Recent content by hlw49

Well the model no. he posted I looked up and it showed a Kawasaki engine.

I think I'll wait until next year now LOL mowing season is about over now.

True

I have a Tanaka TCB 340 32 cc 1.8 hp String Trimmer I bought in 2004 and still has the original plug and have never had to do a carb. job on it. Run 100% pure gas and Stihl synthetic oil in it. I rest my case.

Never seen a Kohler with the blower housing like the one in the video had.

Toro Timecutter SS 4235 - Starter engages but won't turn engine. Did I miss something here. I Believe that mower has a Kawasaki.

Not that big of a deal take the hose off and the bolts the hold the blower housing on and the whole thing off as a unit.

You know it is the engine with problem if you would post the engine model no. and spec that would help. Since you did show a picture of the mower that showed the engine I can see it is a Kawasaki and that engine has an inertia starter drive. It is the drive that is slipping. It is the rubber...

So what do you suggest people us VP fuel or something similar.

Start it up and spray something around where the manifold mounts to the engine. I use carb cleaner but it could ignite and catch fire. Though I have never had it happen just as a precaution keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Air leak at manifold mounting gasket or carb. one side of carb stopped up .

Exmark actually recommends the copper anti-seize on their blade bolts. I use anti-seize mostly to keep the bolts and bolt holes from gaulding.

I'm not sure Dixie Chopper can tell you. In my experience on these things grounds are the no. 1 Culprit. Check the battery terminals for good connections. The negative battery cable where it bolts the starter mounting bolt. Not just that you think it is tight take it loose clean the cable end...

Might want to check the engine mounting bolts just to be on the safe side.

I have a Tanaka TCB 340 32 cc 1.8 hp String Trimmer I bought in 2004 and still has the original plug and have never had to do a carb. job on it. Run 100% pure gas and Stihl synthetic oil in it. She is a beast of a trimmer. Just trimmed the place with her today.

Am not seeing lock tight on many mowers anymore. If you can drill a hole in the bold and get it started in the center of the bolt. You might be able to get a left handed drill bit and when it grabs like they do at times just it might spin the bolt right out.

Sounds to me like you are selling yourself short and not charging enough. Afraid your customers will leave you and go to one of the higher priced shops? I think not. Is there anyone in your area that is cheaper than you? Then they might go to them if there is.

Spinning fast may not be a good thing could be broken rods. Check and see it the pistons are going up and down.

Don't shoot yourself in the foot and work for nothing. What are the other shops getting an adjust your price accordingly.

Well a lot of these types of things could be avoided if the customer would do a pre-mow check of the equipment before they mow. I have seen them come in with the engine almost falling off the mower and they did not have a clue there was anything wrong. Hear them drive them in and the engine...

For the basic service and the parts mentioned we get $100.00 plus the price of the parts. Not enough? Too much? Just would like to know how we stand with the rest of the world.

That may be true and may not be if they just look at the mower and the price and not the specs. Any way cheap junk.

Ran into one today that was funny would run for 20 to 30 minutes and start surging. Could slowly pull choke until it would quit surging so I knew it was fuel problem. Mower only had 86.5 hours on it but the out side of the filter was really dirty. I said what the heck so I took the old filter...

Cheap Junk and the customer has no idea it is not a hydro handles just like one.

Kohler makes a tester for their regulators and it will test the Kawasaki and Generac as well. Might test the Briggs as well but I usually just test the Briggs like Bert said. Or actually that is the way Briggs says to check them.

Might look at Big Dog it is a good mower actually built by Excel who builds Hustler. Dixie Chopper is a good mower as well but they have been bought by Rhino Ag and distributing them under the Alamo Group. Their prices have jumped too much and are pricing themselves out of the market. We sell...

All you guys out there that do mower repair for a living just wondering how much labor you charge for a typical service. Air filter, oil filter, fuel filter, oil change, spark plugs. Sharpen blades clean mower, air up tires etc.

How did it react when you sprayed carb cleaner in the intake? Did it effect it at all? If not check the ign modules.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154628807212?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&it

Take the fuel line loose at the fuel pump, I usually put another line on the pump, and stick it in a bottle and spin the engine over and see if the fuel pump is working.

What procedure are you using to read the codes????

No you're right but most people don't do it this way they usually wait until spring to have it done. Engine manufacturers recommend changing the oil as well. You could put the battery on a battery minder as well.

If this mower is running that bad and is throwing no code how are you trying to read the codes.

You know it does have a warranty and if you are having a problem talk to your dealer about it. I know belts are considered a wear item and are not usually warranty but if something else causes the problem and takes the belt out it will be covered under warranty. The hydro mounting brackets are...

