Tuning a John Deere 265 garden tractor.

It would help to know what you are referrng to as the tuning screw. Are you talking about the one(s) for the carburetor? Can you describe it a little better in detail and also the location of it?
 
it is a small brass screw on the carburetor
 
Ok I know I'm not supposed to respond to myself but I cannot for the life of me find the edit button.

Anyway, it is the little brass screw on the side of the carburetor that controls the mixture; because my engine needs to be leaned just the tiniest bit and I don't want to turn it the wrong way because it is sooo close to being in tune.
 
Since I can't see the picture and have not worked on a 265 I cannot tell you which way to turn it. Main jet screws are always out to rich, in for lean. Idle screws can be either way but most at in for rich, out for lean. That being said why are you concerned about trying it? Go one way and if it improves you went tbe correct direction, if it gets worse go the other way. Uness someone has already messed with it or you have other issues your only need to turn it a half turn either way. If you have concerns about loosing the current setting mark the screw and pull the phone out of your pocket and take a picture.
 
99 % sure the only brass screw on that Kawasaki carb is the idle mixture. In (clockwise) will lean it out. And the other way is richer.

Only effect idle, not higher speeds. But bigger movement can effect acceleration, when moving throttle quickly toward open. 5%%
 
Ok thank you for the help; I got it tuned and started today. But...
It was running perfectly, and I was driving through our field, and it just randomly died as if it had run out of fuel. I checked everything: there is fuel getting to the carburetor, the carburetor was giving the engine what seemed like the proper amount of fuel (I haven't touched the idle speed screw because that is how I broke it in the first place), it had ignition at the proper time before it died but I do not have a safe way to test it now, and it turns over fine. It won't start or backfire, but it will rumble a little and shoot a little smoke time to time, and it still acts like it has no fuel. I am perfectly baffled because it is almost mechanically perfect but will not start. Is there anyone who might know what is wrong?
 

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