[LILGRIZZ]

Hey guys, I'm new here with only asked a couple questions, one similar to the one I'm about to ask again. Lately when I'm mowing I'm noticing a slight vibration in the forward foot pedal. I drove the tractor last night and tested it driving up a hill in my back yard. It seems like it's having to work harder the normal to get up the hill than it has in the past. It's not slipping just lugging the motor more than normal it seems. The tractor only has about 400 hours on it and I chacked the air filter ( not plugged ) could it be some bad gas or possibly something bigger and potentially more expensive?

:thanku:, Jason

 

[jwill1776]

Jason,

Does the engine appear to be struggling or the transmission? Does it seem that the engine RPMs are changing? A sudden change in engine RPMs would give a surge out of the transmission.

Have you checked your hydro fluid in the rear end? When is the last time you changed the fluid?

It could be a number of things, you just need to eliminate a few of the likely culprits.

 

[Nouveau Redneck]

Sounds like it needs to have the hydraulic fluid and filter were changed in the transaxle.

 

[LILGRIZZ]

Jason,

Does the engine appear to be struggling or the transmission? Does it seem that the engine RPMs are changing? A sudden change in engine RPMs would give a surge out of the transmission.

Have you checked your hydro fluid in the rear end? When is the last time you changed the fluid?

It could be a number of things, you just need to eliminate a few of the likely culprits.

It appears the engine is struggling to me ( rpm's lower ) on the hill climb and the fluid is clean and full. I changed it 2 years ago probably about maybe 60 hours on the new fluid and filter. I checked the fluid the other night.

 

[andythedrew]

How does the engine act when you engage the mower? Struggle more that normal?

 

[LILGRIZZ]

How does the engine act when you engage the mower? Struggle more that normal?

Good point, I haven't noticed any difference. It's a 60" deck and being a shaft drive it pulls down the motor pretty good but recovers quickly.

 

[LILGRIZZ]

Don't know if this has any relivance but I have also noticed that when I start the mower if the lights are turned on already ( as in they were not turned off the last time it was used ) the motor doesn't want to turn over and almost doesn't. When the lights are turned off it starts and turns over just fine. Could a battery low voltage make the tractor run like crap? I know right after I got it the battery died all together and stopped the tractor dead in it's tracks. The battery is about 5 years old?

 

[MXZRXP]

I cannot answer your question directly but if this is a fuel injected motor??? a battery issue can cause problems like you are seeing.

with a known good battery, the tractor should start with the light switch on without even a slight problem so clearly your battery is suspect at this point.

Someone with you exact tractor is likely to asnwer soon!

 

[LILGRIZZ]

I cannot answer your question directly but if this is a fuel injected motor??? a battery issue can cause problems like you are seeing.

with a known good battery, the tractor should start with the light switch on without even a slight problem so clearly your battery is suspect at this point.

Someone with you exact tractor is likely to asnwer soon!

Thanks, you are exacly correct it is the fuel injected motor.. I was worried that the starter was the culprit for the hard starting but it seems to do it only when the lights are on as your trying to start it.

 

[rscurtis]

Verify that it's running on both cylinders.

 

[LILGRIZZ]

Verify that it's running on both cylinders.

I don't think it's running quite that bad but I will check it out.

 

[oaker55]

I had the same problem with my 445 last spring and could not figure out what was going on. It finally got bad enough that I loaded it up and took it to the dealer. Turned out to be a spark plug wire problem. Double check the "cap" that treads onto the top of the spark plugs, also. I have had these loosen, also and give the same symptom. I know there is a proper name for these "caps", but I can't think of it right now. The "cap" of the spark plug is where the wire snaps on. (I know, I know, not a very good technical explanation but the best I can come up with right now.) I would tighten them with some pliers being careful not to over tighten. They do need to be tighter than finger tight!

Good luck!

 

[LILGRIZZ]

Ok guys I just got through mowing and now I'm more confused. The vibration is very apparent in the forward pedal under a load like climbing a hill. I can hear the motor come down a bit but it seems more so that it's just not moving like it should even when I give more gas. I'm wondering if it the pump or trans now.. That sound expensive!!!!

