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Small Engine Repair Help!!!

Thunderflight

Dignitary Member
17,770
167
Shermans Dale, PA
Sunday I'm mowing in areas no sane person would take a riding tractor when I hit a rock. I didn't hit it hard and I shut off the mower deck before I backed off. The rock was small and I barely nicked it. When I turned off the deck the whole mower shut down and won't start. It'll crank like a champ, but will not kick over.

So far this is what I have done and the darn thing still wont start:

-Pulled the fly wheel and the shear pin looks as new as the one I just bought at the John Deere store.

-Both spark plugs are sparking

-I have compression, but I haven't put a gauge on it to see how much.

-Replaced the fuel pump

-You can hear the fuel shut off thingy tick in the carburetor when you turn the ignition to the first notch.

-I put a few drops of gas in the air intake and the first cylinder fired, but didn't start the engine.

-The 25 amp fuze is fine

The only thing I have not done is replace the relay which I will probably do tomorrow.

I'm not an engine expert, but it seems to me I have covered all the bases. I'm thinking that since it died when the deck switch was shut off that I probably have a short or bad switch somewhere. I probably should down load the wiring schematics and start testing wires with a multi meter.

Oh, my riding tractor is an old Scotts L2048 (same thing as a John Deere L120) with a Briggs and Stratton 20 hp OHV motor.

Thanks for any advise.....
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
Have you tried starting fluid in the air intake and if so did the engine fire? If it did, your issue is obviously fuel related. Did you put gas in it? [emoji23] Sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously though, before getting too carried away with relays and wiring, double check the basics like your fuel filter and fuel supply hose(s). Loose bolts or bad gasket on the carburetor? Does the mowerl have a kill switch wired into the seat? Check continuity on that circuit or try bypassing it. Good luck.
 

Thunderflight

Dignitary Member
17,770
167
Shermans Dale, PA
Have you tried starting fluid in the air intake and if so did the engine fire? If it did, your issue is obviously fuel related. Did you put gas in it? [emoji23] Sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously though, before getting too carried away with relays and wiring, double check the basics like your fuel filter and fuel supply hose(s). Loose bolts or bad gasket on the carburetor? Does the mowerl have a kill switch wired into the seat? Check continuity on that circuit or try bypassing it. Good luck.

Yelp I've done all of that. Yes it does have gas.... LOL Funny thing is it wouldn't fire with starting fluid sprayed into the air intake, but it would with a few drops of gas.
 

Big Weff

Junior Member
1,089
97
Athens
Have you tried starting fluid in the air intake and if so did the engine fire? If it did, your issue is obviously fuel related. Did you put gas in it? [emoji23] Sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously though, before getting too carried away with relays and wiring, double check the basics like your fuel filter and fuel supply hose(s). Loose bolts or bad gasket on the carburetor? Does the mowerl have a kill switch wired into the seat? Check continuity on that circuit or try bypassing it. Good luck.

Yelp I've done all of that. Yes it does have gas.... LOL Funny thing is it wouldn't fire with starting fluid sprayed into the air intake, but it would with a few drops of gas.
Did you take the air filter off and spray the ether directly in it? If it wouldn't fire with ether then I'd say your problem is electrical. Have you checked the solenoid? That would be my best guess. Not to say that's worth much haha
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
Very strange. Fires with a few drops of gas but not starting fluid? Never have I seen such a thing.

It has to be somehow related to you hitting that rock. If not that would be one heck of a coincidence.
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,743
274
North Carolina
If you have spark at the plugs and it’s not firing it’s a fuel issue. Look up the diagrams and see what controls the fuel. Might be a shutoff in that circuit to stop the fuel and the rock hit shut it down... Safety circuit maybe?
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
Pull a plug. Put the boot back on it. He it against metal as you turn the key. Ensure it has a good spark. Maybe a wire came off the coil.

"Generally" if it is a safety it won't crank at all. Could be some which allow it to crank but not fire. Seems most safety switches remove the ability to crank over at all though.
 

Thunderflight

Dignitary Member
17,770
167
Shermans Dale, PA
I forgot to mention that I tried to unplug the replay to check the connection and it came out of the casing. Looking at the schematic the fuel shut off wires go through it. Our local John Deere store has one for $11. Hopefully that's the problem.
 

Thunderflight

Dignitary Member
17,770
167
Shermans Dale, PA
UGH!

Well the relay didn't work either. The only thing left is the fuel shut off solenoid. That sucker is $120 so I'll be checking the wires with a multimeter before I buy that part.
 

Big Weff

Junior Member
1,089
97
Athens
What kind of riding mower is this? I'm not sure about a fuel shut off solenoid but I would still wager to bet that it's the solenoid bolted on your engine.
 

Thunderflight

Dignitary Member
17,770
167
Shermans Dale, PA
Rains it pours..... Last night the tranny on my F150 went out. It started slipping, pulled over at gas station, tranny fluid everywhere. I'm hoping it is just a blow cooler line. The slipping is really minor and there wasn't any weird noises or vibrations.