We sell the Big Dog mowers where I work and they are top of the line mowers. Though they have had some issues with the Alpha, Alpha MP and MPX they addressed the issue and have fixed the problem with the hydro mounting brackets. If you have one of these units that is giving you belt issues with...

Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Excel Industries for $375 million in cash. This AKA Hustler and Big Dog mowers.

Hustler and Big Dog are both built by Excel most of the mower have a counter part in the other line of mowers though there some differences. The residential mowers all carry a 7 year 300 hours warranty except Rex which carries a 7 year 100 hour warranty and the Stout that carries a 7 year 500...

You probably have broken hydro support brackets the drive belts don't fall off or break for no reason. Talk to the dealer about it there is a hydro bracket kit to repair the problem.

Probably the 500082 time delay

Engine numbers would be helpful as there both a L-head and an OHV twin engines. Old L heads have the tendency to reduce valve clearance to zero leading to no compression. As StarTech said. If it is a V twin and has a two barrel carb it could be one side of the carb is stopped up. As each barrel...

Yes they did and still do but it was his choice.

Primer on the air box if it is the air box is warped and will need to be replaced

Tell that to a friend of mine that has a 1998 Dixie Chopper with a Kohler cv25 that has about 9,000 hours on it running Mobil 1 Synthetic oil in. I'm sure Kohler never recommended synthetic oil back in those days.

ZT2200 should be fine I watched a hydro gear video on the and it looked good for what it is made for. Go for it

I have yet to see a Yamaha engine on a mower but like Scrub said probably real close to Honda in quality.

Honda makes good engines no issues that I know of. Like the other guys said I haven't seen a Honda engine on a new mower in years.

When you are saying CEL I assume you are saying check engine light. Does this mower have a MIL light malfunction indicator light that will blink codes or are they calling it a check engine light. Anyway will it blink codes?

What does the left side do when you say it is not working right?

Watch the valves Identify the exhaust valve and watch it when it opens the piston is coming up on the exhaust stroke as the piston reaches tdc top dead center the intake valve will open and the piston is going down on the intake stroke as the piston comes back to tdc the valve will close this is...

This is there trouble shooting guide out of the service manual for this engine. Engine Loses Power ● Dirty air cleaner element. ● Engine overheated. ● Excessive engine load. ● Restricted exhaust. ● Faulty spark plug(s). ● High crankcase oil level. ● Incorrect governor setting (on engines...

Did You replace the bushing the post sits in. It is hex shaped bushing with a hole for the shaft to sit in. It just lifts right nothing to hold it in but the shaft sitting on it and the bolt and washer on the end of the shaft.

Usually just over the oil filter.

Spray gum out carb cleaner in through carb and see if it will start. If so dirty carb. When you say cleaned the carb what did you clean. Did you take the main jet out and clean it?The white piece in the center. It will have a brass piece with a hole in it. It will be at the bottom in the older...

Worn cam take the valve cover off and check the lift of the cam. See how much the valves open.

Not an Intek it is a Vanguard. Blown Head gasket or a crankcase breather valve. Pull the crank case breather cover off the #2 cylinder and check to see if the reed valve is broken.

I see them that never get changed and have no issues. What about the ones that have no way to change except siphon it out or take the hydro out and dump it from the vent port. I think that is over kill. Every other year should be fine.

Bummer I just got one for the 31 cubic inch engine that had them.

You get new lifters when you get a new cam.

FR engines don't come with the prefilter FS engines do and the FX come with the Donaldson two stage commercial filter system like You mounted on your engine. Good job by the way. Looks nice. Worked on a Kohler EFI the other day that only came with the outer big filter of course I added the inner...

I'm sure any of the afor mentioned will work fine in most hydros. Have a friend who runs mobil one in his old 1997 xw2500 Dixie Chopper with a Kohler engine CV25 said a few years ago he figured he had 8,000 hours on it and still running strong.

What probably happened is when the fuel filter was change a little bit of junk got into the fuel line and into the carb. May be stuck in the inlet fitting before the inlet needle. Or worse case scenario deeper into the carb. Had customer bring one in the other day with one of those cheap after...

Does anyone know what a 7268 is.

What did you replace in the hydro? Did you get the bypass plate in and in the right position?

you might take a hose and put it on the vent fitting and put it in a bottle or something and start and run the engine and see if it clears up.

How did you test the battery with a volt meter or a load tester. A battery can read 12 volts and when you put a load on it will fall flat on its face. I have seen the pto switch cause this problem.

Big Dog Alpha MP or MPX Kawasaki engines.

it will wear on the clutch plates needs some clearance to avoid this.

Whatever you do do not bang on the starter it has ceramic magnets and you will break them and ruin your starter.

Where I work we do a PDI pre delivery inspection and have caught all the things you said and more. We don't get many complaints or come backs. One of the big things we find is low rpm's.Yes that can engine manufactures short coming but a manufactures as well with misadjusted throttle control...

