The Daily Yardman Thread

[Roger B]

JD GS-25

Boo-Boo has suggested I use Transmission fluid as a crankcase cleaner and that sounds like a good idea. I have to replace some of the fuel line as it was left disconnected where a fuel filter would go and I discovered the old hose is plugged with crap. I need to check out the end coming from the fuel tank as well.

My current problem is still electrical. All though the ignition system on this unit is very simple, the safety and shut-down circuit (which grounds out the coil) is interconnected with the electrical generation system that creates the voltage necessary to operate a couple relays and the electric PTO clutch. A relay in this system has a couple diodes connected to it and if it is plugged in to it's socket it will ground out the coil and thus far I am unsure as to exactly why.. One of the diodes may be a 'zener' and they act sort of like a valve, in that they shut off DC electricity until it reaches a certain potential and then they 'break-down' and allow the voltage to pass through. Without a schematic and operational description of this circuit, I am at a loss as to how to troubleshoot further than I have so far.. I think I am going to go visit my local JD Dealer and beg assistance.

Roger

 

[Boobala]

Re: JD GS-25

Boo-Boo has suggested I use Transmission fluid as a crankcase cleaner and that sounds like a good idea. I have to replace some of the fuel line as it was left disconnected where a fuel filter would go and I discovered the old hose is plugged with crap. I need to check out the end coming from the fuel tank as well.

My current problem is still electrical. All though the ignition system on this unit is very simple, the safety and shut-down circuit (which grounds out the coil) is interconnected with the electrical generation system that creates the voltage necessary to operate a couple relays and the electric PTO clutch. A relay in this system has a couple diodes connected to it and if it is plugged in to it's socket it will ground out the coil and thus far I am unsure as to exactly why.. One of the diodes may be a 'zener' and they act sort of like a valve, in that they shut off DC electricity until it reaches a certain potential and then they 'break-down' and allow the voltage to pass through. Without a schematic and operational description of this circuit, I am at a loss as to how to troubleshoot further than I have so far.. I think I am going to go visit my local JD Dealer and beg assistance.

Roger

Don' forget to give the dealer the full "RIOT-ACT" ... Hey I'm a Senior Citizen = FIXED income ..I'm a Veteran = Honorable Discharge ... I have 5 people ( kids & grandkids ) living in my house ) and their pets
and I have a 5 Horse wife = nag-nag-nag-nag-nag...member of AARP -AAA - DAV-VFW-etc. etc. Then tell him you even kept your M-16 from the Military and you love shooting at moving targets !! ..:laughing: ..:laughing:

 

[NorthBama]

Re: MTD Yardman Transaxle Rebuild

good morning guys happy humidity day

I found this little bit of info on diodes on relays

The snubber diode is wired in parallel with an inductive load (such as a relay coil or electric motor). The diode is installed so that it does not conduct under normal conditions. When the external driving current is interrupted, the inductor current flows instead through the diode.
Snubber - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snubber

 

[Roger B]

Re: MTD Yardman Transaxle Rebuild

good morning guys happy humidity day

I found this little bit of info on diodes on relays

The snubber diode is wired in parallel with an inductive load (such as a relay coil or electric motor). The diode is installed so that it does not conduct under normal conditions. When the external driving current is interrupted, the inductor current flows instead through the diode.
Snubber - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snubber

Boo,

There ya go! Coming up with terms I've never heard of! I worked in electronics for ten years in the sub service and never heard a diode called a "snubber" before. I can understand the theory behind the explanation, but that's a new one on me.. That's like the "Zener Diode" I told you about. They block current until it reaches a certain point and then break down.. What that means is the circuit initially see infinite ohms (high resistance) until the voltage reaches that critical amount and then the diodes resistance drops to near zero and current is allowed to pass.. It's like a valve that opens at a certain point.

Rog

 

[Boobala]

Re: MTD Yardman Transaxle Rebuild

Boo,

There ya go! Coming up with terms I've never heard of! I worked in electronics for ten years in the sub service and never heard a diode called a "snubber" before. I can understand the theory behind the explanation, but that's a new one on me.. That's like the "Zener Diode" I told you about. They block current until it reaches a certain point and then break down.. What that means is the circuit initially see infinite ohms (high resistance) until the voltage reaches that critical amount and then the diodes resistance drops to near zero and current is allowed to pass.. It's like a valve that opens at a certain point.

Rog

OK Roger you need a break.. snubbers are rubber cone shaped devices mounted on a cars front end frame to stop the A-arms from crashing into the frame, could also be a spiffy chick you offer money to for a proposition and she looks down her nose at you !!
ALSO I am Boo ....How do you do??.... that bit of info was posted by Zeke, or Bubba, or James Lewcious , or Sue ..???????
That sleazy weasel that refuses to divulge that name on his drivers license !!! ..:laughing: ..:laughing: ..:laughing:

 

[Roger B]

The shame of a Senior moment..

OK ALSO I am Boo ....How do you do??.... that bit of info was posted by Zeke, or Bubba, or James Lewcious , or Sue ..???????
That sleazy weasel that refuses to divulge that name on his drivers license !!! ..:laughing: ..:laughing: ..:laughing:

Boo,
Yeah, yeah I know it! I owe NoBaMa an apology.. I had a senior moment and defamed him by calling him YOU!! Man, I AM sorry!! I'd have edited it, but as you know editing your posts here often simply doesn't work.. NoBaMa will more than likely never speak to me again and I don't blame him.. I live in shame......

