Riding Mower find

WFM

Well-known member

Equipment
L3800
Apr 5, 2013
1,021
313
83
Porter Maine
Saw a riding mower today beside the road for sale.
I have alot to bush hog
But not alot of lawn. Of course it was the wrong color. But the guy took $200. For it.
Said it just would not fire. I took it home. Hooked up the charger. Put in some gas. Cleaned the plug. Took off the carb bowl and wiped it out. Blew out the air filter.
There spark at the plug, gas came to the carb. It would back fire while trying to start it once in a while. But just wouldn't start.
So dropped it at our local Mennonite repair shop.
I know the basics. But this is beyond me.
He looked quick and said the factory Kohler carb had been replaced. But he would check it over. He said he liked that engine much better then the newer ones.
The serial number is
MOL 150B027240
I tried to look up the year on the JD site or other sites claiming serial number lookup.
But no luck for me.
Just looked at this engine tag. It mentions 2004 and 2006 , so possibly that old. I'm not sure.
 

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fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
4,667
3,019
113
Eastham, Ma
I wou
Saw a riding mower today beside the road for sale.
I have alot to bush hog
But not alot of lawn. Of course it was the wrong color. But the guy took $200. For it.
Said it just would not fire. I took it home. Hooked up the charger. Put in some gas. Cleaned the plug. Took off the carb bowl and wiped it out. Blew out the air filter.
There spark at the plug, gas came to the carb. It would back fire while trying to start it once in a while. But just wouldn't start.
So dropped it at our local Mennonite repair shop.
I know the basics. But this is beyond me.
He looked quick and said the factory Kohler carb had been replaced. But he would check it over. He said he liked that engine much better then the newer ones.
The serial number is
150B027240
I tried to look up the year on the JD site or other sites claiming serial number lookup.
But no luck for me.
Just looked at this engine tag. It mentions 2004 and 2006 , so possibly that old. I'm not sure.
I expect that the end result will be just fine, if not in fact excellent!
 

tmstractor

New member

Equipment
MX5200HST ,6FT Til,,6ft Rake, 6ft BB, 6ft Flail Mow,PH Dig, Brush HOG,PForks
Aug 3, 2015
26
4
3
North Alabama
I had a Kohler engine on a riding mower that was doing what you described. I finally found that the flywheel key had sheared and caused the engine to get out of time. It was a simple fix then (replaced key). Why it had sheared in the first place is beyond me. It ran great for years after that.
 
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GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
7,767
3,080
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
nice find ??
NO , GREAT find !!!
yeesh, hood isn't in 1,000 pieces from trees running out in front of it !!!!and it's about 20 years old !!
The hood alone could easily fetch $400 up here...
Yes, flywheel key may be sheared or 'mushed' enough to toss timing off, seen a few like that.
Other possible ... the 'anti-backfiring' solenoid on the bottom of the carb. The little rubber end will stick shut or just open a wee bit, can't get gas into carb bowl. Usual 'cheat' is to remove the rubber instead of buying a new solenoid at $130 !

when you get 'up and running' try to find and install a front bumper....
 

ve9aa

Well-known member

Equipment
TG1860, BX2380 -backblade, bx2830 snowblower, fel, weight box,pallet forks,etc
Apr 11, 2021
1,119
889
113
NB, Canada
Sounds like timing to me.
 

JimDeL

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2380; R4 tires; 54" MMM; FEL w Pirahna bar; Ballast Box; BXpanded skid plate.
Aug 31, 2022
132
115
43
Austintown, Ohio
I had a Kohler engine on a riding mower that was doing what you described. I finally found that the flywheel key had sheared and caused the engine to get out of time. It was a simple fix then (replaced key). Why it had sheared in the first place is beyond me. It ran great for years after that.
Had the same thing happen on an l120 (Kohler engine). a 25¢ key and a half hour's work fixed it.
 
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WFM

Well-known member

Equipment
L3800
Apr 5, 2013
1,021
313
83
Porter Maine
Just got a text from the repair guy.
He'll be going by on Friday and drop it off.
The bill is $192.
I haven't found out what the issue is yet.
But he was changing the oil, filter and air filter, plus checking the blades. And getting it running. He looked quick while I was there and said the carb wasn't a Kohler carburetor. He said the Kohler carb was a much better one then the one that was on it. So he said he might get a Kohler one.
But I'm thrill with a $192. Bill.