What is wrong with my lawn tractor? 1981 statesman 18hp?

chich

I have a little trouble staring it. I have to hook it to my truck battery to get it to turn over enough to start. After it starts and warms up it acts like it is over heating and looses power in all 4 gears when it is taking off and when i am going up the least little hill. It does alright on completely level ground. I have changed the oil and put new spark plugs in it and have cleaned out from around the heads and the fly wheel and it still looses power. What could be wrong with it???

Answer
You have two separate problems. Having to jump start it indicates a bad battery (is the battery the same age as the tractor?), or charging system. The power loss when it gets warm sounds like a bad ignition coil or breaker points. A weak ignition will be more evident under a load. You may also have a fuel flow problem, which again shows up under load. A restricted fuel filter, debris in the float valve or even the carburetor jets. A dirty air filter will cause the engine to smoke but you didn't mention that as a symptom. One last thing. Make sure the engine governor linkage is able to move freely. If the governor can't open when a load is place on the engine, you will get the same symptoms.

I have a Craftsman riding lawn tractor, a Lt1000 auto trans but it only has reverse gear?

Rod G

It has no forward gears, won't move forward, but does have reverse,,What could be causing this problem ?? Thanks in advance, Rod

Answer
1. Be certain that the amount of oil you added and the oil SAE is correct (10W / 30W) - It is possible you have air trapped somewhere in the transmission or if the amount of oil is inadequate the pump may be cavitating, (pulling air).

2. Check the shift linkage and be certain that the adjustment is correct. The second season for my tractor I noticed that the forward speed was dropping off and I changed the linkage to provide greater range of movement on the control arm located on the transmission. If your model is like mine you will notice that the transmission shift linkage arm (on the transmission) has 2 location holes for the shift linkage rod. The factory installation uses the hole farthest away from the pivot point for the control arm which minimizes the movement and thereby the forward and reverse speeds. I moved the shift linkage to the inside hole on the transmission shift control arm and the speed, especially forward, was back to its' perky self. Prior to moving the linkage arm, the shift knob would hit the limit of the Z slot and limit speed. Now the shift know does not bottom out, rather, the shift control in the transmission limits the movement of the shifter knob. No doubt now that the shifter is requesting full forward from the transmission.

3. Check the linkage to be sure that when you place the shift into forward that the dump valve is not engaging somehow. The dump valve is associated with the brake and is used to regulate pressure in the transmission to achieve a clutch effect. If you have noticed, when you have the transmission in full forward (normally working transmission) and the throttle full, you can ease off the brake and the tractor will gradually increase the forward speed as you continue to release the brake to full off positing. This is accomplished through a linkage tie into the transmission to push down what appears to be a little plunger or button on the transmission. It is also possible that the little plunger is sticking. keep in mind that the hydraulic force needed to move in reverse may not be as much as for forward due to internal gearing. In other words, your hydraulic pressure may be low in general and only showing its' ugly head in forward.

4. Can your tractor back-up a hill with authority? If it can then you may have an internal leak in the forward side of the internal system.

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I have purchased property that will require at lease a compact tractor-any-body know about used Mitsubishi's

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Twlight Zo

Rather than purchase a new unit I'm looking for a used one--I like the Kubota tractors--they appear to be of a comfortable size. These units are expensive and I am looking for a used unit of some type. Some say, stay away from those tractors that are hard to get parts for as-Mitsubishi, Ford etc yet these units are the most common in the used market under 2,500.00.
I can purchase a used (2yr. old),Husqvarna lawn tractor , 21hp w/48"cut for $900.00--is that appropriate-for 2.5 acres?

Answer
Yes the Husqvarna lawn tractor will be fine for just mowing 2.5 acres.
You may also consider your terrain and weather.
For example, if you have steep hills or creeks or rocks or sand or snow or ice.

You may find that some Husqvarna lawn tractors are built buy a common manufacturer.
I do not consider them a heavy duty daily use type of tractor.
What 21hp engine is it - the kawasaki or kohler?

