425 Quit in 7 Degree Weather

[lyle425]

My John Deere 425 (Kawasaki twin OHC) tractor started missing after about 30 minutes of plowing in 7 degree weather this morning. It then just quit and would not re-start.

It's been a very reliable machine and has about 950 hours on it. I have used it without any issues for 2 years although this is my first winter plowing. I'm thinking fuel icing, etc. I treated the gas with Stabil but not an anti-freeze at the beginning of winter (I'm learning now that Stabil does not include an anti-freezing agent.)

So I went ahead and treated the gas with (anti-freeze) solution and checked fuel filter and pump; both work great. I also checked the spark plugs and it has good spark. I sprayed some cold engine start spray directly into the carb and even tried a little raw gas to prime it.

Now when I crank the engine it sounds like it wants to start but in a 5 second crank period I only hear the engine combust 1 or 2 times. I'm a little nervous about cranking too long and burning up my starter, and I'm not sure if I should choke it or leave the carb wide open. At this point, I'm thinking it could be flooded so I decided to stop and come inside, warm up and post to this forum. Any ideas?

 

[thatguy]

Just out of curiosity.. Are you using a winter weight oil in it??

Brian

 

[lyle425]

Yes Dealer recommended 10W -30

 

[lyle425]

Almost seems like bad gas -- everything seems to be working except combustion. I cleaned carb and still only 1 or 2 pops in about 5 seconds of cranking. -- and the combustion doesn't build. It fires and that's it. Any other thoughts out there on what's wrong. Again this tractor started and ran every time I turned the key fro the past two years - although this is first time it's been used by me in such cold weather. It has however been in my garage all day -- 27 degrees -- and still the same performance. Could it be the gas?

 

[Matt_Jr]

Try changing the spark plug/s. Also put the battery on a trickle charger-a fully charged battery will give better spark while cranking. If you think it's flooded it's possible that the float in the carb is sticking. Try tapping lightly on the bowl with the handle of a screwdriver. If that works you may need a carb rebuild. If not check compression. Keep us posted.

 

[Matt_Jr]

If it's been a while since run last the cylinder walls could be dry. Squirt a little oil down in the cylinder through the spark plug hole to raise the compression back up.

 

[lyle425]

Thanks for responding Matt. Actually, I have used the tractor quite a bit as of late -- for several hours yesterday - it ran fine - even with the cold weather. Today it was even colder (single digits)-- after about 30 minutes it sounded like it was missing or only running on one cylinder. I headed for the garage and it quit, and hasn't fired back up since. When I first tried to restart it it sounded like the flywheel wasn't even turning. (Is it possible that 10W-30 oil wasn't the right grade for such cold weather? ) In any case, the starter is now engaging the flywheel and I have been using a jump from my car to keep the battery charged up throughout the day. Should I try charging the battery back up anyway?

BTW - I put new spark plugs in - seem to be OK, and I disassembled and cleaned the carb - everything looks good.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Are you sure it isn't the carb icing up? That is a gas machine right? I had a truck do that when the heat tube from the exhaust manifold came off. I could drive for a little bit. Then the venturi in the carb would freeze up.

 

[lyle425]

Thanks for responding. I doubt it because I have been working on this tractor in my garage most of the day - about 28 degrees -

 

[jpm]

have you checked spark?