engine lurching

[MTDman1]

Hi everyone. I have a (new to me) 2009 cub cadet 42 inch deck that im having some problems with. It will start fine but the engine will start lurching at idle in neutral. It will also lurch in forward and reverse unless you give it some gas. It will also pop at low throttle. Also, I checked the oil, and is it supposed to be clear? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ILENGINE]

By lurching, I am assuming that you mean that the throttle is going up and down. That is a sign that the fuel mixture is too lean, which can also cause popping. The carb may have a low speed adjustment screw, or not, that you can turn out slightly to smooth out the idle. If it doesn't have a low idle mixture screw, you will need to remove thand clean the carb, to fix the surge. In a pinch you may be able to increase the idle speed slightly to smooth out the idle, if mixture adjustment doesn't smooth the idle.

Depending on brand of oil in engine, it may be fairly clear. Kohler oil is about impossible to see on the dipstick, if it is new oil.