Mower bogs down too much

[Davenj4f]

Here are the fins...

 

[Honest Abe]

Here are the fins...

no excuse for letting it get like that when the engine is totally accessible with an air hose or water hose. My IS2600 gets totally cleaned after each mowing. Radiator screen gets pulled and cleared as well as the radiator cleared of silt and crude..... pay me now or pay me later.....

 

[Davenj4f]

no excuse for letting it get like that when the engine is totally accessible with an air hose or water hose. My IS2600 gets totally cleaned after each mowing. Radiator screen gets pulled and cleared as well as the radiator cleared of silt and crude..... pay me now or pay me later.....

I can't argue with you. I had a mounting plate bolted to the rear bumper for the grass collection system, covered the whole back of the mower where the engine is. The fins were not visible. And since I had never encountered that problem before, never thought to check. When I removed the mounting plate to replace the temp sensor, I saw the fins. I think the mounting plate contributed to insufficient air circulation to keep fins clear. Anyway, what's done is done, and I'm a tad bit smarter.
I see where Kawasaki has cut out holes on the engine top cover on both sides as inspection portals. I think I will do something like that on mine.
Thanks for listening and replying.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Think I got mower back to normal.. Dealer said the engine overheated, but couldn't tell me why or how. Said I needed a new engine (imagine that from a dealer). Said the engine bogged down because of low compression, but since the cylinder walls weren't scored, the rings must be bad. duh. Anyway, took mower home. Went to cut a 10 acre field, and every time I made a circle, the engine would go into overheat; drop to lowest rpm's and lope, and after about 3 minutes it would even out. Cut it off, restart, and ok. So now I'm really getting frustrated. Maybe the temp sensor is bad, so I ordered on. Then while changing the sensor I happened to look at the cylinder fins. Half of the fins on each side were completely covered and crusted with dirt and whatever else would stick there. Scraped a lot out. Went to hardware store and got a brush, got most of the rest out. Then I sprayed the fins with brake cleaner. Got the fins real clean. Then the pressure washer got the rest. I feel sure that is what caused the engine to overheat. Put the new sensor in, and so far has been running fine. Haven't cut a field that big again, but did do a job for about 3 1/2 hours with no problems. Come to think of it, that's about how long I was at the big field. I'd like to put a temp gauge in, but unable to find anything that would work, maybe someone here could point me in the right direction.

You need a new dealer. Apparently they can’t take ten minutes to remove engine shroud and check cooling fins for dirt and debris.

 

[Honest Abe]

I can't argue with you. I had a mounting plate bolted to the rear bumper for the grass collection system, covered the whole back of the mower where the engine is. The fins were not visible. And since I had never encountered that problem before, never thought to check. When I removed the mounting plate to replace the temp sensor, I saw the fins. I think the mounting plate contributed to insufficient air circulation to keep fins clear. Anyway, what's done is done, and I'm a tad bit smarter.
I see where Kawasaki has cut out holes on the engine top cover on both sides as inspection portals. I think I will do something like that on mine.
Thanks for listening and replying.

my comments weren't meant as personal digs, just reality check. Early on I never really thought it was all that big a deal until a dealer pointed out that the engine housing can get just as clogged up as a mowing deck. That woke me up and I started doing that cleaning every time and not just a few times a year.

 

[Davenj4f]

my comments weren't meant as personal digs, just reality check. Early on I never really thought it was all that big a deal until a dealer pointed out that the engine housing can get just as clogged up as a mowing deck. That woke me up and I started doing that cleaning every time and not just a few times a year.

Agree about the dealer, but not another anywhere close. But that is why I do all my own maintenance. Long story on this trip, just wanted them to hook up to computer and tell me what it said. Anyway, appear to be back to normal. I still think the large mounting plate on the rear restricted air flow that would have blown all the stuff away that got clogged up.
And no offence taken Abe, but truth is truth. I prefer truth over non-truth any day. At 75, I'm still learning. Anyway, headed out to shop to sharpen and balance blades.

 

[slomo]

Went to cut a 10 acre field, and every time I made a circle, the engine would go into overheat; drop to lowest rpm's and lope, and after about 3 minutes it would even out.

Was this overheat or starving for fuel in the turn? As in a plugged fuel tank outlet?

Cut it off, restart, and ok.

Points to a plugged fuel tank or fuel line/filter issue again.

Maybe the temp sensor is bad, so I ordered on.

Shooting in the dark, not testing what you have is pointless. Heck throw some cash my way. LOL

Half of the fins on each side were completely covered and crusted with dirt and whatever else would stick there. Scraped a lot out. Went to hardware store and got a brush, got most of the rest out. Then I sprayed the fins with brake cleaner. Got the fins real clean.

On to something here.......... I bet in your engine manual it says to keep those fins clean. Heard that somewhere before. Pure sarcasm.

I feel sure that is what caused the engine to overheat.

Agree.

Put the new sensor in, and so far has been running fine. Haven't cut a field that big again, but did do a job for about 3 1/2 hours with no problems. Come to think of it, that's about how long I was at the big field. I'd like to put a temp gauge in, but unable to find anything that would work, maybe someone here could point me in the right direction.

Forget the magic temp gauge. Keep the cooling fins clean as yours and every other air cooled engine manual out there says to. This is a yearly or more often maintenance item. If you scalp or bag, do this more frequently as well. Remember these are AIR COOLED engines.

 

[slomo]

no excuse for letting it get like that when the engine is totally accessible with an air hose or water hose. My IS2600 gets totally cleaned after each mowing. Radiator screen gets pulled and cleared as well as the radiator cleared of silt and crude..... pay me now or pay me later.....

Go get em' Abe.......

 

[slomo]

The fins were not visible. And since I had never encountered that problem before, never thought to check.

Again, this is a MUST DO on every air cooled small engine out there. Mowers, trimmers, blowers, chain saws and so on...... Minimum yearly or more often is the interval.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Agree about the dealer, but not another anywhere close. But that is why I do all my own maintenance. Long story on this trip, just wanted them to hook up to computer and tell me what it said. Anyway, appear to be back to normal. I still think the large mounting plate on the rear restricted air flow that would have blown all the stuff away that got clogged up.
And no offence taken Abe, but truth is truth. I prefer truth over non-truth any day. At 75, I'm still learning. Anyway, headed out to shop to sharpen and balance blades.

Maybe you should point out the misdiagnosis to the dealer on the clogged cooling fins. Most people do not know how important checking and cleaning the top of engine and cooling fins, on an AIR COOLED engine is. It is good to not be completely dependent on a shop to check things out yourself.