Mower problem -problem resolved!??
It looks as though I may need a new motor for my tractor lawn mower.
It is only 3 years old too!! Just past warranty and only 175 hrs on the run time clock!! DAMN IT! Sears YT4000 lawn tractor with 18.5 Intek Plus engine.
It clattered and smoked profusely all of a sudden, I shut it down and then restarted it… and it ran normal!! WTF?
Then was ok for 15 min of mowing and did it again, and recovered before I could shut it down. Now it clatters only slightly on occasion and a small puff of smoke comes out of the exhaust. Other than that.. it runs just fine with no noise, smoke, etc.
It is being looked at by a neighbor now and I want to start “shopping” for the best option in motors either for a replacement or a new mower.
I thought the Briggs & Stratton Intek was supposed to be a good engine. It has full pressure oil lube, oil filter, etc. Had oil, never another problem.
So… is a Kohler engine better? Should I avoid the Intek line?
I know Hondas have a good rep. but not many seem to be available in mowers.
Thanks!
I am awaiting the verdict on this one.. very tempted to contact both Sears and Briggs and ask WTF!
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If you can’t get it to repeat the problem while the neighbor is there, have him come over and cut your grass until it acts up 😉
Maybe it won’t do it the rest of the summer and you can get some help on your yard work 😆
I like the Subaru/Robin engines from what I have been reading, I purchased a pressure washer with a Subaru engine and Cat pump and it is working great for me. The thing you need to keep in mind is will you have a factory authorised repair shop in your area if the new engine needs any work under warranty.
Link to engines: http://www.robinamerica.com/series.aspx?sid=11
So you think it may just be sort of like a minor form of hydraulic lock where liquid gets into a piston/cylinder and prevents it from rotating?
That would at least make sense as to why the problem goes away.
The shop I walked into and talked to was perplexed as to how the engine could exhibit that sort of a “mechanical” failure and still run without disintegrating in front of me…. LOL! Especially since it recovers!!
I will forward your ideas to my neighbor. He does a lot of work on motors like these and was puzzled too, but was going to take a look at it. He saw it running at my house and we could not get it to repeat.
I also found out that the valves need to be adjusted/checked on these overhead valve engines annually, so that may well be it…
Hope so, will be a cheap fix if no damage was done from the impact of the piston with the liquid oil at the top of the cylinder.
Hmmm now I guess I have a Diesel/gas motor!!
Thanks guys!
and just to add to y/n list of things to do is adjust the valves.
didn’t occ build a bile with a kohler engine or was that with a different lawn mower engine?
edit – I looked it up and it looks to be a dixie engine, not kohler
It might just have a build up of oil somewhere – do you trailer it or otherwise go up/down ramps or was it tilted when it started clattering/smoking? Burns off, runs normal and then starts to build up again…. and the cycle continues.
If I tilt my lowly little Murary with Briggs and Stratton engine push mower I have oil literally pouring out of the exhaust and the filter gets clogged really fast – filter clog shouldn’t be a problem in a ride on though.
I’d change oil, replace filter, spark plugs etc and if you have a compressor give it a thorough blowing out (take all the plastic cover’s off).
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Kind of sounds like a carburetor problem. Float not closing and flooding perhaps. If you got oil in the combustion chamber theirs something serious going on, and it won’t be intermittent.
Sears provides Lawn and Garden in-home repair for their mowers. Call and ask what the service fee is. Chances are the guy who shows up will recognize the make/model and the problem immediately.