If you can find a good Kubota and can afford it - do it,,,,,

What kind of snow removal product should I get?

blakesavag

I know we are heading into spring but I like to think ahead so it isn't too late and I get stuck in my driveway...again. I have about a 400 foot driveway. It is gravel and about 8-10 foot wide. We live in the country in the Chicagoland area. My wife recently started a business out of the house and we are looking for a snow removal product so that our customers feel comfortable coming to our house in the winter. I actually don't mind shoveling but when we both work I don't have the time to shovel my whole driveway like we would need too. I am looking to spend no more then 10,000$, and am looking for the best product available to me. Would a 4 wheeler with a plow work? Should I go for a snow blower? I just don't know what to do, but a small utility tractor seems impractical cause I wouldn't use it the rest of the year, a 4 wheeler would be fun year round, but would those plow thru well, on a gravel driveway? Thanks a ton for all of your help!
If I went 4 wheeler, I was looking at a Polaris 800 cc, 4 wheel drive way. The biggest snow blower I have seen on the market is a 15 hp. Is tat big enough? My mower is 21 hp and I can't imagine the motor on that being strong enough to throw snow, and no we don't get lake effect snow, but at times it is wet and heavy.

Answer
We have a 1500 ft gravel driveway, and use a kawasaki Prairie 650 and 4 foot plow to plow it. This is the first year we had to hand shovel the driveway wider, in MN, and it was a crappy, exhausting deal that took us 3 days (boy do we lose our physical fitness by the end of winter - in gardening season fitness, probably a 4 hour job). If your driveway is flush with the surroundings, and not elevated, it will be harder for you to push snow to the sides. we have a slight elevation. We are going to get a snowblower to use occasionally when there is a problem like this year, but I will tell you that when I first moved to this house, before I got married, I bought a heavy duty snowblower with tracks instead of wheels, and before the ground froze, like the first big snowfall time, it ate gravel and broke the shear pins constantly. We use our ATV for many things besides plowing so we are happy with this arrangement, and it's our own damned fault that we are hermits living so far off the road (We love it). we have a moose plow. I wonder if you get lake effect snow, which we are not near Superior at all - but again, if your driveway is elevated good, you can get that snow off to the sides. PLOW WIDE, like a freeway, earlier in the winter so if the snow really piles up, there is a place to shove the stuff. Get a WARN winch - the other brand we tried broke and was replaced twice, and everyone says WARN is best. You can put chains on your ATV and get 4 wheel drive. Don't get a little ATV - you need the weight. I sit on the ATV with my husband when there is a *lot* of snow, and I call myself Ballast on those days. You could put a sandbag on there instead, but the sandbag can't get off the ATV and pull it out of a snowbank if you slew sideways and get stuck.

PS I dunno why people think an ATV is iffy, but we do have a top of the line ATV (We didn't like the belt drive, and our second ATV is a direct drive Honda) and we are in central to northern MN and a lot of our snow is the fluffy stuff, not the heavy kind. And definitely no lake effect snow.


PPS It is difficult to check the oil on Polaris models, I've been told, and maybe that problem has been fixed. Of course I want you to buy one, since they are a MN company :-)

I think 15 HP is fine - I really loved that one I had with tracks instead of wheels, but I have a big hill to go up to get out from my house, and that's why I got the tracks. The main issue is sucking gravel in during early and late winter - in mid winter, normally you don't get dug into the road itself at all to suck any gravel. When I tried a snowblower attached to my lawn tractor, which was a 16 HP, I think, it kept getting stuck in the soft road bed and breaking shear pins.

Your driveway is MUCH MUCH shorter than mine, so I think a 4 wheeler will be totally awesome. Just remember to plow as wide as you can, because you never know how much snow you will get later, and you need a place to put all that snow. The driveway gets narrower thru the winter, if there is a lot of snow. In later winter if there is a LOT of snow, my husband will rev up and jam the snow directly sideways, with me as ballast, to push that snow back some more. This has only been a couple years in 10 that he had to do that. Keep spare clips, bolts etc on hand for your plow, because they fall out under heavy use, at times. Our Moose plow has been very good to us.

