puzzle: throttle/choke lever question for L130 owners...

3743 Views 18 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Whirly, Jan 27, 2019

DennisBT

Discussion Starter · Jan 21, 2019

Tried tinkering with L130 I brought home last Friday. Way too cold out there to do much, but..... When I picked it up, friend/PO started it right up on second starter try. I did almost as well when unloading it. Today wouldn't start. (I didn't push it much as I don't like running those little starters very long) I've been downloading several pages of the on-line manuals I've found Some pretty good stuff. If this machine works out, I'll just buy a real manual. On ALL the operating sections I've found, only ONE lever is shown for throttle. And diagram legend calls it, "throttle/choke." (Item A in the diagram) Mine has Two, (2), levers there, side by side. Between them is the little strip sticker that shows fast and, (turtle icon), slow. Can't tell from that which lever it refers to. Under hood they both control pivots near what I suspect will be the air cleaner. One has stop/adjusting screw, so I suspect that is throttle and the screw is for idle setting.
SO...question here is: why I have two levers/controls and all manuals I find never show that? And which is supposed to be for which???? (choke or throttle) When it warms up I'll pull that front piece and see what each pivot goes where. Should be easy to see something that looks like choke.
Just seems odd, but manuals can skip things I guess. (Oh, this is a 2004 L130)

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1 - 19 of 19 Posts

rayjay

· #2 · Jan 22, 2019

The inner lever is the choke. You probably need it all the way forward to start a cold motor. Many of my motors require choking even when hot.

If your motor will start with the throttle lever in the idle position and the choke lever fully forward then that's the way to do it. Often you have to put the throttle lever in the middle position or even wide open for the motor to start. You just have to see what your motor wants.

The L130 manual is up in the Reference Library forum.

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DennisBT

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 22, 2019

Thank you. Sure clears that up!
Next is that the little plastic or rubber, "tip," is missing on what you've now told me is the throttle lever. Just jagged metal to grip. Thinking of making something to go over it that's easier on the fingers. Don't know if they are available, but pretty trivia item anyway.
Will look here in the, "library," to see if it's the same thing I found elsewhere.
Dennis

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Merc1973

· #4 · Jan 22, 2019

DennisBT said:
Thank you. Sure clears that up!
Next is that the little plastic or rubber, "tip," is missing on what you've now told me is the throttle lever. Just jagged metal to grip. Thinking of making something to go over it that's easier on the fingers. Don't know if they are available, but pretty trivia item anyway.
Will look here in the, "library," to see if it's the same thing I found elsewhere.
Dennis

Here ya go Dennis:

https://www.greenpartstore.com/John-Deere-Throttle-Knob--GX20193_p_12518.html

Great resource for parts at green part store:
https://www.greenpartstore.com/John-Deere-Model-L130-Lawn-Tractor-Parts.html

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L120

· #5 · Jan 22, 2019

The inner lever is the choke. Mine always needed the choke to start even when warm. Now, I have a different engine that has combi-choke. This uses the throttle all the way on (WOT) to trip the choke vane in the carb. This makes me believe these V-twin engines need some throttle when starting them. Also, these engines need the full ZING of the battery & starter. If it's not turning over really fast, it may be harder to get er started.

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DennisBT

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 22, 2019

Thanks, merc. But I wonder if that orange knob will fit because I have two controls and the knobs have to, "pass by one another." I'll try to attach a photo here. Keep in mind that in this photo the one surviving black knob showing is actually smaller than what it looks like in the photo. I'm also going over to the green parts link and shop. Good tip.
Well, I see no way to attach photo. But mine are not the same as the orange one. Much smaller.

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Whirly

· #7 · Jan 22, 2019

DennisBT said:
Thanks, merc. But I wonder if that orange knob will fit because I have two controls and the knobs have to, "pass by one another." I'll try to attach a photo here. Keep in mind that in this photo the one surviving black knob showing is actually smaller than what it looks like in the photo. I'm also going over to the green parts link and shop. Good tip.
Well, I see no way to attach photo. But mine are not the same as the orange one. Much smaller.

to attach a photo when u make a postin .. scroll down a lil bit & look for 'manage attachments'.. a lil window will come up when u click on it.. if the pic is on ur PC.. it can b found in pictures folders.. when u get the pic found.. then click the open tab.. this should bring u back to the lil window.. in it click the 'upload'..