Be that as it may - I was able to buy all the parts I needed yesterday and even though you had warned me about JD pricing being high, that is not what I found at all! On-line one JD part I saw was priced at $7, but when I got to my local JD dealership that same part cost me $2.64! I found that to be true with their Corn Head Grease that Bert and I discussed W-A-Y back about 63 pages ago, the price at the counter was much less than the on-line price. So that was good!

I put the old (drained-out) oil filter back on the 12.5 HP Kawa engine and poured 1-1/2 qts of ATF into the oil-fill and pulled the starter rope about a dozen times and then went to work putting parts back on the engine. When ever I got some little project finished, I'd pull the starter over another dozen or so times and then start on something else. After spending the afternoon getting everything back together, I must have turned the engine over at least 100 times. At first I thought of letting the ATF sit in the crankcase over night, but then I thought getting it all drained out might be more important, so I opened the drain valve last thing and it's been dripping out all night.

So now I have a new NGK spark plug, a new Fram oil filter, a new JD pre-filter for the air filter - (I used some K&N filter spray-oil I already had to prepare it), a couple quarts of WalMart's 'best' HD 30 engine oil, new gas line from the fuel tank to the fuel pump with a new in-line fuel filter and I've cleaned out the fuel tank and the fuel shut-off valve. The old gas line from the fuel pump to the carb is free and clear. I hope the fuel pump works.. Anyway as the weather is going to suck today - (again!!!) - I think I am going to put off picking up the two rototillers I was going to get today and stay home. Then after going lobstering, I can see if the Kawasaki will actually run!

OH!! Good News! Good News! The John Deere dealer made me copies of the electrical system for the GS-25! Both a schematic and a block lay-out diagram. I didn't study them last night, but I will today. I talked with a tech at JD and he thought maybe the relay was at fault, but as I am highly opposed to "Easter-Egging", (that's what we called replacing parts by guessing, until the correct component was finally located) I need to determine that the relay is indeed the culprit before buying a new one.

Hopefully I will be able to post an operational report later today.. (That's assuming that the 'other-half' agrees that loading two Troy-Built tillers into our trailer in a rain storm isn't a good idea! And there is no guarantee of that!!)

Rog

North Alabama! I am truly sorry.. All I can do is beg your understanding and forgiveness..
Roger

 

[Boobala]

Re: MTD Yardman Transaxle Rebuild

I'm afraid to ask ...
What's with the tillers ??
Glad you got friends @ the JD shop ..... might save ya a bunch of money ...???
AND what I'm really , really , nosey about is .... what are your plans for this JD mower ..??? ..

 

[Roger B]

MORE Projects!!

Boo, et al...

As you may have guessed the day didn't unfold exactly as "I" thought it might.. Got back from hauling traps, steamed up a couple of culls (culls= lobsters with only one claw, or some other damage they've received in life) and made four quick lobster sandwiches for lunch.. Then we loaded the trailer with junk for the dump and took off through the sprinkles. We went to the dump and then over to a friends house who said he had a dead Troy-Built we could have. Well, we already have a Troy-Built that doesn't work that we've kept out to camp, so we went and loaded that up too! Now I have two Troy-Built tillers that don't work, but the one we were given has a Kohler engine. Ours has an unidentified engine. It was painted over years and years ago. The friend told us the Kohler was seriously pooched, but it does turn over with the recoil start-cord.

Anyway, by the time we got home and got everything unloaded and put away it was past my 'work-time' for today so I just came in the house..

I don't know what I'm going to do with the GS-25 assuming I can get it running correctly. I may try to use it around here as it would really help having a self driven mower, but it's a little large for what little lawn we have. if that doesn't work out, I'll probably sell it.

We'll be out hauling traps at 0530 tomorrow (low tide) and then I've been informed that 'we' are going to the local botanical gardens, because it's FREE for county residents on the first Wednesday of the month. (We like Free!) This nasty weather is supposed to take a break tomorrow and Thursday and maybe even Friday.. I'll believe it when I see it!

I'll get the Kohler engine info tomorrow. I think I'll just dismantle the engine and see how bad it is. (He thought it had broken a rod or a piston, but it didn't 'crunch' when I pulled it over.)

More later,

Rog

 

[Roger B]

MORE Projects - Pictures...

Sorry, I forgot to attach the pictures. The color is all washed out because the flash went off. (That's what a dark day it is today!)

 

[Boobala]

Re: MTD Yardman Transaxle Rebuild

Goomba ...I don't know how you do it !!!
I am at that point in MY life where ALL I think about is TRYING to catch-up and finish all these projects that have
been on the back burners for years !! I evaluate almost everything to figure if it's worth the time I guess I have left.
After all I am supposed to be retired ... ya know ...like sit on my arse and do zip..NOTHING !!!! My BIL and I talk quite
a bit now about the "candle going out" .Guess we KNOW we are no longer "bullett -proof".. we talk about sellin off everything before hand but we realize we have so much "stuff" and you cant get a decent price for anything cause everbody else has what we have !! ( LOL ) We wonder what will become of our "prized possessions" I fantasize in horror that the wifey will dump my $8,000.00 tool-box I've had forever, at a yard-sale for $25.00 ...EEEYYYAAAAHHHH !!!! ( LOL ) Finally, I have come to realize that I need to get rid of MOST of the time consuming obsessions ... taking care of my NEEDS, and NOT my WANTS !! so I can have more time with that lady I share my world with ...gettin old N tired ... Boo....:smile: