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Hey All,
Am hoping that you all will excuse me for only showing up when I've got a problem, but I have little to contribute in the way of expertise, but have found this forum to be GREAT for helping to solve problems with Karel, a Craftsman 15.5 HP Electric Start 42" Mower Hydrostatic (Automatic) Lawn Tractor Model No. 917.270622.

Sunday before last, it was time to mow the lawns around here before the grass got too high making it a harder task for Karel. Gassed her up. Checked the Oil (it took about four ounces to bring it up to Full). She had been run a couple of weeks prior, and she started right up. We mowed the first and smallest of the three lawns and she did just fine. Mowed the second and next largest of the three lawns and she did good. Started mowing the third and largest of the three lawns (which is about twice as much lawn a the other two lawns put together) and she was doing marvelously. But about half way through the third lawn, a fleeting thought came through my mind that just as we would finish, something would go wrong with the old girl (she's a 2000 model). I noted the thought, but Karel was running so well that it made me wonder where THAT thought came from, and I dismissed it without a second thought. So we had just one strip of grass to cut, and just as we finished it, of a sudden Karel's engine cut out, started again, back-fired, cut out, restarted, bucked, back-fired, restarted and just generally kicked up for a bit. I immediately disengaged the blades, and she started running smoothly, but didn't seem to have much power. We made it back to where she is customarily parked and her throttle was closed and the ignition was shut off.

Have not tried to restart her since but the grass is getting up to where it is going to need mowing this coming Sunday.

I stopped by the local Lawn Mower Shop and asked Billy (the mechanic) what would cause it to do what it did. He said it could be any number of things. I asked him if the carburetor would cause it to do what it did. He said "Yes". He said to remove the float bowl and see if there was maybe something (like water) in it that would cause it to do what it did. I asked him if it could be the spark plug. He said "Not likely". I asked him how it was timed. He said that it was done down inside the engine, but it wasn't likely that anything was wrong with the timing.

So here is what is "kind of mystical" about this... I have absolutely no idea WHY the thought came through my consciousness that something would manifest just as we were finishing, and there are two things that are possible. Either that thought was a "premonition", or by thinking that thought, the manifestation was "triggered". Now I'm not a superstitious type, but have been thinking back on this "event" and it kind of makes me want to go "Hmmmmmm!"

Alright, with all that said, the question that I have is what would make Karel do what she did? Could she have gotten over-heated?

I haven't done anything with Karel since parking her Sunday before last. Am thinking about going out and seeing if she will start. There may be nothing wrong with her at all. She might just have been trying to mess with my mind by somehow doing what I had thought of while we were mowing, but THAT would be weird to say the least.

The gas that was put into her prior to mowing was NEW gasoline. The Oil is 5W30 Valvoline. She has a battery that was bought last year and it cranks Karel quite well, and Karel has been starting up without any fuss.

Anyway, that's the situation. Would appreciate any input/information/suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Hope this finds YOU all doing well.

JC

Now that is one big story. replace the filters , spark plug, start small not like your big story

reynoldston said:

Now that is one big story. replace the filters , spark plug, start small not like your big story

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Hey Mr. R,
Took your advice. Checked the fuel filter. It was fine. Checked the air filter. It was fine but washed the foam liner around the pleated paper anyway. Checked the oil level and added about three ounces to bring it up to full. Filled the gas tank with NEW gasoline. Karel started right up. We mowed the lawns this morning, and she never missed a beat. Still don't know what caused her engine to cut-out, back-fire, etc. But she seems to be fine.

Anyway, thanks for the response.

JC

JC, First by giving your machine a female gender you are set for periods of inexplicable angst. Remember, female lawnmowers are made in either Venus or Mars. Now if you want the scientific approach ...from now on start a journal of how often you have a premonition and then how often it comes true. As you keep this journal you will probably not find a high correlation which means it's just random. On the other hand if you can foretell events accurately which have not yet happened perhaps you do have a talent and could start on stage ...like the guy who can tell what is in someone's pocket. But what I'd do is just take care of your machine and continue happy mowing.:laughing:

Best guess???? Water......... Dean

motoman said:

JC, First by giving your machine a female gender you are set for periods of inexplicable angst.

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Hey Mr. M,
You know, that thought never occurred to me, but you may be on to something here.

Remember, female lawnmowers are made in either Venus or Mars.

