased a Honda HRX217VKA mower. I got it home and followed the directions for setting it up. Before putting in oil or gas I pushed the mower forward and pulled it back. When pulling it back I noticed there was a lot of resistance and what I can only think to describe as a grinding sound. But it was definitely significantly more difficult to pull the mower backwards than it was to push it forwards. I have not had to mow a yard in a few years, however this is not something that I expected. A family member purchased this same mower a year ago and said that theirs rolled backwards pretty much as easily as forwards. I took it back to the store and was going to exchange it, but I had them take the new one out of the box before leaving and the new one acted pretty much the same way if not a little bit worse. Does anyone have any experience with this mower or have any idea if this is normal operation for it?

Thanks,
Nate

greenworks mower 25302 no lights/wont start

i have a greenworks 25302 twin blade mower 40v Gmax 4ah & 2ah batteries fully charged and placed in the mower
the lights that indicate power for the batteries do not light up at all
i tried replacing the switch and the board and it still wont light up/respond to anything
the switch does click when attempting to start
i really cant drive an hour to the only shop around to drop off then come back later to pick up so an at-home repair is my only option
any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

How to rebuild honda HR173 motor no compression

Hi
Just took apart my mower motor it looks new just have to take valves out of it..
Only has 20 PSI compression, maybe head gasket will get new one and broke
a head stud will drill out and put a new one in....
How do you pull out the valves?
PS it is 15 years old and is it worth rebuilding?

Cheers Alan

Troy-Bilt TB260 wont start

Hello and thanks in advance for any assistance.

I need help with a lawn mower that won't start, figured I would post something on here to see if anyone could help. I will be descriptive as possible and try to provide as much details as possible.

So I have a Troy-Bilt 260 push lawn mower, I recently moved from Texas to Mississippi. It worked just fine in Texas the last time I used it, but now it is not working. Prior to moving the last time I used it, I put weed eater fuel in it because there was no fuel in the lawn mower and that is all I had at the time. It worked just fine for that one time use. During the move the mower was not dropped or anything like that, so that is not an issue. So now the mower won't start.

The things that I have tried was replacing the spark plug, I checked the oil, it doesn't look black or anything, I drained the fuel and replaced it with fresh fuel also. I checked the air filter and it wasn't bad, the carburetor. The lawn mower is only a few years old. When you pull the handle everything is operating the way it is supposed to be with the handle and line.

Just wondering if there is anything else I can do to troubleshoot this issue, any help will be appreciated. Thanks again, and if you need more details I can give it. Thanks!!!

~ Dave

XT675-2070 engine problems

Hi: On this Toro I just bought used, the engine ran fairly well, but would need some 3-5 pulls. Only 1-2 years old, but not well maintained. To make it start easier, today I installed the Kohler spark plug and air filter. Refilled with fresh fuel, and added some fuel injector additive I had on hand. Started and ran okay in the garage. Mowing, uncovered problems.

First of all the engine runs several minutes, then quits. Then is either hard to start or won't start.
And, there is fuel seeping out from under the fuel cap. The tank it not overfilled. The fuel level is about 3 inches from the bottom of the neck. I think a gasket is missing. I have searched for the p/n online, but no luck yet.

Engine warm, it runs pretty smooth. Only stalls while cutting. I have the height way up and am not overloading the engine.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Repairs harness clips

I have a yardbug that wont start and I found the problem. its the brake pto switch. problem is I dont know how to separate the switch from the harness clip. I tried bending , turning, prying and I even thought about smashing it with a hammer for over an hour and nothing. Is there some secret way of separating this switch from the harness?

Question about key module

Last fall I purchased a 54 Craftsman, 917.28861X. I am generally satisfied with this product, however there is feature that bugs me to no end. The key module. Instead of the standard key, there is a a sequence push-button to start the machine. To me this is time-consuming and very annoying step because many times I just use the mower to pull a small yard trailer with lot of stop-and-go maneuvers. Also I don稚 have any small kids tempted to take joy rides.