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Are husqvarna lawn tractors good on hilly terrain?

best lawn tractor hills image

Jeremy

I was thinking of buying one of there lawn tractors but i have kind of hilly terrain. I know some lawn tractors don't do as well on this type of land.

Answer
It is going to be less an issue of what brand and more what style of mower is going to work best for you. Steep hills call for a mower with a lower center of gravity and a wider stance. How steep are you talking? Also are you running up and down the hills or across? A floating deck is going to be better then a hanging deck to reduce scalping as you crest the hills. Additionally, the bigger the hills, the higher the risk of rollover, so investing in a mower with a seatbelt and ROPS (roll-over protection system) may be very well worth it.

Finally, you need to look at what type of transmission is on the equipment. A low price mower may be under-built to handle the demands you are putting it under. A commercial grade mower may cost more, but may save you a bundle in repairs and replacement in the future.

What is the functional difference in the 4 cyl and 6 cyl engine in the Toyota Tacoma?

Michael

Not sure which one I need. I would be pulling either a utility trailer with construction supply or a lawn tractor or pulling a 14 foot boat.

Answer
to add,
pulling a utill trailer at moderate to hwy speeds, you would definitely want the V6. the I4 will do what the V6 does at lower speeds due to different gearing. but it cannot develop the torque needed to do the work at moderate to hwy speeds.
in that case, there is some truth to "no replacement for displacement".
also, if you're pulling say your boat on vacation at hwy speeds and going up hills, get it with a manual trans. the V6 can be a little lacking under those conditions as well and the auto trans will kick down a lot. the manual trans will fair better in the long run.

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What wrong with my Sears DYS 4500 Lawn Tractor?

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Keith L

I have a 2008 Sears DYS 4500 Lawn Tractor. It's been running and riding great until this weekend. I know that I'm not suppose to be going up hills, but now it won't go up hills. It's like it doesn't have enough power. I used to be able to go up hills with out any effort and now I can't. The engine sounds good. I haven't gained any weight. I suspect the automatic transmission. Any ideas on what might be wrong.

Answer
change the transmission fluid and the filter.

Are husqvarna lawn tractors good on hilly terrain?

Jeremy

I was thinking of buying one of there lawn tractors but i have kind of hilly terrain. I know some lawn tractors don't do as well on this type of land.

Answer
It is going to be less an issue of what brand and more what style of mower is going to work best for you. Steep hills call for a mower with a lower center of gravity and a wider stance. How steep are you talking? Also are you running up and down the hills or across? A floating deck is going to be better then a hanging deck to reduce scalping as you crest the hills. Additionally, the bigger the hills, the higher the risk of rollover, so investing in a mower with a seatbelt and ROPS (roll-over protection system) may be very well worth it.

Finally, you need to look at what type of transmission is on the equipment. A low price mower may be under-built to handle the demands you are putting it under. A commercial grade mower may cost more, but may save you a bundle in repairs and replacement in the future.

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What wrong with my Sears DYS 4500 Lawn Tractor?

best lawn tractor hills image

Keith L

I have a 2008 Sears DYS 4500 Lawn Tractor. It's been running and riding great until this weekend. I know that I'm not suppose to be going up hills, but now it won't go up hills. It's like it doesn't have enough power. I used to be able to go up hills with out any effort and now I can't. The engine sounds good. I haven't gained any weight. I suspect the automatic transmission. Any ideas on what might be wrong.

Answer
change the transmission fluid and the filter.

Are husqvarna lawn tractors good on hilly terrain?

Jeremy

I was thinking of buying one of there lawn tractors but i have kind of hilly terrain. I know some lawn tractors don't do as well on this type of land.

