Scotts Lawn Tractor starting problem

CB in central NY · Aug 6, 2008

My dad has been having problems with his Scotts lawn tractor (a John Deere brand). It"s about 5 years old. He lives some distance away so I have limited opportunity to troubleshoot when I"m there visiting.
When the ignition key is turned, the starter spins up the flywheel but the engine will not catch for quite a few seconds. In the meantime, a whole lot of fuel leaks and spits out of the exhaust making a puddle on the ground. Once it starts, it runs fine and will start without a problem as long as it does not get a chance to cool off.
I have checked the obvious (fuel and air filter have been replaced, spark on the spark plug seems fine, no obstructions in the carburator). There is what appears to be a sensor on the bottom of the carburator bell housing and since I don"t have a repair manual for this tractor I am not sure what it does or if it could be at fault. It has a single red wire running from it.
Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions? Thanks in advance.

edj856 · Aug 6, 2008

It sounds like the carburetor is flooding and filling up the cylinder. When you crank the engine over, it blows all the gas out the exhaust valve. Check the needle and float, make sure that the float is not binding and doesn't have a hole in it. Also, check the needle and seat, there could be a hunk of rust or something stuck in there not allowing the needle to fully seat.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 6, 2008

Fuel shut off electric solenoid at bottom of float bowl apparently not working, flooding cylinder while setting symptoms. replace or fix solenoid or wiring - a $20.00 to $100.00 job at shop. Or as a friend with a JD Sabre did on my recommendation -a $5.95 fuel shutoff valve in fuel line, no more problems if operator remembers to manually turn off valve at end of mowing(daughter forgot once). Check oil in crankcase, could be gas contaminated, change to fresh oil. This assumes gravity feed of fuel. Some moderate mowers have low mounted fuel tank usually at rear and a small fuel pump on engine. Bigger, more expensive rigs may have seperate electric fuel pumps but Scotts mower doesn't seem to be the high priced fancy model. RN

Tim B from MA · Aug 6, 2008

Not sure whay you mean when you say "no obstructions in the carburator"

Most of the time you can't see obstructions. They are small and clogging ports, or it is laquer from dried up gas.

If you have not already, get a gasket or rebuild kit for the carb, take it off and apart and clean it with laquer thinner of another suitable solvent and put it back together.

May or may not need a new solinoid operated needle valve, it may just be gummed up and stuck. Those are actually anti-backfire devices so I think is is closed when there is no juice to the solenoid and allows the valve to open only when the machine is running.

Scotts Lawn Tractor starting problem

CB in central NY

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edj856

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Anonymous-0

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Tim B from MA

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