John Deere LT133 Lawn Tractor

[Mid-Lake Rock]

I received this tractor as part of a new home last summer. It has been flawless until this past Sunday. Used it all last summer/fall. Only fueled with non-oxy and Sea-Foam mix. Started up with no problem last month. Literally, first turn of the key.

This past Sunday, my brother asks to use it. Load it in his truck and he mows his lawn. It dies at the very end of finishing his job. He takes off the air filter, sprays choke cleaner in the carb and adds oil. Now it barely runs, has black liquid running out of the exhaust and doesn't want to start.

My brother thinks it is the carb, but it ran flawlessly all last fall and this spring. My understanding of carbs is that they gumb up while sitting. I have been running the tractor twice per week for over a month without a problem.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[Powerstroke]

Sounds like he added oil to the fuel or used mixed fuel to refill your tank.

[Surface Tension]

How low was the oil?

Hope that isn't why it quit.

A compression test would be good.

The black liquid running out the exhaust is unburnt gas mixed with carbon.

Could be whats left over from spraying carb cleaner in the carb or you have a inlet valve not closing properly.

Check the air filter. Could be dirty from dandelion seeds or just dust.

What does the exhaust look like? Blue smoke or black?

Check the oil level. If its black drain and fill.

If the oil level is high by either adding too much or by gas drain and fill.

Pull the spark plug. Whats it look like?

If it wet then I'd lean toward the inlet valve.

Black soot, too much fuel.

Oil foiled, too much oil, bad valve bad rings.

[Surface Tension]

If the above checks out good, another reason for the stall would be related to fuel.

When checking the plugs and you find they are dry try priming the the engine with a shot gas into the carb. If it fires checks the fuel lines and filter. Remove the inlet fuel line to the carb and check for fuel pressure.

Not sure if your Koler has a fuel shutoff solenoid. This would be located on bowl of the carb.

When you turn the ignition off the solenoid shuts off the gas so no gas is pumped into the engine as is runs down. Without it that fuel would enter a hot muffler and ignite causing a backfire. If you have fuel pressure before the carb and you have a FSS then it could be the culprit. Check and trace its wiring and voltage. I've eliminated the FSS but before shutting down I bring the engine back to idle.

[NAMASafetyDirector]

Sounds like needle and seat issue to me and it flooded causing the gas to wash carbon etc out of the intake tract and the exhaust system. Needle and seat issue and flooding tend to show up especially after something has been transported and gas not shut off. Picture mower riding on a trailer bouncing down the road. Now picture the float in the carb which the needle is connected to bouncing, bouncing, bouncing, each time letting fuel through a and progressively flooding the engine. Used to happen all the time on the older sleds that were trailered a lot without shutting the gas off. Get to your destination and pull and pull and pull. Pull the brass crank case drains let the excess fuel out and boom...start on the first pull. If your comfortable I would pull the carb, clean it and check the needle and seat for wear.

[18 inch Crappie]

Never lend out your stuff, things always happen when you do.

[Dave]

Check to make sure he didn't overfill the oil.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

Well, got it back up and running without having to bring it in. Checked air filter, checked oil, checked the spark plug and still did not wanted to start and running rough. Took the carb out and cleaned it with carb cleaner and compressed air. Put it all back together. It ended up being the carb. It is now running like a top.

I got this tractor for free last fall and I don't think it has ever been serviced. The guy I got it from had no idea what I was saying when I asked if he winterized it or used non-oxy.

BTW, Surface and SafetyDirector, thanks for the tip about fuel shutoff. I'm going to check into that before it travels back to my house. It is less than two miles on city streets. And once it gets home, it is staying at home.

Thanks for the replies, my favorite being - don't lend your stuff out. That always bites me in the rear.

[Tom7227]

Well if it was a dirty carb it would have konked out at your house no matter what. I think the best bet is to use an additive in the gas all the time and then drain the tank and run the machine until it quits when getting it ready for the winter. Then take out the battery and put it in the garage or basement or someplace where it won't freeze.