Answer
It is going to be less an issue of what brand and more what style of mower is going to work best for you. Steep hills call for a mower with a lower center of gravity and a wider stance. How steep are you talking? Also are you running up and down the hills or across? A floating deck is going to be better then a hanging deck to reduce scalping as you crest the hills. Additionally, the bigger the hills, the higher the risk of rollover, so investing in a mower with a seatbelt and ROPS (roll-over protection system) may be very well worth it.

Finally, you need to look at what type of transmission is on the equipment. A low price mower may be under-built to handle the demands you are putting it under. A commercial grade mower may cost more, but may save you a bundle in repairs and replacement in the future.

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What is the life expectancy of a John Deere mower?

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albaker07

We are looking at a 717a commerical zero turn and a residential zero turn. We mow about 4 acres, slight hills, some trees to go around. How long would we expect either of these mowers to last with regular maintenance and upkeep? Would we be better off going with a lawn or garden tractor?

Answer
If you are really going to mow 4 acres regularly, choose the commercial mower. They are made for mowing lots of land and for many more hours of usage. They cost more but last a very very long time with regularly scheduled maintenance of engine and equipment. There are commercial zero turn machines that have attachments if you want that type of machine. "Walker Mowers" make residential mowers to commercial spec. Go check them out, there are about 5 or six different attachments, even front loaders! Check out your warranty time periods, also. That is very important, especially with 4 acres!!!

why does my lawn tractor engine bog down sometimes?

EpicRacer

i just put a new craftsman 17.5hp single cylinder engine in my tractor. when i push the throttle full, it lags a bit to get up to speed. when i engage the mower blades, the rpms drop slightly, not a lot, but there is a noticable difference. when i mow uphill, the rpms also drop a little more, and if i mow in 5th gear they drop further. it also bogs down when i hit a thick patch of grass, but it always moves fast enough to cut the grass cleanly.

what is the cause of this?
this just doesnt seem normal to me. it doesnt feel as powerful as my old 17hp engine. the old engine never bogged down unless i hit a really thick area of grass. it revved quickly and always maintained a steady rpm, give or take a couple hundred rpms.

is there a break-in period for small engines?
its a Briggs& Stratton with the craftsman label, part of the I/O series engine.
im hoping the engine just needs to be broken in. my old B&S could do anything- take a full 42" bite on damp (i dont mow WET grass) grass and barely bog down; i could do wheelies and lay some rubber down the driveway, it just had mega torque for its size, this one cant do those things.

Answer
You say you have a craftsman 17.5 hp single cylinder engine?..Funny, I have been in this business for 20 years and craftsman does not make engines...what I would need to know is...is it a Briggs and Statton?..or a Tecumseh?..
What you are describing sounds like a twin opposed engine and what it does going up and down hills.... which if that were the case...the oil slinger works in a different way..but, it is not warrantable if you have the twin opposed going up and down hills...not what they are made for...but, if you have the single cylinder engine I would have to ask..did you do this yourself?..Or did a shop do it?..We have to set the rpms right and I use a light that helps..though I can go by sound..most people that do it themselves invariably do it by sound...which is almost always wrong, since you don't work around this type of equipment day in and day out..that is why they have us...we go to school for it..every year..without fail.. Another thing..when you are cutting grass, you don't use the whole width of a mower to make a full cut...use a 3/4 cut so as not to bog down...and I would also have to ask this...are you mowing after it rains?..while the grass is still wet?...Big no no..though people never listen to us until they have blown their engine and want to blame us?...here is a good trick...before you mow...spray pam or another cooking spray underneath the mower housing, where the blades are...be surprised, won't have that build-up of grass on it when you are finished...I have tried to tell my customers to use a hose and they will tell me I do!..this is when something such as their bearings go out...we know better..Just so you know, craftsman does not make the engines...trust me..look at the blower housing, do you see the Briggs symbol or the Tecumseh symbol..there is only one other engine that you would have...doubt it is that one...though sears does have a few...but, on the zero turn radius...and it's an expenseive little baby....but, do watch the oil..make sure it is on the mark, and use only HD 30...if all else fails...go to Wal-mart, or sears, or look in your local phone book for a dealer of these engines near you..they will tell you the same thing that I have told you...