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And here all along I thought they were made in the USA.

Now if you want the scientific approach ...from now on start a journal of how often you have a premonition and then how often it comes true. As you keep this journal you will probably not find a high correlation which means it's just random. On the other hand if you can foretell events accurately which have not yet happened perhaps you do have a talent and could start on stage ...like the guy who can tell what is in someone's pocket.

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The case is that I often have premonitions about many things that happen, but I have chalked it up to the fact that I have a wide range of thoughts about all possible eventualities, so that no matter what happens, I have have previously thought that it would. BUT, there IS one phenomenon that continually amazes me, and that is when I am looking for something. I will just, without really thinking about it, begin to wander aimlessly about the premises, and just look here and there, and what is amazing about this is that what I am looking for is ALWAYS found in the LAST place I look! No, HONEST!

But what I'd do is just take care of your machine and continue happy mowing.:laughing:

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Well Karel, the 2000 42" Craftsman Lawn Tractor was inherited from a friend who died in 2001 (his name was Karel, Dutch for Carl). I've taken really good care of it. When not in use, it is parked under a sheet of Vizqueen and a Tarp. The DieHard battery lasted from 2000 to 2013. The only thing that has been replaced is the mower deck drive belt. The blade get sharpened twice a year (have two sets). After each mowing, it get blown off with the 110 MPH leaf blower to get all the grass and stuff removed, and before it gets stored after the mowing season is over, it gets cleaned, and wiped down. Before mowing the first time in the spring, the battery terminals get cleaned, the battery gets charged, the tires checked and aired up if necessary, the oil changed, and a sharpened set of blades installed. Am always amazed that Karel starts right up each spring after having sat all winter.

Anyway, thanks for the very nice response.

Hope this finds YOU doing well.

JC

snzip said:

Best guess???? Water......... Dean

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Hey Dean,
Could have been, but it just seemed weird that I had thought that something would go amiss just as we were finishing, and that's exactly what happened, though it apparently was a passing thing, as yesterday Karel did just fine.

Anyway, thanks for the guess.

JC

That machine is fortunate to have such a good home. I hope a long term gender identity problem has not been created. The battery life is amazing.

motoman said:

That machine is fortunate to have such a good home.

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Hey Mr. M,
Working (actually "playing") with mechanical stuff has been a life long hobby with me. I'm seventy-five years old, and got my first car when I was fourteen. It was a 1931 Ford Model-A Crown Victoria two-door sedan with twin wheel-wells and six KelseyHayes 21" spoke wheels. Have been a hot-rodder all my life. Presently have two rare vehicles. Lorrie Van Haul is the only 1967 Dodge P200 Postal Van left out of 3,500 built. The other one is Ms. American 3.14159, the only 1964 Ford Galaxie 500, four-door, hard-top, fast-back, police interceptor that Google finds on the whole World Wide Web. Both are world famous. Google either of their names and you'll find just gobs of information about both of them. My father bought Ms. American NEW in 1964, and I bought Lorrie from the Houston Post Office in 1975. They are both daily drivers.

I hope a long term gender identity problem has not been created.

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Well, Karel (the guy who left me the Craftsman Lawn Tractor) pronounced his name Carl, but everyone who read his name pronounced it Carol. So the Craftsman got named after him, but I pronounce it Carol. Do you think that maybe whomever built this machine (Husqvarna?) might be building LGBTs? As an aside, Lorrie Van Haul, made for postal delivery has the steering wheel on the right hand side. And one time a guy noticed that and asked me if it was an old mail van. It told him "No, it's a female, but she used to work for the post office!"

The battery life is amazing.

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Others have said the same thing. It just kept going and going and then last year, before the first mowing, the battery charger was put onto it, and when it was done charging, the voltage was checked and it was gone.

Anyway, have just finished spraying the house as part of the war on the annual invasion of the sand fleas. Am going to take a shower and then maybe go somewhere while the carpets dry out.

Thanks for the response. Hope this finds YOU doing well.

JC

JCAllison said:

Hey Mr. R,
Took your advice. Checked the fuel filter. It was fine. Checked the air filter. It was fine but washed the foam liner around the pleated paper anyway. Checked the oil level and added about three ounces to bring it up to full. Filled the gas tank with NEW gasoline. Karel started right up. We mowed the lawns this morning, and she never missed a beat. Still don't know what caused her engine to cut-out, back-fire, etc. But she seems to be fine.