My question is, can I change this push-button module with a standard key module like was installed in the previous model. I looked the parts manual of the previous module , and it looks like the number of connectors are different. So in order to work to it has to be some cutting and splicing wires. I am not going to do this until the warranty period is over.
Where can I find a detailed wiring (maybe factory) diagram for this model? The operator's manual I have is useless to solve this issue.
Since this mower is made by Husqvarna, maybe the wiring should be the same. I know they use the same key module.

How to start FH721V

I bought a used ferris 1500z with a kawasaki 25 horse motor. When i bought it had already been cranked and warmed up. After getting it home I found out it is hard to get running. Put new plugs in, changed the oil and cleaned the air filter, it looked new. The plugs were in bad shape. When I start it, I put the throttle in the middle and turn the key. Will not start so I pull the choke and have to crank on it 5 or 6 times before it will start. It blows out a little smoke that I think is flood smoke. It runs fine after it starts, no smoke or miss at all. Is this normal for a cold start, should I put the throttle wide open and choke it? Thanks for any help.

Just bought new self propel Toro SR 20381 .

I been reading the forum here a lot lately .My lawn boy lawn mower after 15 yrs plus on it , the engine lock up . No complaints .

yesterday I went looking at self propel lawn mowers .
Started with my small town lawn shop . Snapper dealer . I like the Ninja way it mowed . The self propel lever was my problem . no buy .

I went to bigger town next to me here in Southern Indiana .
This lawn shop sold Honda , Snapper and commercial EQE . There was three guys at the counter . Not one sales man came to me ask about any thing .. I even pulled the honda off the shelf looked at . They did not bother to walk over . I set out side . No one came . Me and the wife was surprised . We left .
We drove 30 miles to the bigger lawn shop . another Lawn service .. They sell Toro , Honda and Snapper . Then commercial eqe .
The sales man came straight to us . greeted us and ask what we were looking for .
He help us out a lot and explained the self propel lawn mowers . I told him about the snapper . That was not the lawn mower for us . He was ok with that .
He said I have several hondas and Toro's in the back for customer to try . Then said set out back here . He call the boy helper to get those lawn mowers for us to try .
I like both Honda and Toro . The both mulch great and easy to control .
He said the Toro has a 50 dolllar instant rebate going on with 5 yr warranty .
We end up buying the Toro RS 20381 for $ 588.00 out the door . Also he gave me a free oil change after 5 hours of mowing ..
I used it today . all I can say is WOW nice ..
Thanks
Rick

craftsMan lawn tractor Model 917.275390

transaxel gear shift neutral adjustment

craftsMan lawn tractor Model 917.275390

tractor runs blades turn but will not go into gear. rolls freely

Honda Izy (less than 1 year old) splutters and dies

Hello there -

I bought a new Honda Izy HRG 416 PK petrol lawnmower last August, used it 2-3 times, then stored it in the garage over winter (not at extreme winter here in Scotland). I got the mower out last week for the first time this year to find it starts okay, but then splutters and dies after 1 minute or less. It then doesn't start again without a wait, and once it starts it just splutters and cuts out again.

I bought a new spark plug (NGK BPR6ES) thinking this was the issue - from reading similar problems on the internet. But, this did not fix the problem (which continues today).

Is it a problem that I have caused (I did not drink the petrol from the mower before storing over winter)?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thank you,
Andrew.

MTD Tractor info needed

I acquired a Mastercraft 137D673G515 garden tractor (made by MTD) that needs repair. It was sold by Canadian Tire in Canada and the MTD data base won't accept the serial number in order for me to download a manual for it. Does anyone have a valid MTD serial number I could use? Also, it needs a battery... would a "200 cranking amp/165 cold cranking amp" battery be adequate. The tractor has a 15.5 HP B&S engine with electric start. It's only accessory is the 42" deck. Thanks for any advice/help.

lack of power

I have a John Deere F725, it has lost power, I can keep it running by keeping throttle in choke position.
I have installed two new coils, thinking I had a ignition problem, but now I'm not so sure?

Dealer verses Big Box Store

See on here and out in the public on a daily basis guys who are doing commercial work who see where they can save a few dollars on equipment going to big box stores or ordering off line.

Here is my inPut on this.

First off you are buying a machine that is going to last years. Secondly the amount of savings is many times like the income from cutting one or two yards. With that said when you buy from a requitable dealer he is going to have parts. In my situation and I am sure most others that are requitable he is going to get you running if you come in broke down. With that said the loss of productivity on two yards verses being back up and running just paid the different in price you saved going to the big box place to get that machine.

When you really compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges the dealer will win out every time in the long run. Thus buying that machine a few dollars cheaper is not necessarily cheaper in the long run.

Snapper riding mower

My mower dies when the brake is released with the engine running. What is the problem? Help!

Engine

I have a motor that rolls all the way around and stops. Turn the motor an 1/8 of a turn rolls and stops at the same point everytime. rebuilt the starter and the flywheel looks fine. Any ideas would be helpful thanks for your time. motor is a 15.5 Briggs

Need help finding a mower

I have a big lawn - well, 3 big yards. And they are all on a hill, maybe a 15-20% slope. Too steep, it seems to use a riding mower or zero turn, unless I went up and down, but they are all long and wide and going up and down would be weird and take a long time... I've read that a commercial walk-behind could fit the bill - it should speed up my mowing time (currently, I take about 3 hours to do all three with my push mower) significantly, and the hilly terrain should be ok for one.

I don't want to buy a new $4000 commercial mower for mowing my 3 yards every couple of weeks. I can see spending $700 or $800 or a bit mire if I have to, but would really like to find something used, if possible. Craigslist shows a couple of options (discussed below), and I've seen the Cub Cadet CC 760 ES, which would be a bit over $1000 new. This appears to be the same thing as is sold by Lowes as the Troy Built TB WC33 XP.

On Craigslist, there are a few options. One is a very old Toro model 30103, which, after coming home and googling, appears to be a commercial model from 1989. It is a pawn shop that sells a lot of yard equipment, asking $600 for it. I could probably get them down as low as $400, I'm guessing (no idea why I'm guessing that). I looked at it, and it has some rust holes in the deck, and also I couldn't get it to start. But that could be my own user error - they told me they could get it to start and I could come back when their lawn guy is there to help. I assume I'd need to sink some money into it to fix the deck, and probably some other issues. The engine is a Kawasaki FB460V, which may not be the original engine. What I like about this is that it is wide - 3 blades, for a 52" cutting width I think? I can't find for sure what the cutting width is, but it is wide, which means faster mowing, right? I also like that I can steer with it. Assuming it runs, and assuming I fix the deck, change the blades, what else should I be concerned about?

The other option is a Craftsman 33" walk behind. It started right up, when I looked at it. They are also asking $600 for it. It is obviously in better shape than the Toro. It appears to basically be an older generation of the Cub Cadet above, as I understand these 33" walk behinds are manufactured and marketed by multiple stores, and there used to be a Sears version. No idea how old it is, but I didn't see anything wrong with it, although that doesn't mean a whole lot.

I could look some more. I'd really like that toro to work out. It is really old, but Toro makes good mowers, from what I've read, and it is much wider. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. I found the manual for that model, here, which gives some details and specs. I'm not above doing some repairs and spending some time on it, if I can get a good price, and if it isn't a lost cause.

Or I could wait and keep using my push mower. Or maybe I'm going about this all wrong. I'd appreciate any opinions...

2007 LA140

I justed picked up a LA140. Great tractor. It looks like it was only made in 2007? Any ideas why.

Starter bolt holes stripped.

My starter bolt holes are stripped completely I tried using helicoils worked for a couple starts than came loose. I dont know what else to do.

UT 13144

UT 13144 Will be running fine and then all of a sudden it start smoking Not so much so from the muffler but from the top, it will smoke for a few minutes then it stop, what could be the cause. Thanks in advance Bama49.

working on a scag tiger cat 61. keeps blowing fuses when pto is in operation.

