Engine Will Not Start Or Is Hard To Start

• Park brake unlocked or not adjusted correctly.

• Key switch not in proper position.

• Stale or improper fuel / fuel level

• Plugged fuel filter.

• Plugged air intake filter.

• Spark plug wire is loose or disconnected.

• Spark plug not gapped correctly.

• Blown fuse.

• Electrical problem - dead battery.

• Choke adjusted incorrectly. See your John Deere dealer.

Engine Will Not Slow Idle

• Carburetion problems. See your John Deere dealer.

• Bent or kinked throttle cable.

• Bent governor control.

• Incorrect governor idle control.

Engine Runs Rough or Stalls

• Plugged fuel filter.

• Plugged air intake system.

• Fuel cap vent dirty.

• Stale or improper fuel / fuel level.

• Spark plug not gapped correctly.

• Replace spark plug.

• Choke adjusted incorrectly. See your John Deere Dealer.

Engine Knocks

• Engine oil level low.

• Reduce load. (Slower ground speed.)

• Fuel is bad. Fill tank with fresh fuel, correct octane.

• Idle speed too slow.

Engine Overheats

• Clean cooling fins.

• Low oil level.

• Do not operate at slow idle. Operate at fast idle.

• Cooling air intake screen is dirty.

• Plugged air intake filter.

• Operating at too fast ground speed for conditions.

Engine Lacks Power

• Plugged air intake system.

• Plugged fuel filter.

• Improper type of fuel. Drain tank and fill with correct fuel.

• Clean cooling fins to help prevent overheating.

• Replace spark plug.

Engine Uses Too Much Oil

• Find and correct oil leaks.

• Incorrect engine oil.

• Plugged oil filter.

• Plugged air intake filter.

Engine Backfires Through Muffler

• Throttle should be set above 1/2 throttle before turning off machine.

High Fuel Consumption

• Improper type of fuel.

• Plugged air intake system.

• Operating at too fast ground speed for conditions.

• Restricted air intake system.

Starter Will Not Work

• Blown fuse.

• Loose or corroded battery or ground connections.

• Loose harness or ground connections to starter.

• Park brake switch faulty or not adjusted properly. (See your John Deere Dealer)

• Key switch or starter faulty. (See your John Deere Dealer)

• Park brake pedal not in proper position.

• Low battery power - charge battery.

Battery Will Not Charge

• Loose or corroded battery or ground connections.

• Dead cell in battery.

PTO Switch Does Not Work

• Blown fuse

• Bad switch.

• Bad clutch.

• Failed regulator/rectifier.

• Loose PTO clutch or switch connections.

• Loose harness or ground connections.

Starter Turns Slowly

• Loose or corroded battery or ground connections.

• Low battery power - charge battery.

• Engine oil viscosity too heavy.

• Transmission linkage adjustment problem or failure.

Excessive Machine Vibration

• Engine speed too slow.

Machine Will Not Move With Engine Running

• Park brake locked.

• Transmission hydraulic oil level low.

• Transmission oil cold - allow engine to warm.

• Drive belt slipping or broken.

• Bypass pump release valves open.

• Traction drive belt damaged or worn.

• Transmission problems. See your John Deere Dealer.

Machine Creeps With Engine Running and Motion Control Levers in a Neutral Position

• Check and adjust neutral creep.

Machine levers are adequately locked in neutral when the park brake is engaged, but the machine creeps.

Check and adjust neutral creep.

See Park Brake Adjustment.

Check and secure cables and hardware.

Machine levers have excessive fore-aft movement with the park brake engaged.

Check and align motion control levers.

Check control levers for loose hardware or excessive wear.

Machine levers are adequately locked in neutral, and no creep exists, but the brake pedal will not fully release due to binding in the system.

Back out neutral interlock adjustment set screws 1 flat and re-check system for binding.

Add grease to neutral interlock cam.

Check and align motion control levers.

Control levers rub/contact slots in the frame when moved to “out” position.

Check and align motion control levers.

Brake pedal difficult to engage.

Check and align motion control levers.

Add grease to neutral interlock cam.

Brake switch not engaging/disengaging

Check and align motion control levers.

Steering Not Working

• Bypass pump release valves partially open.

• Improper tire Inflation.

• Hydrostatic transmission oil low.

Discharge Chute Plugged

• Grass is wet - ground speed may need to be adjusted.

• Raise cutting height.

• Run engine at fast idle.

• Ground speed too fast for conditions.

• Correct installation of deck drive belt.

Mower Deck Vibrates

• Run engine at fast throttle.

• Loose hardware.

• Check/replace deck drive belt.

• Blade bolts are loose.

• Blades are bent or worn.

• Sharpen and balance blades.

• Remove belt shields and clean debris from sheaves.

• Check sheaves for proper alignment or damage. See a John Deere dealer.

Mower Deck Belt Breaks

• Blade rake (Front-to-Rear adjustment) not within specifications. Adjust as required. See Adjusting Mower Deck in the Operating Section.

• Debris on deck or lodged in deck drive system. Clean as required.

• Belt guides damaged or out of alignment. See Replacing Mower Deck Drive Belt, Installing Deck Drive Belt in the Service Mower Section.

Mower Blades Do Not Engage

• Deck drive belt slipping or broken, check and adjust belt tension.

• Deck belt tension spring not installed or broken.

• PTO switch failure.

• Fuse is blown.

• Loose electrical connections.

Mower Does Not Lift or Lower Easily

Check lift assist spring settings. Adjust for more or less assistance when lifting. See Adjusting Deck Lift Spring Tension in the Operating Section.

Mower Mows Unevenly

• Mower deck not properly leveled.

• Ground speed too fast for conditions.

• Run engine at fast throttle.

• Reduce ground speed when making turns.

• Sharpen or replace blades.

• Change mowing pattern.

• Check air pressure in all traction unit tires.

Poor Quality Cut

• Clean debris build-up from underside of deck.

• Check blades for sharpness and damage.

• Check discharge chute for damage.

• Change blades.

• Run engine at fast throttle.