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While mowing engine stopped running

#1

R

rickyc

New member and need some guidance. I have a craftmans riding mower with a 19.5 hp BS and a 42 in mowing deck that is 12 years old. While mowing engine started acting like it was running out of gas and finally quit. Gas level was checked and still had a quarter of a tank. Tried restarting with no luck. Thinking it might be a fuel problem, took air cleaner off and put some gas directly into the carb and tried to restart with no luck. Any suggestions would be welcomed. I know that I have gotten my money worth out of this tractor and thinking about a JD X320 but still would like to get this old veteran running again.

Retired Navy


#2

Carscw

Carscw

First off if you have a craftsman that has done good for 12 years why would you buy a junk Deere?
Lets just fix your craftsman.
First thing I would look at is the fuel filter make sure gas is getting to it and going past it once you know if your getting gas to the carb then report back.

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#3

S

SeniorCitizen

rickyc said:
New member and need some guidance. I have a craftmans riding mower with a 19.5 hp BS and a 42 in mowing deck that is 12 years old. While mowing engine started acting like it was running out of gas and finally quit. Gas level was checked and still had a quarter of a tank. Tried restarting with no luck. Thinking it might be a fuel problem, took air cleaner off and put some gas directly into the carb and tried to restart with no luck. Any suggestions would be welcomed. I know that I have gotten my money worth out of this tractor and thinking about a JD X320 but still would like to get this old veteran running again.

Retired Navy
Click to expand...
I believe I'd be checking for spark by locating and disconnecting the coil ground wire that comes from under the engine shroud / cowling .


#4

R

rickyc

Thanks for the replys. Check for fuel as much as you can without the vacum of the motor and the fuel line disconnected. Fuel did come out of the carb when the fuel line was disconnected. I would have thought by putting some gas directly into the carb and trying to start would have let me know if I had a fuel problem.
Removed upper engine cover and readujsted the armature air gap to .012 and tested it at both disconnected spark plug boots with a test light while turning the engine over with the starter. The test light did not light on either plug.


#5

C

countrybumpkin

rickyc said:
New member and need some guidance. I have a craftmans riding mower with a 19.5 hp BS and a 42 in mowing deck that is 12 years old. While mowing engine started acting like it was running out of gas and finally quit. Gas level was checked and still had a quarter of a tank. Tried restarting with no luck. Thinking it might be a fuel problem, took air cleaner off and put some gas directly into the carb and tried to restart with no luck. Any suggestions would be welcomed. I know that I have gotten my money worth out of this tractor and thinking about a JD X320 but still would like to get this old veteran running again.

Retired Navy
Click to expand...

I have had plugs to do that before


#6

R

rickyc

Plugs or plug wires? When I performed the test it was just with the plug wires.


#7

Carscw

Carscw

Did you unhook the ground wire ( kill wire ) from the coil.

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#8

R

rickyc

I did find the ground wire to the coil under the coil but I performed the test with the wire connected.


#9

Carscw

Carscw

Unhook it and if it has spark then there is a short some where or it is a safety switch

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#10

R

rickyc

Did as you suggested and disconnected the grd wire. And the old girl started right up. Had to grd out the plug to get her to shut off. Not smooth, but about the same as always for a 12 yrs old. Will check for a short, but if I can't locate one is their another way that you know of to make a simple homemade mod.?
How if I can figure out why she goes through a 1/2 qt of oil everytime I use her to mow a acre she would be good as new. She has no oil leaks.


#11

Carscw

Carscw

You can run a wire from the coil to the key switch and bypass all safety switches.
Or can check the seat and clutch switches Start with the seat switch and unplug it if still no spark then jump the two wires together if that's not it then do the same to the clutch / brake switch.
I would just install I on/off switch

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#12

Carscw

Carscw

Using that much oil she must smoke a little.

What I would do is get on Craigslist and find any mower a engine close to yours for a $100 and swap the engines and resell the one you bought.
I find them all the time with bad decks or bad rear end

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#13

R

rickyc

Carscw,
I will check the other items you suggested, but I like the idea of a on/off toggle switch. Any suggestion on the 1/2 oil use ?

Thanks so much for your help.


#14

S

SeniorCitizen

rickyc said:
Thanks so much for your help.
Click to expand...
You're welcome. Glad to help any time I can.


#15

Carscw

Carscw

The oil could be bad rings. Bad valves or seals.

It's 12 years old
Try some thick oil like STP oil treatment

I have one that is 22 years young blew the 14.5 Briggs on it about two weeks ago put a 22 hp v twin on it

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