I can unplug pto and it runs great. my question is,how is the best way to determine if the pto has shorted itself out and feeding back? I have replaced the battery and pto switch.

Plant I.D and Care

Its been awhile since I've lurked around on the forums. Been hibernating like a bear like most. But since the sun is starting to shine and the temps are rising, I am doing my thing once again.

I need a bit of help with the I.D and care of the following plant:

WP_20150425_001.jpg

I got about three or four in my yard that look just like that one. Its driving me crazy due to them being all ragged looking.

Attached Images

• WP_20150425_001.jpg (184.2 KB)

Crankshaft not turning smoothly

Hello all,

After dealing with the struggles of having to start my lawn mower with constant kickbacks, I've decided to look into fixing it. Once I get it started, it runs just fine. I just have to be careful when I pull the cord because it kicks back and can yank out of my hand. I've removed the fly wheel and the blade and I can't see anything that could be the issue. When I try to turn the crankshaft by hand it gets hung up at the same spot every other turn around and then spins smoothly around until it hits that spot again. What could be causing this? Is it something inside the engine? Is it repairable?

I have a Cub Cadet Model 18M, the engine model is 1P70.

Thanks in advance!

1983 John Deere motor swap

The 11 hp B&S in my John Deere 111 has given up the ghost. I found a 12.5 hp B&S motor (almost identical) to replace it. Once installed, I changed the valve breather from the old motor onto the new one to accommodate the fuel pump. Now I notice the plug ins for the stator and regulator are different on the new motor. PLUS i CAN'T EVEN FIND THE REGULATOR on the old motor. Does anyone know what I need to make this work?

2006 Cub Cadet RZT50

Need help in replacing drive belt.I removed the deck and the belt that goes with it.
To remove the drive belt manual says to put a 3/8" socket into square hole that is attached to
bracket that has a pulley on it. Use the rachet wrench to force back pulley so you can remove
the drive belt. Here is where the problem is. There is no way to get a rachet wrench in the
square because things are in the way of getting there. Also only about 3/4 of the square hole is visable
Please advise me on this matter.
Thank you
Shadowcat

John Deere 425

Hi everyone,

First time user of this site and hoping to get some help on a 425 I just purchased. I bought this mower from a John Deere dealership that I had to make a 14 hr round trip to get. They had it listed for $1800 and it was a 2000, so that is why I drove so far to get it. I figured part of the reason it was so cheap was that they said they never serviced it. I don't know if this is common practice, but I'm starting to think not. I was promised it ran, drove and mowed good, which it did. I had noticed an oil leak out of the front main seal which was no big deal beings it could easily be replaced by removing the battery, prying out the old one and putting in the new one. I got it home and replaced the front main seal and also replaced the o-ring on the bottom of the dip stick beings I noticed someone had caulked it and it was leaking, also did all the other maintenance on it, which included changing oil, oil filter, air filter, trans fluid, trans filter and fuel filter. I didn't change the plugs because they looked brand new. Upon further inspection after driving and mowing with it for 10 min at home, I noticed the top radiator hose was loose and leaking, so I tightened that up. I am thinking the mower is still using coolant cause it keeps dropping little by little every time I use it and when I drained the oil when changing it, it looked like it had a green tint to it and it seemed like there was water in it. So my question is... what is my first step to figure out where the coolant is leaking? There are no leaks externally. Also I noticed that the temp gauge will rise up to 3/4 on the gauge and then drop back down to 1/4. It does this continuously. Is this normal? Sorry for the long story... and thanks for the comments!

John Deere EZtrak Z655

I bought this machine new last year. I am changing the oil on my EZtrak Z655 for the first time. I warmed the motor up and then went to remove the oil filter but I can only get one hand on it and I cannot get it to turn. Can you tell me any tricks to removing the filter? Does John Deere make a special filter wrench for getting them off? It is the filter the manufacturer installed. I think they over tighten it.

