14SB almost shot?

[JD14 SB]

My 14SB self propelled mower quit running one day as I was emptying the grass catcher bag. I walked back to the mower to give the recoil starter cord a pull to get it running again, and it wouldn't even pull out 1/4 of the way. I contacted my JD dealer and dropped it off at their service department.

They charged me $50 to run a "diagnostic" and told me that the engine is "almost siezed up." They said they could charge me another $100 to go into the engine to see what was going on; I declined. They predicted the repairs would surpass the cost of a new mower. I paid the $50 and took it back home.

I fiddled with it a bit more yesterday afternoon. I learned that I could pull the recoil starter cord its full length if I engaged the blade control lever and knob while pulling the cord. Intriguing. I tried to actually start it while doing that and it fired right up and sounded great! I'm able to get the mower started every time if I do this. However, as soon as I release the blade control lever the engine dies.

Does the engine really sound like it's almost siezed up like the service department told me, or does this sound like a simpler issue to you guys? Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks.

-Mike

 

[DJ660]

Blade Clutch bearing locked up.

 

[Carscw]

I would go back to the dealer and get my $50 back This **** pisses me off. They did not even look at it. This is why I use a small shop and not the ripoff dealers.

 

[mjb8fj]

My 14SB self propelled mower quit running one day as I was emptying the grass catcher bag. I walked back to the mower to give the recoil starter cord a pull to get it running again, and it wouldn't even pull out 1/4 of the way. I contacted my JD dealer and dropped it off at their service department.

They charged me $50 to run a "diagnostic" and told me that the engine is "almost siezed up." They said they could charge me another $100 to go into the engine to see what was going on; I declined. They predicted the repairs would surpass the cost of a new mower. I paid the $50 and took it back home.

I fiddled with it a bit more yesterday afternoon. I learned that I could pull the recoil starter cord its full length if I engaged the blade control lever and knob while pulling the cord. Intriguing. I tried to actually start it while doing that and it fired right up and sounded great! I'm able to get the mower started every time if I do this. However, as soon as I release the blade control lever the engine dies.

Does the engine really sound like it's almost siezed up like the service department told me, or does this sound like a simpler issue to you guys? Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks.

-Mike

that has the blade break clutch on it, doesn't it?

 

[javjacob]

That is why I NEVER take my stuff to the dealership (stealership) to get worked on. They either don't to anything, half @$$ it or do it wrong but they always charge way too much. They didn't even diagnose the problem because its definitely not "almost seized up". Also any decent small engine shop would have looked at it for free. If they don't take any tools to it they shouldn't charge you.