My 184 I use for mowing yard starting having a a problem about 3 weeks ago and this one has me stumped.It runs at higher speed like a tractor that needs time to warm up except the skipping never goes away. Tractor doesn't smoke and choke doesn't change anything. It becomes noticeable after about going past half throttle. Tractor eventually gets to where it has no power and can't be restarted until the next day. At first I thought maybe the points needed filing. After checking them out the tractor didn't run at all - found out I broke the prongs on the condenser wire putting it back together (tractor is a real pain to do anything inside the distributor). So points and condenser are new. Same problem with tractor. Thought maybe it was coil and some knowledgeable guys here thought so also and turns out that didn't help. Timing is good, lots of gas to carb. Had the carb off, looked clean, got carb cleaner through the passages. I'm wondering if the level of gas in the carb could too low and starving the engine could be the problem. I couldn't find the measurement for the float height- mine is a horseshoe design and all the numbers I found was for older carbs with a single bulb on the float and mine seems to need a different height.If someone has that and could pass it on I'd be thankful. Tractor has run great until now and nothing was changed on the carb other than cleaning since I've had it. I like mowing yard with it even though its like driving a tank - at least I'm not stiffened up when I get off unlike from riding on my lawn and garden tractor.

For once, I say don't fool with the old machine and go buy a good zero turn mower.

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The accessability behind the dash, the weak clutch design and lack of ease of repairing, the motor is a little underpowered when trying to pull a 5 foot mower (unless you do a full rebuild which is costly). The way its built, everything is very tight fit and the tractor sits just high enough and just low enough that you have to stoop and bend in awkward ways to be really uncomfortable trying to work on it. For example, taking off the carburetor is a real pain with that frame set so close.

OK, I guess each of us is entitled to our own opinions.

BTW, I just mowed some 2 - 3ft grass/weeds with mine with a 5ft mower, and didn't do much other than push the clutch in a couple of times.

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Take the motor and tranny out and scrap the rest......if you don't get mad trying to remove it from the awfully designed chassis. I'm sorry for the harsh comment but when IH designed this tractor, the engineer must've been on his way out the door. They don't hold up well and are very hard to work on (access). Motor and tranny are only good parts (original Cub parts). I've learned to just part these and 154 LoBoys out when I come across them no matter the condition. Look at what Hamilton Bob has made of his business strictly parting them out! They're all broken and worn out and have been 5 years from when they were new!

What exactly is it about them you dont like? I find my 154 easy to work on, although it very seldom I have to do more than maybe clean out the sediment bowl occasionally, and change the oil. Ive replaced the clutch, and brakes, and while it was a liitle challenging to do so, I found it no more difficult than any other Cub, except for maybe the electrical behind the dash. My arms just wont go in there. Only reason I had to go behind it anyways was to track down a problem with the lights.

To check for an intake leak, spray something around the intake gasket area and see if it changes how the tractor runs. I've heard carburetor cleaner works for this.

Don't keep trying to force it though, you're going to end up with more damage than has already been done if you keep running the tractor lean until it overheats like you have been.

Do a compression test too while you're at it. Actual compression is irrelevant because it starts and runs. What you're looking for is consistency.

sounds like it is running lean, could be carb but i would look at the intake gasket

How about the vent in the fuel cap? Another issue is loose intake manifold (or cracked). Jim