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The steering tracking has not been set properly. It left the factory wrong, then the dealer or big box store (most likely), did nothing to set steering correctly. Follow the steering arm linkage back to transaxles. These can be adjusted with some trial and error.

If “the kid” is concerned about cost, I can’t see how you will perform a rebuild with parts and labor and keep the cost down. Unless you heavily discount both.

And yet I see 10, 20, 30 plus year old riding mowers from John Deere, and many other brands every month. Still running, and chugging along. In my area John Deere is 25 plus % of the market for homeowners. There is nothing special about big box store John Deere mowers. They have just done a great...

You are dealing with a 22 year old engine. Do you know the approximate hours on engine?

I got almost 2000 hours out of a Kohler Command engine in my Scag before a rebuild, with zero extra zinc added or anything except 10W-30 oil and regular oil changes. I believe changing oil and filter every 50 hours or so is more important than worrying about zinc content.

Stop. Take some time, do some reading online, think about it. You are jumping from one thing to the next. Ask yourself, what changed from the time the engine was running, until now?

Peerless is the best bet.

Very carefully and gradually it can be straightened, depending upon how bent it is.

So nobody can tell me how much zinc is in regular 10W-30 oil. I buy oil for customers in 5 gallon buckets. Buying oil branded by the manufacturer such as Kawasaki, is crazy in my opinion. You are buying a brand more than an actual quality difference.

I am not defensive. If a person speaks from years of real experience vs a few personal events, which one tends to hold more weight? Standers are terrible on hillsides. Worse than the crappy steering wheel Cub Cadet zero turn you like. Some people can’t be convinced. I am done with this topic...

So how much zinc is in regular SAE 10W-30 oil??? The whole zinc amount is another controversial topic that comes up.

The push for young people to go to college instead of trades such as HVAC, plumbing, mechanics, etc. has been a huge factor in the decline. The younger people have been raised in a different environment with the internet. They often don’t want to get dirty, hot, cold, working in weird positions...

You aren’t getting a new mower. You aren’t the first person to ever have problems with a piece of equipment. You should try to be patient and see how the process goes.

I have rebuilt transaxles and hydro pumps in the past also. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Try doing this repair when you are a one person shop, you are 3 weeks out, the phone is ringing and customers are coming in throughout the day, and you do every single task from sweeping...

This little “hill” is a bump compared to some of the properties I have mowed in the past with a real zero turn.

Here we go again…Why do you never see steering wheel zero turns (Cub Cadet is the only one), mowing hillsides from lawn services, and only see a real zero turn mowing the hillside? Because a real zero turn is better, faster, more productive, and holds hills better.

Most shops will not repair hydro pumps, pump motors, or transaxles because it is labor intensive, costly, and risky to repair and it not leak again. Then the shop has to eat the labor to make it right. It is remove and replace normally for shops when it comes to hydros, as well as not rebuilding...

Some of my customers do not know their riding mower has a brake you can set and leave the mower running and get off the seat. I show them and they say, “I never knew that.”

I used to mow commercially before doing small engine repair. The two zero turn mowers that really hold a hill well are Scag and Ferris. Some were so steep it required going up and down to mow it. Way more that 18 degree slope. More like closer to 45 degrees. Never had a problem with oil...

The transaxle running fine in forward and reverse and then not being able to move the mower after 30 minutes is not a good sign. Once the oil heats up and gets thinner after mowing for a half hour is when you are experiencing problems, not upon first starting to mow. Changing hydro oil may help...

Many riding mowers are unstable and tippy on steeper slopes. That’s when a good zero turn is better. In this case, you either can maintain control and it feels acceptable, or it doesn’t.

Sometimes two gaskets doesn’t do it, and still will not prime. You can buy a new base for only about $15-$20 dollars.

Look up on google “how to change oil on Tuff Torq K46 transaxle.”

Get the model number of Troy Bilt mower and look up your correct deck belt size. Verify the correct size from 2-3 different websites. Check all the pulleys and spindles carefully as well as belt guides and good belt tension when engaged.

Those carburetors are very easy to clean, if you know how to do it. Must remove the white cartridge with jets and take it apart and clean it and reinstall. Try again.

Well put. One big advantage a larger shop has if they have one or two experienced technicians with many years of experience is to simply ask the guy that know when they get stuck on a repair. Someone like me only has the internet and my experience to turn to. A DIY guy with limited experience...

It would be a lot more than unbolting the front wheels on square tubing and adding a spacer. I am 5’8” and don’t feel the need to completely modify a zero turn when my feet don’t reach the end of the foot platform comfortably on a zero turn.

Buy a good Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, or Redmax trimmer and knock it out. You are wasting time with those walk behind trimmers.

A good dealer that wants to earn or keep your business should take a look at your mower and work with you on cost. Have you tried contacting shops on your specific situation explaining the problem? It really has nothing to do with Cub Cadet on the amount of technical support or information...

I usually go for about 3150 to 3250. I find almost every push and self-propelled mower is set too low when I am working on them. Often around 2800 rpms or so.

To check compression on a 2-stroke I remove the muffler and check condition of the piston, rings, and cylinder. You are looking for scoring and go by experience as to what is excessive or acceptable. A compression test can also be performed. When I worked on other brands besides Stihl...

I am not suggesting things, I am explaining based on years of experience. Maybe I misunderstand a specific issue sometimes, maybe I make a mistake, etc. But I am always learning and helping people. There is nothing more to it than that. I learn just about everyday in life something. Learning to...

Star Tech- I have never worked on one mower in my life. Just lucky or unlucky, depending upon on you look at it.

All this name calling saying “moron”. There is no Kawasaki FV series engine. Typo or not, no names called, just pointing out this mistake.

A year is a long time to work on a 25+ year old engine to get it right. Could have other issues besides carburetor because of age and hours.

Exmark

Dead short that is grounding out. You will need a multimeter, flashlight to trace, test, and examine all wires and connections, and patience and luck.

K46 is not a hill climber. You are slowly killing the transaxle. Not made to consistently be pushing it to do this over and over, week after week.

Briggs opposed twin, not exposed twin. I am familiar with these engines and carburetors. These carburetors have the fuel pump built into the carburetor. Obviously, your air/fuel mixture is pretty close, but not correct. If start drilling out a hole, you better start small. Where exactly would...

Good catch. GlD you got it fixed.

So you have the service manual, and are familiar with EFI, and are a small engine mechanic, just more on ATVs etc. You should be able to figure this out if you stay with it on fixing it. I have limited experience with EFI and codes and have problems with my Ferris. Has only run about 10 hours in...

It takes a lot of hours to wear down cam lobes. Are you just guessing this diagnosis based on experience? I have never seen an engine not run as a direct result of worn cam lobes.

You have thrown enough parts and sensors at it. Take it to a dealer and get it fixed. Good effort do doubt!

Small engines will not tolerate 15% ethanol. I use 87 octane 10% ethanol all the time in small engines. Many people don’t agree with 10% ethanol in small engines and think I am wrong. The local gas station Murphy USA where I used to get all my fuel for small engines has recently gone to 15%...

Very doubtful a “simple adjustment” will do anything. How many hours? What type of transaxles ? Has oil/filter ever been changed on hydros?

Do you think OEM parts in general, are 10 times the quality of aftermarket? I have had good success with aftermarket parts over the years. In this case, simply bypass the anti-afterfire solenoid on carburetor, and no need to purchase new part.

By doing some cross checking online, the belt size can be fairly easily determined. $85 these days sounds reasonable for an OEM belt, especially if the aftermarket belt is only slightly less in cost.

What is the pattern of the backfire? I am leaning towards cleaning the carburetor.

If battery, starter, and all connections are good, most likely needs a valve adjustment.