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DennisBT

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 22, 2019

Whirly, I did just that when I posted a New Topic. Worked. Now to add photo with a, "reply," is where things change. I just see something about drag and drop and an option for putting one in using a url. I just have photos under documents and no url, etc. That is where I'm hung up. At least I can do it when I first post new subject.

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Brad

· #9 · Jan 22, 2019

To add a photo when replying to another post, don't go to the quick reply box, rather the "go advanced" tab below the box.

If you are writing a reply in the quick reply box and realize you want to add a photo, no problem. Just click the "go advanced" at that time and you will be given the opportunity without losing what you've already typed in.

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Merc1973

· #10 · Jan 22, 2019

The orange lever is offset. It will fit.

The Kohler commands when cold, need full choke and only 1/3 throttle to start easily.

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L120

· #11 · Jan 22, 2019

Before any mods were made to my L120 same as L130, to start it whether cold or already hot, the choke must be full up and the throttle about 1/2 way.

You mentioned it was cold outside. The cold temp cold very well have an effect on starting.

Whirly

· #12 · Jan 22, 2019 (Edited)

Whirly said:
to attach a photo when u make a postin .. scroll down a lil bit & look for 'manage attachments'.. a lil window will come up when u click on it.. if the pic is on ur PC.. it can b found in pictures folders.. when u get the pic found.. then click the open tab.. this should bring u back to the lil window.. in it click the 'upload'..

in the document folder or the pic' folder u have to 'highlight the pic'.. then click the open tab.. I forgot to mention that

Merc1973 said:
The orange lever is offset. It will fit.

The Kohler commands when cold, need full choke and only 1/3 throttle to start easily.

I have a L120 which looks the same as ur pic.. if the leavers get bent they can b slid by each others.. had that happen to mine.. the choke has to b fully closed or up all the way up.. a half choke will not let the engine fire up.. my engine is a B&S..

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Whirly

· #13 · Jan 22, 2019

DennisBT said:
Whirly, I did just that when I posted a New Topic. Worked. Now to add photo with a, "reply," is where things change. I just see something about drag and drop and an option for putting one in using a url. I just have photos under documents and no url, etc. That is where I'm hung up. At least I can do it when I first post new subject.

the Manage attachments tab can b found after scrollin down when u quote or reply a person.. I have yet to use the 'quick reply' even after makin over 14,000 posts..

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Michael

· #14 · Jan 22, 2019

rayjay said:
The L130 manual is up in the Reference Library forum.

https://www.mytractorforum.com/334-john-deere/23974-2002-john-deere-l-series-technical-manual.html The service manual is at this link..

DennisBT

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 23, 2019

You guys are great! Covered a lot of ground. Thank you very much. Snow and even colder here today. Will be much better in 2 days. Will go at it again. I really appreciate the photo that shows how the orange knob can actually work. Perfect.

DennisBT

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 23, 2019

Now that I know which is choke, I went out in the snow and into the building where the 130 sits. Put choke on full; throttle one-third. Fired up in about 2 revolutions! Amazing how knowing which control is which can make a difference. Too snowy to run her more than the 15 minutes I did, but I see no smoke and it runs smooth. More testing as weather permits. I'm not playing much until I really do my homework first.

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rayjay

· #17 · Jan 23, 2019

You should go to the JD parts site and bring up your machine and browse the exploded views and learn how to look up the part numbers.

DennisBT

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 27, 2019

Update: Yes, I've been browsing the parts links you all have listed. In fact, I just ordered that throttle lever end and a bushing-to-bearing set for the front spindles, even though the spindles don't seem too bad.
Progress is slow for operational testing as weather continues to be really cold and sloppy here on our little farm.

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Whirly

· #19 · Jan 27, 2019

DennisBT said:
Update: Yes, I've been browsing the parts links you all have listed. In fact, I just ordered that throttle lever end and a bushing-to-bearing set for the front spindles, even though the spindles don't seem too bad.
Progress is slow for operational testing as weather continues to be really cold and sloppy here on our little farm.

the underside of the spindles will wear if u have bushings on them.. I changed mine to bearings & it tighten up the front stearin.. no more slop..

I even had new spindles.. it now drives like a dream..

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