Tecumseh 3.5 HP, (143 35 4292), ser1 carb. Craftsman 113.796810 Lawn Vac, gas leak

Bought this several years ago at estate sale. Used and ran fine. Stored for several years. Now when I am downsizing myself I filled it and started. Runs fine except for fuel leak. I though it was stuck float or filled metal float. Neither is the case. Adjusted needle tab and still got a leak. Finally hooked up fuel tank with carb. off of engine and there is a pressed on plastic elbow that that appears to be cracked and leaking.

Can the elbow be replaced with a brass or or do I need to buy carburetor?


Tecumseh 3.5 HP, (143 35 4292), ser1? carburetor on Craftsman 113.796810 Lawn Vacuum.

Very pleased with my Honda Mower - It's not the problem

Hello all - My name is Steve, I am an active mowaholic.
Bought this in 2014
CIMG6699.jpg
Right out of the gate, I must come clean.
Yesterday morning, I decided to mow.
My mower, as mentioned, is a Honda. An exceptional machine. Starts 1st pull every time, mows, mulches, it's wonderful.
Modern portable phones, cell phones, whatever the latest buzz term is, "smart phones", well, I sure like them as well.
And at that moment, used to listen to music - be it a radio station from St. Louis (KSHE) or the music saved on the "phone", tunes makes the mowing go better.
I elected to use my earmuff hearing protectors over my skull candy ear phones, why not!
Pull the mower out of the shed, starts first pull.
I love this mower - the blade does not turn until you activate it. So, I can start anywhere, in gravel, for example. And if/when I "loan" it to a friend in Columbia, when she crosses the creek in the back of the yard, she can stop the blades, motor keeps running, easier to start and stop, it is a wonderful feature.
Anyway, perfect mowing weather yesterday, I remembered to raise the deck a notch, as suggested by my next door neighbor, and off I go.
Having recently mowed, and raising the deck, which made it hard to see exactly where I had been, so I had to pay close attention.
After I had done maybe 80% of the back yard, I was getting a little frustrated - even with the wonderful music playing -
Did I have the deck too high?
Wait - wait a second!
For whatever reason, the blade was not turning - I - I must of let the activator turn off and with the earmuffs and headphones, well, never missed it - and with the motor running, well, it felt like it was mowing -
Most of my back yard, yep, had to re-mow it all......
Lesson learned!
Greetings all!

Attached Images

• CIMG6699.jpg (99.3 KB)

Repairs john deere la 130

1. how to replace trans. drive belt.
2. how to remove/replace steering gear at bottom of steering shaft.

Tecumseh VLV60 - mystery oil leak

Hi all,

I've just joined as I have an issue with a Tecumseh VLV60 engine that is mounted on a Wolf Garten SV4 lawn mowing scooter. It's been a great little machine. I've cared for it exceptionally, but at the end of last year's season I noticed oil on the mowing deck. This year I removed the engine from the mower frame and cleaned and serviced it all up. I thought I had located the leak which was coming from the oil fill tower (there's a plastic insert that screws into the metal engine body). I sealed the threads all up and reinstalled the engine on the motor.

I did a day of mowing and and the end I noticed that the oil was there again, so my repair didn't solve the issue and I'm now working on the hypothesis that the leak isn't related to the oil fill tower. This is because now that the engine and mower deck are clean, I can see that the oil seems to be coming from behind the muffler somewhere. Also, when I opened the oil filler cap, the oil seemed kind of foamy (?). A little bit like if a car has a head gasket leak and some coolant got into the crankcase - that kind of "mayonnaise" appearance. However, there is no coolant on this motor.

Can anyone help diagnose as to what could be the issue? The leak isn't severe - the level on the dipstick doesn't change much over a normal mowing month, so it's a small leak at best. I really can't figure out where it's coming from.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Mower runs well, starts on the first pull always and doesn't show any signs of burning oil. From what I can see it doesn't appear to be a head gasket issue, but I can't see underneath the flywheel on this unit.

