At a minimum you should pull the heads then try and turn by hand and see if the pistons and valves move and open and close properly. That will tell if it is a connecting rod or valve issue.

 

Thanks for the reply larrybl... will do

 

Did it make any noises when it stopped running?

 

Didn't make any strange sounds... it just quit... and it quit fast sort of like if you were to hit a stump while mowing and stall the motor.. a dead stop

 

well I think you should pull the spark plugs out and turn it by hand and see if that makes it any easier, you are essentially taking all the compression away. if you cant turn it easily with the plugs out, you might have bigger problems

 

Yeah I tried that and didn't make any difference ... must have big problems... ill prolly end up parting this old girl out... I really hate to cause its been such a great machine... just checking here before I start selling it off

 

Pull the heads off before giving up

 

Did you take the belt of the pulley to make sure it's the engine and not some other part of the drive system ?

 

Well ... no I didn't... but I did lift the back of the tractor and the rear wheels do turn freely... but I guess maybe there is still a glimmer of hope there. What should I expect to see with the heads off?

 

i'd take the time and take the drive belt off... maybe just maybe (thought i've never saw it) the rear end locked up.... but if its what i'm thinking...... its not good...u can take a head off or just pull the motor off and take the oil pan off which isn't hard to do

 

I would say the drive belt jump off and jammed...

 

could be the belt of the motor. I had a b48m grenade a piston. It was wierd though- mine just idled down like it was running on 1 cylinder, then it still ran for a few seconds. It would start and drive after, but with no power. I am guessing if yours let go, something is jammed. If it was the motor it should have made a metallic noise or SOMETHING so best guess, it's not the motor

 

the thing i was thinking and hoping this didnt happen is somehow the oil pump went or something like that and didnt have oil pressure and it locked up that way

 

Well I pulled the heads... looks good... pulled the oil pan... fine... what the heck... still barely moves? Gt80 what do u mean the belt of the motor?

 

The drive belt might be binding.

Make sure the starter is not engaged, pull the plugs out, disconnect the belt and report back

 

When you pulled the pan did the connecting rod look good? If so you might have valve issues I would think.

 

On another note.... I have to have a plow tractor here in Ohio (plenty of snow right now) so while I've been trying to figure out this old on an I noticed my minibike sitting there! It only took a couple hours 8 bolts washers nuts and a few pieces of wood and I got a real quick repower..LOL. put a li fan 6.5 HP on an away I went. The thing is terribly underpowered but pushes snow. Still can't decide (if the on an is in fact done) wheather to part it out or to attempt a good repower. Any advice? Was thinking about a 16 HP from Max tool or harbor freight single cylinder. Definitely don't want to spend the money on a big twin but this machine needs to mow grass too. Think a single cylinder would do the job? 350 bucks for a new one at HF...oh what to do,........

 

It all looked good e v o.... thanks

 

I have the motor pulled and starter off still binding up... thanks Hugh

 

Plugs out?

 

Plugs out yes

 

So plugs out, starter off, heads off and its still hard to turn?

 

Yup.. I am so confused ha ha makes no sense I know

 

I dont think they do, but I wonder if these engines have a compression release? Have you called Boomer yet to ask him for his opinion?

 

I could be totally wrong but I have never seen a compression release an no I haven't called anyone... just reading up on things here... looking at Craigslist right now... nice old jd201 on there for 350 bucks no mower deck tho ..... what to do what to do... man this old ft was such a workhorse for me such a bummer