Anyway, thanks for the response.

JC

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How in the world do you check a gas filter??? they are a sealed unit?? Throw away old gas filter and replace with new, Less then 5 dollars. Yes I also wash the pre air filters with dish soap and warm water and then let dry. The pleated paper air filter you should also replace because you have no way to check or test them. You should start each season with new filters because it is cheap insurance. Now oil level should be checked every time before you even start the mower. I don't know about you but I fill my mower with gas just before I start it to mow with it when everything is cold which is just a safety thing, never fill a hot mower with gasoline.

reynoldston said:

How in the world do you check a gas filter??? they are a sealed unit??

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Hey Mr. R,
First it got cleaned off to see if there was gas in it. Then the hose going to the Carburetor was taken loose and the loose end was put into a coffee can and gasoline was allowed to drain. The gas flowed freely which means that the fuel filter is not clogged. Grandpa's first law: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Will replace it when it doesn't allow flow.

Throw away old gas filter and replace with new, Less then 5 dollars.

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That I don't have to spare.

Yes I also wash the pre air filters with dish soap and warm water and then let dry. The pleated paper air filter you should also replace because you have no way to check or test them.

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The pleated paper filter was perfectly clean. Didn't replace it. They cost $18.00 here. So far, that's $23.00 that didn't have to be spent this season.

You should start each season with new filters because it is cheap insurance.

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Between the middle of March and Thansgibbon day, the lawns get mowed about ten times. Filters shouldn't go bad in that amount of mowing. I know it's cheap insurance, but any cash flow is pretty much more than can be afforded in this economy. Am on a fixed income and sometimes there is more month left than money. It's a matter of priorities.

Now oil level should be checked every time before you even start the mower.

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That gets done. It always seems to take about three to four ounces to bring the level up to the top of "Full".

I don't know about you but I fill my mower with gas just before I start it to mow with it when everything is cold which is just a safety thing, never fill a hot mower with gasoline.

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This gets done. It takes a little over half a tank of gas to mow around here. There is a two gallon gas container that gets carried around in Lorrie Van Haul. That's where the gasoline for Karel comes from. The two gallon container gets topped up every time Lorrie take us to the Conoco.

Anyway, everything seems to be copacetic. Thanks for the response. Take excellent care, and hang in there.

JC

Just to let you know I am not any younger then you and living on that fixed income also. I have been in the repair business all my life so I know what it takes to maintain my equipment. Running a mower till the filters are plugged doesn't make a lick of senses to me. I would say if you can't afford 25 dollars a year for maintenance get out of the mowing business. I wouldn't get into the cost of repairing a mower if you think 25 dollars is a lot of money.

reynoldston said:

Just to let you know I am not any younger then you and living on that fixed income also.

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Hey Mr. R,
I'll bet your fixed income is a LOT more than mine.

I have been in the repair business all my life so I know what it takes to maintain my equipment.

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There's not a doubt in my mind that this is true.

Running a mower till the filters are plugged doesn't make a lick of senses to me.

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Nor to me either.

I would say if you can't afford 25 dollars a year for maintenance get out of the mowing business.

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Am not IN the mowing business, but the lawns need mowing, and Karel, the Craftsman Lawn Tractor has been doing the deed since 2001.

I wouldn't get into the cost of repairing a mower if you think 25 dollars is a lot of money.

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You are, of course, right. But, let me see if I understand this correctly: Am given 2000 Craftsman Lawn Tractor when it was a year old for free. Have been mowing the lawns ten times a year with it for almost fourteen years. During that time have replaced the belt that drives the blades once. Replaced the battery after thirteen years. Replaced the shaft that connects the shift lever to the transmission after it rusted because of the humidity here and broke. Have changed the oil at the end of each mowing season in preparation for the next year. Have thoroughly cleaned and waxed the unit once a year. After each mowing, use the 210 MPH leaf blower to clean the grass and dust off. It is then covered with plastic sheeting and a tarp to keep it out of the weather. It never fails to start right up at the beginning of each mowing season, and every time it is needed from mowing. Just imagine how GREAT it would work if I hadn't neglected so terribly.

Anyway, a friend just dropped by to bring me a DVD of the Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret movie "Grumpy Old Men" to watch later.

Am going to have to be going. Thanks for the response. Hope this finds YOU doing well.

JC