I bought a used John Deere rider earlier this summer from a private party. 38" deck, Kohler Command 13 engine, hydro. It starts good and sounds good, no miss, no knocks, no smoke, doesn't burn oil.
The problem is that it doesn't seem to have the power that it should. When I first start it, it doesn't run up to the governor; I'm guessing the RPM is 1/2 - 3/4 what full throttle should be. When I engage the blade, it almost dies. I have taken the deck belt off and the blades and pulleys turn free. After it runs a half hour or so it will run up to the governor speed but pulls down easily in longer grass or with higher ground speed. I mow the lawn with it but it takes longer than it should and probably doesn't cut as well as it would if RPM was higher.
1 Oil & filter were changed in early July. Oil is still clean and at full line
2 There is no difference in running speed with air filter on/off
3 I don't have a manual for carb adjustment. One of the screw heads for adjustment is damaged so a screwdriver won't work--looks like somebody tried to turn it out and it was stuck. The needle only turns about a half turn and doesn't make a diff in running speed and there's no resistance, like it isn't really turning the screw.
4 Engine doesn't idle. It goes from high speed to off.
5 Engine starts with little or no choking.
6 I have run Seafoam in several tanks of gas.
7 Spraying carb cleaner on the carb while running makes no diff in RPM or engine sound, so it apparently has no leaks.
As I write this I'm thinking that the high speed adjustment is (stuck) closed and that the low speed is opened too far. Does this sound right? I think getting that adjustment needle freed up is the first step to take. If that needle has been turned in too tight and is stuck, what are the chances the seat is damaged? Any suggestions on getting a stuck needle out with out breaking something?
Wasn't terrible at a state park beach. Antelope island maybe. I wouldn't recommend it as a beach destination tho. Figured I was there, I'm getting in it.
The water looked and smelled disgusting with hundreds of thousands of birds sh*tting in there. About as gross as the Salton Sea. When I duck hunted there I didn't even want to touch the water.
It's kinda gross with the algae in the summer but I got in it anyway. Wanted to see the increased bouyancy at work. You can kinda tuck yourself into a ball and you'll just float with your head above water. When dry off you look diamond encrusted with the salt.
We went to the flats too. I dipped a tire on the rental car onto it just to say I’ve been there,but it was still pretty soft from winter melt. After seeing some moron in a BMW suv get dragged out of the muck I had no intention of repeating his stupidity.
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cylinder
I bought a used John Deere rider earlier this summer from a private party. 38" deck, Kohler Command 13 engine, hydro. It starts good and sounds good, no miss, no knocks, no smoke, doesn't burn oil.
The problem is that it doesn't seem to have the power that it should. When I first start it, it doesn't run up to the governor; I'm guessing the RPM is 1/2 - 3/4 what full throttle should be. When I engage the blade, it almost dies. I have taken the deck belt off and the blades and pulleys turn free. After it runs a half hour or so it will run up to the governor speed but pulls down easily in longer grass or with higher ground speed. I mow the lawn with it but it takes longer than it should and probably doesn't cut as well as it would if RPM was higher.
1 Oil & filter were changed in early July. Oil is still clean and at full line
2 There is no difference in running speed with air filter on/off
3 I don't have a manual for carb adjustment. One of the screw heads for adjustment is damaged so a screwdriver won't work--looks like somebody tried to turn it out and it was stuck. The needle only turns about a half turn and doesn't make a diff in running speed and there's no resistance, like it isn't really turning the screw.
4 Engine doesn't idle. It goes from high speed to off.
5 Engine starts with little or no choking.
6 I have run Seafoam in several tanks of gas.
7 Spraying carb cleaner on the carb while running makes no diff in RPM or engine sound, so it apparently has no leaks.
As I write this I'm thinking that the high speed adjustment is (stuck) closed and that the low speed is opened too far. Does this sound right? I think getting that adjustment needle freed up is the first step to take. If that needle has been turned in too tight and is stuck, what are the chances the seat is damaged? Any suggestions on getting a stuck needle out with out breaking something?
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