 

[Engine_Tech]

I don't think it's running quite that bad but I will check it out.

Checking for both cylinder firing is an excellent idea....because believe it or not they run smoother on one. I know, sounds weird. Pull and plug wire and see. It seem to run great once running - but will start hard and will have little power.

The kicker here is that you said it runs the deck fine. That's three times the load the transmission would put on the engine.

 

[oaker55]

Man, what you are describing is exactly what I experienced when I had the plug wire issue. I also agree with engine tech, you would never guess that it was only running on one cylinder because they do run very smooth on one. The loading issue on a hill was the only place it was very apparent that something was wrong. Once you have experience the engine only running on one cylinder you will know what is happening the next time.

Check those plug wires!

 

[Jere39]

I had near identical symptoms, and traced it as did Oaker to a bad plug wire to plug cap connection. It was not easy to find, and not as easy as you might expect to fix. The cap came off the plug, and stuck in the plug wire boot. I had to semi-mangle the boot with a needle nose pliers to get the cap out, screw it back on the plug (which was fine) then perform some reconstructive surgery on the connecter inside the boot. But, with that complete, I was back in peak performance. It's worth some investigation.

 

[oaker55]

I had near identical symptoms, and traced it as did Oaker to a bad plug wire to plug cap connection. It was not easy to find, and not as easy as you might expect to fix. The cap came off the plug, and stuck in the plug wire boot. I had to semi-mangle the boot with a needle nose pliers to get the cap out, screw it back on the plug (which was fine) then perform some reconstructive surgery on the connecter inside the boot. But, with that complete, I was back in peak performance. It's worth some investigation.

Jere, your description was much better than mine and exactly what happened to me. As a matter of fact, it happened again this spring after the dealer had worked on the engine for the coolant leak. Once it happens the first time, it's much easier to recognize the second time. Evidently, this must be a much more common problem than I realized. I have made it a practice to check the plug connections every few hours to prevent occurrence!

 

[DTLMG]

Hmmmm vibration on the forward pedal???? I do agree with the other responses that the engine has to be running correctly and at the proper RPM for the pump to work correctly.

Since the pedal is hooked directly to the pump (going from memory here)there is a possibility you have a swash plate bearing bad in the hydro itself.... DONT PANIC yet... Let me get a look at the manual this morninng and if I can ill put a 445 up on my hoist to see if i can get any other ideas for you. Do you hear a louder then normal hydro "whine" when driving the tractor? Does the tractor seem to lose power going up hills after it gets warmer?--EXAMPLE.... take it out cold and drive up a hill, drive it around for another 20 minutes and go back up the same hill...what happens? slower? about the same?

 

[LILGRIZZ]

Hmmmm vibration on the forward pedal???? I do agree with the other responses that the engine has to be running correctly and at the proper RPM for the pump to work correctly.

Since the pedal is hooked directly to the pump (going from memory here)there is a possibility you have a swash plate bearing bad in the hydro itself.... DONT PANIC yet... Let me get a look at the manual this morninng and if I can ill put a 445 up on my hoist to see if i can get any other ideas for you. Do you hear a louder then normal hydro "whine" when driving the tractor? Does the tractor seem to lose power going up hills after it gets warmer?--EXAMPLE.... take it out cold and drive up a hill, drive it around for another 20 minutes and go back up the same hill...what happens? slower? about the same?

You know I don't hear it whine any louder than normal which is not that much. I do think it gets worse when it's warmed up also but I'll have to test that theory tonight.

 

[LILGRIZZ]

You know I took off the plug wires last night on each side to pull a plug and look at them. Those caps that go on over the spark plug are they just supposed to snap over the plug? I had to wedge a standard screw driver under the lip as I could not pull it off with my fingers alone. I would love nothing more for to be a bad plug wire, much more so that a hydro pump. You guys are great here thanks for all the help and keep them comming as I will keep you all updated on what I find. I've been turning wrenches on cars and muslce cars for 22 years now but I feel stupid when I look at this machine for some reason.:banghead3:banghead3