hard starting of john deere 345 lawn and garden tractor when cold

[exdeere]

I am having a great amount of trouble with starting my 345 when it is cold, in fact i have to spray a small amount of starting fluid in the intake and it cranks right up and runs great. There is nothing wrong with the carb I have had it rebuilt. I am wondering if the coils could be getting weak?? If you could help me with how to test them with a multimeter I would appreciate it. The dealer says they have to have it there to test them but i bet I am looking at a 100.00 bill or more just for that to happen. So if you can help email me at krismarkkreekfarm@charter.net and let me know. thanks in advance exdeere anderson sc

 

[DJ54]

If it fires right up with starting fluid, I'd suspect a fuel issue. I posted something similar last spring, thinking it may be the fuel pump getting weak on my BIL's Wheel Horse Kohler engine.

I got several replies, that it probably had to do with the check valve in the carb. Being the fuel tanks on most are at the rear of the tractor, and below the level of the carb, more then likely the check valve had some gunk in it, letting fuel drain back to the tank.

If he only started it once a week, he'd have to crank for quite a while to get it started. If it sat for only a few hours, it would fire right up.

The fix was a good dose of Seafoam, to cut the crud out of it. Hasn't had any problems since. I use it myself in all of my small engines, and in my Farmall A. Just seems this ethanol laced fuel really causes problems like this. Some dose their fuel when they get it, I give mine a dose in the tank,about every 3 time I add fuel, and seems to keep things cleaned up enough for them to run well.