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why does my lawn tractor engine bog down sometimes?

best lawn tractor hills image

EpicRacer

i just put a new craftsman 17.5hp single cylinder engine in my tractor. when i push the throttle full, it lags a bit to get up to speed. when i engage the mower blades, the rpms drop slightly, not a lot, but there is a noticable difference. when i mow uphill, the rpms also drop a little more, and if i mow in 5th gear they drop further. it also bogs down when i hit a thick patch of grass, but it always moves fast enough to cut the grass cleanly.

what is the cause of this?
this just doesnt seem normal to me. it doesnt feel as powerful as my old 17hp engine. the old engine never bogged down unless i hit a really thick area of grass. it revved quickly and always maintained a steady rpm, give or take a couple hundred rpms.

is there a break-in period for small engines?
its a Briggs& Stratton with the craftsman label, part of the I/O series engine.
im hoping the engine just needs to be broken in. my old B&S could do anything- take a full 42" bite on damp (i dont mow WET grass) grass and barely bog down; i could do wheelies and lay some rubber down the driveway, it just had mega torque for its size, this one cant do those things.

Answer
You say you have a craftsman 17.5 hp single cylinder engine?..Funny, I have been in this business for 20 years and craftsman does not make engines...what I would need to know is...is it a Briggs and Statton?..or a Tecumseh?..
What you are describing sounds like a twin opposed engine and what it does going up and down hills.... which if that were the case...the oil slinger works in a different way..but, it is not warrantable if you have the twin opposed going up and down hills...not what they are made for...but, if you have the single cylinder engine I would have to ask..did you do this yourself?..Or did a shop do it?..We have to set the rpms right and I use a light that helps..though I can go by sound..most people that do it themselves invariably do it by sound...which is almost always wrong, since you don't work around this type of equipment day in and day out..that is why they have us...we go to school for it..every year..without fail.. Another thing..when you are cutting grass, you don't use the whole width of a mower to make a full cut...use a 3/4 cut so as not to bog down...and I would also have to ask this...are you mowing after it rains?..while the grass is still wet?...Big no no..though people never listen to us until they have blown their engine and want to blame us?...here is a good trick...before you mow...spray pam or another cooking spray underneath the mower housing, where the blades are...be surprised, won't have that build-up of grass on it when you are finished...I have tried to tell my customers to use a hose and they will tell me I do!..this is when something such as their bearings go out...we know better..Just so you know, craftsman does not make the engines...trust me..look at the blower housing, do you see the Briggs symbol or the Tecumseh symbol..there is only one other engine that you would have...doubt it is that one...though sears does have a few...but, on the zero turn radius...and it's an expenseive little baby....but, do watch the oil..make sure it is on the mark, and use only HD 30...if all else fails...go to Wal-mart, or sears, or look in your local phone book for a dealer of these engines near you..they will tell you the same thing that I have told you...

I have purchased property that will require at lease a compact tractor-any-body know about used Mitsubishi's

Twlight Zo

Rather than purchase a new unit I'm looking for a used one--I like the Kubota tractors--they appear to be of a comfortable size. These units are expensive and I am looking for a used unit of some type. Some say, stay away from those tractors that are hard to get parts for as-Mitsubishi, Ford etc yet these units are the most common in the used market under 2,500.00.
I can purchase a used (2yr. old),Husqvarna lawn tractor , 21hp w/48"cut for $900.00--is that appropriate-for 2.5 acres?

Answer
Yes the Husqvarna lawn tractor will be fine for just mowing 2.5 acres.
You may also consider your terrain and weather.
For example, if you have steep hills or creeks or rocks or sand or snow or ice.

You may find that some Husqvarna lawn tractors are built buy a common manufacturer.
I do not consider them a heavy duty daily use type of tractor.
What 21hp engine is it - the kawasaki or kohler?

