Any John Deere experts? Or someone who can diagnose a riding mower problem?

[Frank_N_Stein]

[video=youtube_share;Dqwi22HuyWg]http://youtu.be/Dqwi22HuyWg[/video]

Just take two giant steps back first.

Language Warning

I'll be ok, i don't use tannerite.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I was at Superior Small Engine in Mitchell today getting parts for my mower. They've got a few used and a bunch of new ones in stock to choose from.

Those new Gravely's and Scags sure look nice...but for 5 digits, I expected more gold and diamonds.

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

I was at Superior Small Engine in Mitchell today getting parts for my mower. They've got a few used and a bunch of new ones in stock to choose from.

Those new Gravely's and Scags sure look nice...but for 5 digits, I expected more gold and diamonds.

I'll keep them in mind, thanks. And I don't need a big, fancy mower. I mainly use it to pick up leaves in the fall because Beech Grove DPW collects them.

 

[GLOCKMAN23C]

If you choose to get rid of this JD, let me know, we can work out a deal.

 

[dvd1955]

So did you ever find the problem?

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

So did you ever find the problem?

Going to tear into it this weekend with my dad.

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

So I finally had time to look into the issues with the JD. The most pressing one was it not shifting out of gear. Not sure how the newer JD riders are, but mine won't start in gear.

My dad and I took off the rear part of the body and immediately noticed the vent hose for the fuel tank was rotten and had fallen off. I took off the vent hose connector and made sure it wasn't clogged. We removed the fuel tank from the mower and upon manipulating the gear shift lever, my dad noticed the linkage between the lever and the transmission was catching on other parts. So we tightened up the bolt and voilà, the mower shifts into all the gears and back to neutral. So what I was thinking was going to be a several hundred dollar transmission fix turned out to be a loose bolt.

As far as the mower quitting after a relatively short time of use, I wasn't able to diagnose due to the weather keeping me from mowing and seeing if it still happens. I checked the vent hole in the gas cap and it didn't appear to be clogged. Well see how it goes when I'm able to run it properly.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions and checking in to see if it had been fixed.

 

[actaeon277]

lucky you

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

lucky you

I know, right. The 28 year old mower will live another year.

 

[actaeon277]

Well, never loan it out.

One of my brothers borrowed my old Craftsman, it wasn't 28, but it was probably 15-20.
Hit a pipe, just bent the blade.
But he didn't tell me.
I went to start it, and it tried to shake itself to death.


So, a few years later, borrowed it again.
Hit the same pipe.
Parts of the engine broke through the engine case.

 

[vitamink]

Well, never loan it out.

One of my brothers borrowed my old Craftsman, it wasn't 28, but it was probably 15-20.
Hit a pipe, just bent the blade.
But he didn't tell me.
I went to start it, and it tried to shake itself to death.


So, a few years later, borrowed it again.
Hit the same pipe.
Parts of the engine broke through the engine case.

Fool me once....

 

[churchmouse]

Well, never loan it out.

One of my brothers borrowed my old Craftsman, it wasn't 28, but it was probably 15-20.
Hit a pipe, just bent the blade.
But he didn't tell me.
I went to start it, and it tried to shake itself to death.


So, a few years later, borrowed it again.
Hit the same pipe.
Parts of the engine broke through the engine case.

And I am sure he did not repair/replace it.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Well, never loan it out.

One of my brothers borrowed my old Craftsman, it wasn't 28, but it was probably 15-20.
Hit a pipe, just bent the blade.
But he didn't tell me.
I went to start it, and it tried to shake itself to death.


So, a few years later, borrowed it again.
Hit the same pipe.
Parts of the engine broke through the engine case.

Go big or go home, right? That's what I did... A few years ago, we moved from a house with a 1/10 acre lot to a house with 20+ acres. My brother had recently replaced his old lawn tractor with a bigger, new one. He let me borrow his old one for the summer, while I was shopping for a new one myself. First weekend I had it home, I burned it to the ground.

 

[CountryBoy19]

So we tightened up the bolt and voilà, the mower shifts into all the gears and back to neutral. So what I was thinking was going to be a several hundred dollar transmission fix turned out to be a loose bolt.

I... err, some random guy on craigslist had that happen to him once on his really nice rear-tine tiller, so he listed it for free. I've been using that tiller for 8 years now. The pin that holds the shift-linkage onto the shift-shaft that goes into the transmission had backed out to the point that the linkage was just turning on the shaft and the shaft wasn't turning. I told him it was probably just a simple fix and he said, "I don't care, I'm sick of the stupid thing and want it gone" So I obliged, picked it up, got home and looked it over and within 5 minutes it was fixed and running! That being said, it does have a bearing out in the transmission; they (Craftsman tillers) are notorious for cheap bearings in the transmission, but it only squeals and screams in reverse or when there is no resistance on the wheels (just driving it).

Well, never loan it out.

One of my brothers borrowed my old Craftsman, it wasn't 28, but it was probably 15-20.
Hit a pipe, just bent the blade.
But he didn't tell me.
I went to start it, and it tried to shake itself to death.


So, a few years later, borrowed it again.
Hit the same pipe.
Parts of the engine broke through the engine case.

Ouch, did he replace/repair it the second time?

I completely killed my new (to me) Exmark zero-turn last week mowing a new section of yard that was grown up. Apparently the previous owner wanted to leave me a dog bed so he put it out in the grass and let grass grow up through it. I didn't even see it, I hit it and instantly killed a 27 hp Kohler twin-cylinder engine. Only took a couple minutes to get it out of the deck thankfully and haven't noticed any damage... but that's hard on things.

 

[actaeon277]

No. My brother didn't fix it. He's the unemployed adult kid of the family.

 

[vitamink]

Livin the dream!

 

[churchmouse]

No. My brother didn't fix it. He's the unemployed adult kid of the family.

So stop letting him use your stuff. I had to do this. Stopped. Just stopped.

 

[actaeon277]

So stop letting him use your stuff. I had to do this. Stopped. Just stopped.

Well, don't usually loan him anything.
He doesn't usually do anything.

 

[jsx1043]

Any luck Frank?

My older JD was doing the same thing and my dad and I tore into mine. There is a metal shroud covering the cooling fins near the front of the motor. The cooling fins on mine was clogged with cut crass. Once we removed the shroud and cleaned the fins, it's run like a top. We left the shroud off and I just check the cooling fins after I cut. The whole motor is covered with the engine cover so it's not like it's a high impact part.

 

[tmschuller]

My John Deere rider kept killing the battery. I replaced the battery and regulator and checked out wiring still would run the battery flat after mowing once. Only thing left was the stator so I bought a new one. Pulled the flywheel and the old stator was so packed in dirt and debris it wasn't able to charge. I put the new one in and boom. Running just fine. So if anyone needs a stator to try it is yours