GT245 and exhaust deflector

[sgoldste01]

Hello,

I'm adding a brush guard/bumper to the front of my GT245. I wanted to buy the JD part (BM20820), but this part is out of production. So I bought one on eBay. It seems of high quality, but my guess is that it isn't truly a JD part, but rather a copy manufactured by someone else.

Anyway, I've heard of a JD technical bulletin claiming that if a GT245 is running rich and fouling its plugs, that you should confirm that the exhaust deflector that came with the BM20820 is installed (if the tractor has the BM20820 installed, of course). Since my bumper is not a genuine JD part, it didn't come with this exhaust deflector.

I asked my JD dealer if he had the exhaust deflector in stock, and he didn't even know what I was talking about. I asked him about the tech bulletin, and he (and the service department guys) didn't know anything about that either.

Does anyone out there with a GT-Series tractor have the brush guard? If so, do you also have the exhaust deflector installed? If you don't have the deflector installed, has it caused any problems?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[dconine]

Where does the exhaust point without the deflector on it? Would it cause heat to build up the engine compartment with the bumper on it? I can't see how a exhaust deflector could cause it to run rich. You would have to change the fuel mixture for it to do that unless exhaust fumes in the compartment would cause a problem. I would try it without the deflector as long as its safe & see if it fouls the plugs. If it does, you may have to fabricate one or you can probably get one from the engine manufacturer. Any dealer should be able to help you get one & I'm guessing you have a Kawasaki engine. A few different engines may use the same deflector. Give er a shot and let us know how it works.

 

[sgoldste01]

I don't have the bumper installed, but here's the product I bought:

John Deere Front Metal Bumper LX255 LX277 GT225 GT235 - eBay (item 280591859640 end time Jan-18-11 07:33:07 PST)

My assumption is that the bumper installs close to where the exhaust exits the muffler, causing back pressure that affects the fuel mixture in the engine. But this is just a guess.

 

[kjung17]

Exhaust deflector kit AM132905 is no longer available. However, the individual parts seem to be good numbers: M148670 Muffler diffuser(qty 1), M148692 Heat deflector(qty 1), 37H2 screws(qty 3). The whole thing should be less than 30 bucks. Here is a clip of the tech bulletin you referred to.

 

[sgoldste01]

How do you find JD technical solutions online? Apparently I'm looking for Solution 64246. I've seen references to pictures that help distinguish between internally vented and externally vented carbs, so I'm looking for those pics.

 

[kjung17]

As a dealer technician, I have access to a secure website. Here are some drawings from the parts manual.

Externally vented


internally vented

 

[pepperidge]

Agrifab took over manufacturing the deflector kit for the LX and GT series tractors...

Part # AGR-AM132905

google will pull up a few equipment suppliers selling that part...

 

[sgoldste01]

I've been running my GT245 all season with the bumper installed, and no deflector. No problems that I can see. :thumbsup:

 

[pepperidge]

glad to hear the deflector may not be needed...

I have a gt235 and am thinking of ordering the same bumper and in searching for that deflector I came across this thread...so when I found the replacement, part I figured I'd post it in case you still needed it...

 

[sgoldste01]

My GT245, with the bumper but no exhaust deflector, started running lean yesterday, sending visible black smoke out of the exhaust, and running with less than 100% power.

At first I thought I was going to have to remove the bumper, but then I decided to replace the air filter. Back to full power again!

:thumbsup: