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Here's my ideas.... Stop the Seafoam. It's not doing anything good for your engine. If you must use an additive, try StarTron. Stop washing the engine! If you want the mower clean, then use a leaf blower. The top of the deck DOES need to be clean to save the belts and allow the deck to breathe...

You can test it by removing the cap, and trying to suck/blow through the vent. It should open easily at 1 psi in both directions. Several ways to fix... Take compressed air and blow into the fuel cap from both directions. The flapper valve inside is simply covered with crap from the ethanol...

What he meant was "dilution". When this event happens, gas can enter the crankcase, then dilute the engine oil, and then, due to greatly reduced lubrication... the engine burns itself up. Pull the dipstick and smell the crankcase. If there is ANY doubt, change the oil before running the engine.

It does sound like the compression release is not working due to valve adjustment.

When I bought my first ZTM, a Hustler 34" Dash, the salesman pointed over to a Big Dog and said something to the effect that it was the exact same as the Hustler, except loaded with accessories... and $1000 more. From this I took it that it was a division of Hustler, but I never researched it...

The place to start with any engine you don't know the full history and age is all new fuel. Then the traditional: fuel, fire, and compression.

I'm not an expert on these pumps, but I know they are variable flow pumps with extremely tight tolerances and they won't endure much abuse... like low/no fluid. I'm glad you're happy, but again I'd be saving that paperwork to prove the pumps weren't right when they left the dealer. Just don't...

Third Question: If there is no ethanol present, IOW only gasoline, then exactly what would the "stabilizer" be stabilizing ?

1) I have done this job dozens of times. • If the plug blew out, then most of the threads are gone and THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH THREADS remaining to engage. • In your case, the cyl head has to come off so that you can tap from the INSIDE going in the reverse direction. • Due to the need for the...

Drop the deck and turn it over. Often times when the deck has center-punched a stump or other immovable object, the front will be pushed back, and thus inward. This draws in the metal from the sides of the deck. The metal on the discharge side will be drawn in to a greater extent because (due to...

I There are 2 systems to activate the blade(s)... A lever that tightens the belt, so that the belt engages the blade(s) A belt that is always under tension, and an electric clutch that engages the blade(s) You have the latter system

Two ways we can answer this.... That's exactly the way I felt. Stop groping those filters before installation.

Congratulations on freeing the mower ! A very high percentage of the weight is placed on the drive wheels, so you've REALLY got to watch what the ground under them is like. Anything approaching moist is typically a no-no. Watch yourself around lakes and ponds. Just because it's firm enough to...

Don't pat yourself on the back too fast. You forgot to ask "Why?" Why is the filter clogged ? I've owned a TroyBilt with a Honda engine for 17 years. The filter is not clogged on it. What I'm saying is that the clogged filter is merely a Symptom of another problem. Unless you fix the real...

Correct !! But... The float needle does not need to go "bad" for this to happen. There could be a bit of trash in the fuel system holding the valve open. Either way you'd get the same result. I must type this 15 times a week.... You need to install a fuel filter to remove all the trash in...

The actual gasoline level should never come up to the FB gasket. The gasket is there to stop "splash" only, NOT to be submerged in fuel.

Your electric PTO clutch has stopped. It could be lots of things... You need to put a VOM on the leads to the clutch and see if there is power. If "Yes", then the clutch itself is probably bad. If "No", then the safety interlock may be holding it back. (e.g. Maybe the system thinks you are not...

Looks like you need to be injecting a squirt of high quality chassis lube into those Zerk fittings once a month. "Pay me now or pay me later."

I suspect you got some water on the air filter or into the fuel tank as you were cleaning. Small amounts of water (1/4 teaspoon) may be keeping the engine from getting gas, which in turn keeps it from running. It's great that you know how to remove the float bowl. But you need to always pour...

That's the VERY best way to deal with this. Then if the drives give up, at say 100 hours, then you got this complaint and return repair on record. Otherwise, with no documentation of this disorder, the dealer may be wanting you to pick up the bill if there is ever a major problem in the future...

If you have an Ohm meter or a VOM, then unplug the wire you were telling us about. That wire grounds out the ignition system to kill the engine, via the ignition switch. Take a resistance reading between the unplugged wire end and any bare spot on the engine housing. That meter reading should...

There are air-filled motorcycle seats that are orthopedic quality that are sold under the Air Hawk name. Find these on Amazon. There are also air-filled cushions for deer hunters sold at big box outdoor stores, like BassPro. Since air is the perfect spring, these may give you more relief.

There are starter safety interlock switches on the seat, parking brake and op levers. If one of these got choked with mud it would tell the starter not to operate. Of course, when pulling... pull in-line with the mower wheels.

Friend, I think you are assuming WAY too much. He says he is 1) spraying the carb cleaner and 2) trying to start it. To me that says the carb is NOT disassembled. If he'd like to share more detail I'm willing to listen. But until he does, that's my assessment. I only know what he tells me.

If you touch it the dealer may say they are not responsible. Take it back to the dealership.

Release the parking brake. Use common nylon tie-down strap(s) to attach to the frame in 2 places. This will keep from scratching the frame, and cut the force applied to any part of the frame by half. Attach the winch to the strap. Don't pull it any further than it takes to free the mower...

I have the same land and back issues. The sidewalls on most mower tires are so stiff that lowering the tire pressures is not go to help you that much. Besides, most mower tires are only inflated to ~12psi anyway. It may help a little, but it won't really fix the problem. 1. First place to...

Carb spray is not some kind of magic, wonder juice. It does NOT work miracles by being near the carb or sprayed into the carb. You must completely disassemble the carb. When the carb is completely disassembled, and spread all over your work bench, THEN you can use it to spray down various holes...

No, the person who forgot to open the breather valve caused this.

Suggestion: You'll want to check your adjustments again in (say) 10 hrs. You should NOT see any changes from where you set them. That would prove the issue comes from no maintenance by the PO, rather than some type of engine damage.

I can help you. Don't allow the fuel line close the muffler or to be scuffed by the rear tire.

Yes. Buy a new tank.

IMHO, 3A should be fine if you run your mower for the usual 1+ hour of mowing per week. The weakness in these low rate, unregulated systems is that there's no way to raise the charge rate when the battery gets in a low state. But there are things you can do that will insure a much higher...

I'm not totally familiar with your mower, but usually there are 2 belts... 1 for the blades and 1 for the drive. Save yourself an extra trip and simply buy both. Hope this helps.

And did he leave ANY ethanol fuel in the fuel system over the winter ? I suspect the old fuel has clogged the jets. The engine is cranking because the choke FORCES fuel up from the float bowl, but when the choke turns OFF (and they turn OFF fairly quickly) all fuel to the engine stops because...

I'm also a StarTron fan for maybe 15 years now. I add it to the big cans that make the trip to the gas station. That way it works its way into all my blowers, trimmers, tillers, chain saws and mowers. I have never had fuel issues, nor have the carbs been apart. And I buy the cheapest fuel (with...

Black smoke is always too rich on the fuel mixture. Listen to Scrubcadet. Either 1) your choke is stuck in the ON position, or 2) your float is not stopping fuel from entering the engine due to grit in the float valve. If it's the later, then your oil level is probably fairly high, AND/OR your...

Scotty is not a fan....

Could also be old, hardened belts slipping in the pulleys. There is far more load when the steering is turned, rather than when straight. The extra load could be just that extra bit it takes to make the belt(s) give up. Are the belts extra shiny and/or show cracking on the inside (the small face...

He never said that.

Here's a small JD lawn tractor.... CLICK HERE :ROFLMAO: Flat is GOOD !! A ZT will be much easier to negotiate around all those trees, and finish the job much faster than any regular riding mower. You may want a battery operated string trimmer to finish up around the raised beds. At least my...

Dean - If fuel is coming out the vacuum line, then fuel has entered the engine.... where it is diluting the engine oil... and the stage is set for the engine to be destroyed. We don't want that ! Suggested approach... Check the engine oil dip stick. The engine may be over-filled. The dip stick...

It's a very simple shaft. Looks like a junior machine shop could make one in 2 hours. This time mount the blade sandwiched between 2 large washers to act as a clutch. Next time you hit something the blade will be able to stop.

The stabilizer's job is to keep the ethanol in solution with the gasoline. If you don't have it, then the ethanol separates and you'll get portions of fuel with higher than 15% ethanol to gasoline ratio, which a normal engine can't possibly burn. But, since your fuel has NO ethanol to begin...

That lizard most definitely voided the warranty. The owner's manual explicitly warns against DAMIT. (Drowned Amphibian Malfunction Inside the Tank) And studies show that, based on what owners are yelling, DAMIT is blamed for more mower breakdowns than any other cause.

HMM is correct. Nothing in the carb "draws" fuel in. It is either delivered by gravity, that is the tank is above the carb. OR, if the tank is below the carb, then there is a pump that is usually operated by vacuum pulses from the engine. I bet your vacuum hose has a leak, or the flapper...

I do that same thing now ! Except I own a newer Exmark, and it came with a tubular jack mount on the front, about 6" in front of my feet. I don't need the jack 24/7 so I stuck a wooden dowel in there that supports a big, horizontal loop in front of me. As I mow along, I use remote pincers to...

Your question and answer have 2 parts... 1. Back in the 60's you might have seen a difference in #1 and #2 ring, but since about 1990 both top-most rings (on a 3 ring gasoline engine piston) are most always the same ring. If there is not a visual difference in the rings, then I wouldn't really...

CCA is 'Cold Cranking Amps', or the power the battery is able to unleash for the highest demand job... cranking the engine. Now, obviously there is a surge of electrical power needed for any PTO clutch to engage, but this surge takes only milli-seconds to satisfy. Then the requirement drops...

That's about it. The mower is made by MTD who also supply Craftsman, TroyBilt, Cub Cadet and several others, and they ALL lack adjustment. If you'll watch the "deck adjustment" videos on YouTube they'll tell you as much. There is one video where the user bends the adjustment lever and gets a...