If you can find a good Kubota and can afford it - do it,,,,,

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Are husqvarna lawn tractors good on hilly terrain?

best lawn tractor hills image

Jeremy

I was thinking of buying one of there lawn tractors but i have kind of hilly terrain. I know some lawn tractors don't do as well on this type of land.

Answer
It is going to be less an issue of what brand and more what style of mower is going to work best for you. Steep hills call for a mower with a lower center of gravity and a wider stance. How steep are you talking? Also are you running up and down the hills or across? A floating deck is going to be better then a hanging deck to reduce scalping as you crest the hills. Additionally, the bigger the hills, the higher the risk of rollover, so investing in a mower with a seatbelt and ROPS (roll-over protection system) may be very well worth it.

Finally, you need to look at what type of transmission is on the equipment. A low price mower may be under-built to handle the demands you are putting it under. A commercial grade mower may cost more, but may save you a bundle in repairs and replacement in the future.

What is the functional difference in the 4 cyl and 6 cyl engine in the Toyota Tacoma?

Michael

Not sure which one I need. I would be pulling either a utility trailer with construction supply or a lawn tractor or pulling a 14 foot boat.

Answer
to add,
pulling a utill trailer at moderate to hwy speeds, you would definitely want the V6. the I4 will do what the V6 does at lower speeds due to different gearing. but it cannot develop the torque needed to do the work at moderate to hwy speeds.
in that case, there is some truth to "no replacement for displacement".
also, if you're pulling say your boat on vacation at hwy speeds and going up hills, get it with a manual trans. the V6 can be a little lacking under those conditions as well and the auto trans will kick down a lot. the manual trans will fair better in the long run.

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Can someone recommend an appropriate sized lawn tractor for 9 acres?

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rankin3k

I recently purchased a home with approximately 9 acres of cleared land. There are two fairly steep areas, strenuous to walk up, but still grassy. Is a 60 inch cutting deck sufficient?

Answer
Yes. 60 inches is okay for that. DO you want a zero turn mower or a walk behind? The zero turn will be hard to run on the hills and may be unsafe. The walk behind is safer on the hills and may need a sulky to ride on as walking behind that is long. 60 inches should be able to mow that in a few hours. A 72 inch mower can do an acre in 15 minutes. 60 inches maybe 20 minutes an acre. How much time do you have on your hands? Plus all of these mowers will be in the 8-9000 dollar range....

What type of Lawnmower should I get?

James

So im clueless when it comes to lawnmowers and I need help on which type is best for my yard.
Right now my yard is HUGE. Its big, it has rocks on some parts with grass over it, it has a slope, and a swing set on it. And to make it worse, I have an ancient lawn mower, its big, heavy and has starting up problems. Its also torture when I have to go around and around the swing set trying to get all the grass from it. And that mini hill on my backyard makes it even harder.
So Im planning to get a lawnmower that fights my lawn the most, Ive went on amazon and looked at reviews but haven't found anything very useful in terms of my particular yard.
Im looking for a cheap, and light lawn mower (any lawn mowers probably lighter than the one I have)
This one looks really good:
http://www.amazon.com/American-1304-14-14-Inch-Economy-T-Style/dp/B000NHTH0O/ref=lp_128066011_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1368999624&sr=1-15

but should I get more a lawn mower more like this one:?

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-LM175-18-Inch-Electric/dp/B00005AKZE/ref=lp_128066011_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1368999624&sr=1-10

any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated =)

Answer
I got an electric and had it for years. I remember the reel mower (and that is the light flimsy model). When the neck is2x3 wood, everything else is heavy duty steel. Probably the weight of two of the red mowers.

So, don't cut as often. Like let the grass grow over 2 inches in height and then cut it so it is 2" high. I cut maybe 8 times a season. And it stays green because the soil does not dry out quickly because the grass shades the ground.

If you need to work on your thighs, belly and knees...you go for the red one

If you are skinny then either will do

If you are a lazy good for nothing then get a riding tractor mower.

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