My JD L100 lawn tractor stalled on a flat the other day, just stalled but accompanied by a hard to describe noise sort of like something spinning down. After that I got only a solenoid click.
I tested the battery at 12.2V, but under load only 10.2. On Sunday, it is easier to replace the battery tomorrow, so proceeded to look into the engine trouble possibilities. It is not low on oil.
I removed the spark plug but was unable to turn the flywheel by hand. The starter was partly engaged with the flywheel gear.. The gears on the starter are worn on top. Earlier this summer, it had lost a bolt holding the starter on but that was easy to repair and has held tight since so the gear wear may be from that event.
I tried the key. It engaged the starter briefly then quit. I let off the key. The starter gear was now in its normal off position.
Then I was able to turn the flywheel 3/4 of the way around in either direction and there it hits something. Not like compression pressure, but more like something is in the way.
One valve is loose. The other tight. But then I think the stopping point of the flywheel may be keeping the piston from coming all the way to the top, so any adjusting may be a mute point.
Three years ago, I repaired a valve seat using the preening method so maybe that gave way? Or maybe deeper than the valves?
( Other random history -- It has been running like a top since the valve repair except a bit of weirdness when starting - like a silent delay sometimes when you turn the key. Then it would catch and start right up. I thought maybe it was the switch as letting off the key and trying again seemed sometimes to work. But a new switch did nothing to help. So I have just been tolerating it. But now wonder if it was something going wrong? )
You folks were a great help in getting that repair done so... Thoughts on how to proceed from here? Is there hope for my L100? ... affectionately known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown.
I tested the battery at 12.2V, but under load only 10.2. On Sunday, it is easier to replace the battery tomorrow, so proceeded to look into the engine trouble possibilities. It is not low on oil.
I removed the spark plug but was unable to turn the flywheel by hand. The starter was partly engaged with the flywheel gear.. The gears on the starter are worn on top. Earlier this summer, it had lost a bolt holding the starter on but that was easy to repair and has held tight since so the gear wear may be from that event.
I tried the key. It engaged the starter briefly then quit. I let off the key. The starter gear was now in its normal off position.
Then I was able to turn the flywheel 3/4 of the way around in either direction and there it hits something. Not like compression pressure, but more like something is in the way.
One valve is loose. The other tight. But then I think the stopping point of the flywheel may be keeping the piston from coming all the way to the top, so any adjusting may be a mute point.
Three years ago, I repaired a valve seat using the preening method so maybe that gave way? Or maybe deeper than the valves?
( Other random history -- It has been running like a top since the valve repair except a bit of weirdness when starting - like a silent delay sometimes when you turn the key. Then it would catch and start right up. I thought maybe it was the switch as letting off the key and trying again seemed sometimes to work. But a new switch did nothing to help. So I have just been tolerating it. But now wonder if it was something going wrong? )
You folks were a great help in getting that repair done so... Thoughts on how to proceed from here? Is there hope for my L100? ... affectionately known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown.
