Kawasaki FR730V Gravely ZT HD60
The engine wants to bog down at maximum throttle when engaging the PTO. It recovers and has normal power and mows fine. But something is a bit off.
When engaging the PTO at idle it actually kills the engine. Have you checked spark on both cylinders to make sure the engine is running on both cylinders?
Also, noticing that with throttle at idle the engine is not idling down enough, not to it's normal idle...staying a bit too high RPM. Holding the governor arm down causes the idle to be normal, but if I release the governor arm it goes back instantly to the slightly too high idle RPM. Do you have a tachometer to see what the low idle is set to? It should be 1550 rpm. Possibly the low idle screw on the carburetor is out of adjustment.
Moving the throttle from slow to high, the engine is hesitating a bit, taking a little while to react to the throttle input. I'm not sure, but when mowing at full power, the engine to me sounds almost like it's running rich..but I might be off on that. Check your spark plugs to see if they have a black soot. If so, likely running rich. As far as the hesitation, the carburetor may need to be cleaned. Removing the two welch plugs on top. The larger one is the transition well. Make sure it is clean and the tiny holes are open. (3 of them)
Lastly, it seems to me that sitting still, with no wheels moving, no blades engaged with PTO, the engine is wanting to rev too high RPMs. It's racing a bit.
Governor adjustment a bit off??? A static governor adjustment may be necessary. Your local dealer can help you with that.
Fuel starved? Jets clogged? Possibly
In that image, the RED arrow, the governor shaft has a flat spot on top, it's D shaped, so there doesn't seem to be a way to adjust the governor arm and shaft like one could if the shaft was completely round. See the governor adjustment above.
I don't know what bolt is about halfway between the shaft and the springs, YELLOW arrow. Is that an adjustment bolt? This is a rivet that keeps the throttle panel assembly together. No adjustment.
Thanks in advance.
Clean the carburetor thoroughly.Kawasaki FR730V Gravely ZT HD60
The engine wants to bog down at maximum throttle when engaging the PTO. It recovers and has normal power and mows fine. But something is a bit off.
When engaging the PTO at idle it actually kills the engine.
Also, noticing that with throttle at idle the engine is not idling down enough, not to it's normal idle...staying a bit too high RPM. Holding the governor arm down causes the idle to be normal, but if I release the governor arm it goes back instantly to the slightly too high idle RPM.
Moving the throttle from slow to high, the engine is hesitating a bit, taking a little while to react to the throttle input. I'm not sure, but when mowing at full power, the engine to me sounds almost like it's running rich..but I might be off on that.
Lastly, it seems to me that sitting still, with no wheels moving, no blades engaged with PTO, the engine is wanting to rev too high RPMs. It's racing a bit.
Governor adjustment a bit off???
Fuel starved? Jets clogged?
In that image, the RED arrow, the governor shaft has a flat spot on top, it's D shaped, so there doesn't seem to be a way to adjust the governor arm and shaft like one could if the shaft was completely round.
I don't know what bolt is about halfway between the shaft and the springs, YELLOW arrow. Is that an adjustment bolt?
Thanks in advance.
I watched your video posting after I had replied.
Check your spring locations, because they are what keep the governor from activating by itself as shown in the video.
The governor is a simple flyweight design, and it is working, but the linkage springs have to be in the correct location to regulate its operation
I should have been more clear in my earlier post. The video of the creeping idle is not my machine. I only found that video to confirm that the bolt in the middle of the governor arm is an adjustment mechanism.The governor bolt was stripped because it has left-handed thread. The person who tried to loosen it turned it the wrong way. Very common error.
The governor's ball guide is likely damaged, which is why the RPMs are creeping. Two pins on the back of the guide keep the guide at the same speed as the camshaft. When these pins are broken or melted, this will happen. If you move the throttle to the rabbit position, do the RPMs increase more slowly than they should?
I read that the video was not your mower. I apologize for assuming that you were having a similar issue.I should have been more clear in my earlier post. The video of the creeping idle is not my machine. I only found that video to confirm that the bolt in the middle of the governor arm is an adjustment mechanism.
Are you going to replace the bolt, adjust and then try it again? I suggest that before you have to commit to tearing into it to replace.The governor bolt was stripped because it has left-handed thread. The person who tried to loosen it turned it the wrong way. Very common error.
The governor's ball guide is likely damaged, which is why the RPMs are creeping. Two pins on the back of the guide keep the guide at the same speed as the camshaft. When these pins are broken or melted, this will happen. If you move the throttle to the rabbit position, do the RPMs increase more slowly than they should?
I watched your video posting after I had replied.
Check your spring locations, because they are what keep the governor from activating by itself as shown in the video.
The governor is a simple flyweight design, and it is working, but the linkage springs have to be in the correct location to regulate its operation
Are you going to replace the bolt, adjust and then try it again? I suggest that before you have to commit to tearing into it to replace.
I have not run across any governor arm pinch bolts with left hand threads, only a few that were stripped from somebody overtightening.