What is top no load speed of the engine. Should be around 3600 Rpm's. Low rpm low blade lift. Is Orschlen Store like a Tractor Supply. If so they only make sure it has oil and gas and it starts and runs. Do they have a service department?

Blade on upside down?

Thank you for your kind words we appreciate that.

I believe that clutch is adjustable. If you have three bolts that go through the top plate with springs between the top plate and lower plate with adjusting nuts on it is adjustable. Take a .010 feeler gauge and put it in the hole above the lower plate. You can see the space where it will fit...

710-06067 7/16-20x1.250 grade 5 will also need a 736-0322 .445x1.248-.170 flat washer

It would not read anything as it is running in open loop only reads through O2 sensor in closed loop Take the vent hose off the top of the fuel pump module and see if it has fuel in it. Should not have, vents into the intake and would cause this problem.

Can you post model spec and serial no of the engine. U R not giving us much to go on here.

39 psi +or-3 psi Most of the time when you unplug the O2 sensor it will run ok.

Fuel shut off solenoid? Never saw a kohler engine with two fuel shut off solenoids. But model spec and serial no. would help. since the mower can't run. Did she put gas in it or something else. Have seen everything from kerosene, diesel and yes water.

The 110000 and 120000 Professional series engine call for .004-.008 intake and exhaust. Go figure.

If it cuts off again and you switch tanks and it starts back up leave it on that tank and see if it cuts off on that tank. If it doesn't do cut off then it sounds like it would be debre in the other tank.

It could be plastic shavings from manufacturing. I have seen this and that would be warranty. Defects in material and workmanship.

YW

When it starts to surge pull the choke out gradually and see if it quits surging. If it does you have a fuel delivery problem. Make sure you are get ample fuel to the carb,pull and clean the carb. Fuel filter could cause this if it just starting to stop up,

I see this is the first OHV engine I have seen with that big a valve lash.

Brake parts for the hydro will come from the manufacture of the hydro. Get the model no. off the hydro and may be able to look it up through hydro manufacture.

Yes Lucas that is what Dixie Chopper runs in their hydros in the pump and wheel motor units. Sorry not a Castrol man. Do you run that in lawn mowers. It is an additive to boost the oil reduce wear and help the performance of the hydros.

Starting fluid is a bad idea I have seen heads busted using that stuff. Gumout carb cleaner works great and you won't blow up your engine.

Does it turn slow or kick back? Turn it backward against rotation until it comes back to compression and see if it will start.

The top of the starter slips up into a hole in the block and it has probably oxidized and stuck in the hole. Try wiggling it back and forth to try and break it loose. You may have to take a wooden block and put it against the side of the starter near the bottom and tap on it to break it loose...

Not what the repair manual says.

intake .003 to .005 and exhaust .005 to.007

If it were as simple as replacing a wiper blade i would do it while you waited. I replaced a key pad the other day while the customer waited. We try our best to take care of our customers takes just a few minutes to do the key pad but the kit is a different thing. But would do it asap. Never...

Try this until you can decide what you are going to do. Take an air gun and blow around the keys. Blow the crap out of it and see if that will let you start the mower. I did it to one the other day and it worked. Has not been back yet. This was before we got the kit to change the one we did over...

Not off the top of my head but can get it for you I replaced one on a Black Hawk the other day.

Has anyone ever tried this stuff in a lawn mower hydro. Lawnmowers don't use hydraulic fluid they use conventional engine oil mostly 20W-50 high zinc engine oil. I have an old xxw2500 72 inch cut Dixie Chopper and I am going to try it in it and see what it does.

Is it the right belt and is it installed correctly.

tighten the bolt that puts tension on the spring. Unless the handle is bent that usually works.

Big Dog has a 7 year limited warranty 300 hrs. I know someone is going to say Hustler has a 300 hr warranty as well but it is for 3 years. Big Dogs covers the parts only years 4-7. after 3 years with Hustler you have nothing. As long as you don't go over 300 hours. I think the Big Dog has better...

Big Dog Alpha MPX

Valves cam?

Fuel supply problem, fuel filter, restricted flow from tank, dirty carb.

For future reference

SV series engines aka Courage do not have hydraulic lifters. The only Kohler engines with hydraulic lifters are the Command engines,

Yea like the guy that demanded I be fire because he answered his phone and I walked off and left him to talk on his important phone call. When he wanted me to tell him how to put the motion belt on a mower he did not buy from us. Go figure.

They have them on E-bay and Amazon

Is the engine a single cylinder Command Pro? If it is it is bullet proof best single cylinder engine ever built. You have to decide what is best for you. What would it cost to repair, as it looks like you already have, compared to price and how long it will last.

Just because it is nla from Kohler doesn't mean it is not available do a google search on and see what happens.