Not sure if I can upload pictures, but if someone advises, I'd try to get some photos if it would be helpful.

Thanks!

How can i find the model # on a MTD riding mower the tag is gone?

Will a engine number help to identify the machine?

Enclosed Trailer vs Open Trailer

Hey people, a few of you might recognize this. I was trying to figure out whether I wanted to go with a Hustler or Ferris. I had a guy drop off a Hustler and Ferris and ended up going with the Ferris. So right now I have a Ferris IS 2100Z with a 52" Deck and a 26 HP Vanguard (not EFI) and I love it! I also got the premium suspension seat to go with it and it is so much more comfortable than the standard seat.

Now that is taken care of I really need to decide on a trailer whether it be open or enclosed. I was hoping I could get a little more feedback and it would make it easier to make my decision. Anyway I was really leaning towards an open trailer because I am going to put premium (very expensive) mower covers over my units. They are probably not as protected as they would be in an enclosed trailer but it still gets the job done. I found a good website (WE Chapps, Inc. 2014 - Home) that sells very nice covers for everything including trimmers, blowers, and the like. This way you can cover your equipment and as long as it is secured to the trailer you do not have to worry about loading and unloading it.

The whole reason I am/was leaning towards the open trailers is because of the horror stories I have heard with enclosed trailers. For example, they can get very hot and put extra wear and tear on the equipment. Also that any gasoline that is stored in the trailer in cans or in the equipment can degrade very quickly and create major issues. I have not clue how much of this is true and have heard several people tell me it is true and several others tell me I have nothing to worry about.

Another reason this scares me very much is because I do plan to use this as a "storage unit" for my equipment. I have a very nice Craftsman zero turn that is going to be used as a backup to the new Ferris. Therefore, I will only use the Craftsman from time to time and would hope that the gas does not get really bad. This is also true for my other equipment as well. For example, with my trimmers I alternate between them and always keep a backup in case one runs out of line or something I can just grab the other one and rewind the line later on. How much of this stuff is true? I am definitely starting to lean more towards a 6x12 or 6x14 enclosed trailer. However, if these rumors are true I think I would rather have my equipment a little more exposed to the elements and have nice covers over them where they will receive adequate ventilation.

As always there is much more to be said, but this is already starting to flood like normal. So I am going to leave it alone for now. If there is anything else you need to know please ask. I appreciate any input anyone can give me. I just really want to make certain whatever I choose is a good choice because this is something I do not want to deal with for at least a few years. So if I go with the enclosed trailer that is what I want to deal with for a long time.

Help, need gap specs

Can anyone give me the correct ignition coil to flywheel gap and the correct valve clearances on a 7hp B&S 121012 0112 E1?

Thanks!

ENGINE won't REV UP

Hi Gang
Brand new here - just joined. always nice to have a place to do fixes yourself
Anyway here is my issue
I have a TroyBuilt Bronco riding mower
It has the 18.5 hp engine

I was cutting grass yesterday and noticed it started losing power.
So today here is what I had gone threw to try and fix it.
I put in new oil; cleaned plug; took off and cleaned out carb (it was already clean I noticed when I removed it) Disassembled everything from the gas tank to the place where carb mounts onto motor.
Put in new gas, checked lines for leaks.

Engine will start but not rev up. It does not smoke, skip, or anything like that - just seems to get revved up to about 1/2 speed, and won't rev no higher. When I put the throttle on high it seems just about 1/2 speed, and as I decrease the speed on the throttle the motor revs stays the same until I get to about 1/2 speed, then it decreases and as I lower it some more; then it will just dies. Never smokes, coughs, or sputters.

I have NO clue what is causing this, and like I said it ran fine while cutting the grass yesterday until I was just almost done. So this came up all of a sudden. Had never gave any indications of problems before, and I have used the mower off and on all winter.

SO what kind of ideas can you folks throw out that I might fix it easily.
I am guessing it won't be anything 'major' it's just trying to figure out where to start.