1845 problem

[ernemats]

Was mowing today on a fairly steep slope about 25 degree slope when it suddenly acted like it was low on fuel. Checked about 2 inches at fuel outlet , put more fuel in so there was plenty of fuel . Tried to start numerous times , no click when key turned to first position which usually makes. Turned to start and it acts like it usually does spinning motor still no start. Checked wires they seem ok. Yesterday when I ran it it ran fine for about 1/4 mile then smoking shut it off , lifted the hood and started it fuel flying all over motor and muffler. Managed to get it back to shed took side cover off mouse nest in by injectors they had chewed the return fuel line off. Fixed with new hose seemed ok no more leaks. Sprayed engine and radiator off with cleaner and rinsed off with garden hose. Mowed for about 1 hour till it shut off and would not start. Any ideas on what I should check?

 

[ponytug]

I would check the fuel shutoff solenoid, my usual suspect when I don't hear a click (the shutoff solenoid contracting).

Sorry to hear about the mouse nest. They must have been pretty wound up to chew through the return line.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ernemats]

My grandson came up with the same thing. Thanks Peter

 

[ponytug]

And I suspect that we both hope replacing it works.

There is a maddeningly tiny angle to angle the solenoid into the housing. I watched the Foley how to video (great video) a dozen times, and it still took me a slew of tries. You are probably more coordinated and will hopefully have better luck.

BTW: the Deutz solenoids (two coils internally) are like hen's teeth and priced accordingly as I believe that they are all NOS, having gone out of production eons ago. The 3rd party versions (one coil internally) draw more power, but seem to work.

All the best,

Peter

 

[marrt]

I discovered a mouse nest in that spot, and their urine had rusted through the curved metal tube connecting one injector to the next—hard to believe. I sprayed the new tube with clear paint, hoping it will help next time. I’ve also switched to adjustable handles instead of bolts, making it easier to remove the cover and leave it off when the machine isn’t in use. Every year is a constant battle with mice, and leaving all the covers open or off wherever possible seems to help. I’ve resorted to using poison again to tackle the issue and recently picked up some hot pepper sauce to try on the wiring. Honda once developed special wiring with hot pepper in the plastic, but for my DIY version, I’ll need to neutralize the pH, which I haven’t had time to experiment with yet.

 

[ernemats]

I discovered a mouse nest in that spot, and their urine had rusted through the curved metal tube connecting one injector to the next—hard to believe. I sprayed the new tube with clear paint, hoping it will help next time. I’ve also switched to adjustable handles instead of bolts, making it easier to remove the cover and leave it off when the machine isn’t in use. Every year is a constant battle with mice, and leaving all the covers open or off wherever possible seems to help. I’ve resorted to using poison again to tackle the issue and recently picked up some hot pepper sauce to try on the wiring. Honda once developed special wiring with hot pepper in the plastic, but for my DIY version, I’ll need to neutralize the pH, which I haven’t had time to experiment with yet.

kind of adjustable handles did you use and where you get them?

 

[SpringHollow]

The single coil versions have not lasted as long for me.

 

[ernemats]

How do you know what you are getting. Different ones I have looked at then ask if they are 1 or 2 coil and no one seems to know. Any ideas on good source? Also how difficult is it to replace?

 

[SpringHollow]

If they are cheap and aftermarket, they are single coil. I do not know if the two coil ones are made any more. Some Deutz distributers were selling single coil the last time I looked.

 

[SpringHollow]

They are not too hard to replace. There are videos on YouTube.

 

[ponytug]

They are not too hard to replace. There are videos on YouTube.

Yes, I agree the replacement isn't that hard, but I think that it has a needle threading aspect to it.

@ernemats here is the replacement video that I found most helpful;

The differences in the solenoids;

All the best,

Peter

 

[ernemats]

Finally got it up and running , put new fuel shut off solenoid and wiring harness on it seems to run fine only problem is it sometimes trips the circuit breaker on the dash, Terry thinks alternator is going bad. checked voltage at battery with tractor running and it showed 14.25 volts Terry said it should only be about 12.8 or so

 

[ponytug]

Finally got it up and running , put new fuel shut off solenoid and wiring harness on it seems to run fine only problem is it sometimes trips the circuit breaker on the dash, Terry thinks alternator is going bad. checked voltage at battery with tractor running and it showed 14.25 volts Terry said it should only be about 12.8 or so

Congratulations on getting it running again.

I defer to Terry, but there might be other things as well. Those pop out circuit breakers are neither especially reliable nor waterproof. The non-OEM fuel shutoffs do draw more power so you may have more load than you had. So I am not sure that I would rush to blame the alternator at 14.25V. The normal range is 13.8 to 15 for a lead acid battery set up. If it were me, I might test the voltage / current various places to perhaps get some insights as to the source of the load.

I would also double check the wiring and connector at the alternator.

All the best,

Peter

 

[SpringHollow]

My alternator has always been on the high side, around 14.5V. Even the replacement alternator ran this high. One battery actually got boiled.

 

[ernemats]

My alternator has always been on the high side, around 14.5V. Even the replacement alternator ran this high. One battery actually got boiled.

Does your circuit breaker ever trip and have to be reset

 

[SpringHollow]

It has happened a few times over the years.

 

[ponytug]

@ernemats FWIW: I just checked my 1445 today, running at 14.25 at the dash. I've never had the circuit breaker pop, but your machine does have the tilt seat solenoid for a bit of added load.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ernemats]

Started it up yesterday and still pops the circuit breaker . Turned the pto on and nothing , reset circuit breaker and it started the mower , ran it for while mowing maybe 10 minutes and heard squeaking noise , seems like brakes are trying to engage , don't know what is going on.

 

[ponytug]

Started it up yesterday and still pops the circuit breaker . Turned the pto on and nothing , reset circuit breaker and it started the mower , ran it for while mowing maybe 10 minutes and heard squeaking noise , seems like brakes are trying to engage , don't know what is going on.

Sounds to me like a case of them there electrical gremlins alright. You have my sympathy.

My bet would be either on a shorting cable, wet or corroded terminal strip, or a flakey ground.

I'd be inclined to pull the front cover to the dash, and check the terminal strip to make sure the wires look ok (dry, no corrosion) and that the terminals are tight. Then, I'd check the main cable from the dash terminal strip back to the electrical box, checking especially where it could have been rubbing. It is a bit of a challenge to access all the places the cable crosses sharp metal, but pulling the covers helps. Then I'd check the electrical box, pain that it is to access. Finally, if I didn't find anything, I would run a new ground from the front dash to the battery negative terminal on the engine block, and one from that bolt to the rear tub frame.

Side story: I had an otherwise nice trailer that had rear lights that would work for a while, then flake out, and then after a while back to normal. Drove the prior owner nuts, as he had it to an otherwise great auto electrical shop numerous times, without them finding a cause. He sold it to me, and it had the same behavior, so I decided to bite the bullet and pull new cable. As I pulled out the old cable, I found a slice across the cable, cutting into the wires. Turns out the manufacturer had left a sharp edge where two pieces of square metal tube butted together, and they had run the cable through the square metal tube front to rear, and the sharp edge had slowly vibrated into the cable, shorting wires to ground. Then it would go over a bump and bounce free of the short. Maddening. Fixing the sharp edge inside the tube was a pain.

Good luck.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ponytug]

Started it up yesterday and still pops the circuit breaker . Turned the pto on and nothing , reset circuit breaker and it started the mower , ran it for while mowing maybe 10 minutes and heard squeaking noise , seems like brakes are trying to engage , don't know what is going on.

I hope things have improved, but is there any update, hopefully positive?

All the best,

Peter