Husqvarna riding mower smokin a bit

K man · May 17, 2014

My Husqvarna 18.5 hp riding mower ( 9 years old) smokes a bit white/grayish color when I start it up. I also smell it while mowing. I checked oil and it is ok. Check the air filter nice and clean. I did notice where the spark plug is there was so old oil so I cleaned it up and does not seem to leak. When it is idling and when I rev it up it smokes a bit. Is this serious or not. Thanks for any comment

Dan Bollinger · May 17, 2014

Smoke on startup is often worn valve stem seals. Smoke while running is often loose piston rings, worn cylinder, or a blown head gasket. Not serious, but something to deal with before it gets worse if you want to keep the mower.

K man · May 18, 2014

Thanks for the reply Dan. I don't think it is a big problem like you mentioned. Does not constantly smoke when running or mowing. Only when the engine revs up. I was going to trade it off on a new EZ turn rider but figured I would get nothing on my old one as trade in. My wife saw me mowing and said " nothing wrong with the old one" and she noticed that it did not smoke so why buy a new one WOMEN lol. Thanks
Gilles

Gary Fowler · May 18, 2014

The piston rings are likely worn a bit also after 9 year, but a valve job with new guides would likely fix your problem completely. There shouldn't be a problem to just run it as long as you keep oil in it. I have seen small engines smoke like a mosquito fogger and still run well and if yours only smokes at startup and when engine revs up, keep going with it.

You are right about not getting anything on trade in for used mower. Most times you don't get any value out of trading in an older car either. Better to just sell it outright for a few bucks or take it for scrap price than give it to a dealer.

Some folks will even remove the mowing deck when they go bad and just use the tractor for things like pulling a fertilizer spreader or cart around the yard. There are many things that a lawn tractor can be use for if they are still in running condition but maybe not strong enough to run at WOT pulling a mower deck.

K man · May 18, 2014

Thanks Gary for the reply. Will keep running her till she gets worst or dies. Will make it a winter project to take her apart and maybe do the valve job not sure yet. The rider is in great shape and also the deck always been stored inside year round. Still want to get the Husqvarna EZ turn rider maybe next year or earlier depending on the old one lasting the Summer. Thanks
Gilles

K man · Dec 1, 2014

To bring this up to date. It turns out it was a head gasket so decided to trade it in on a new RZ4824 with a Kawasaki twin motor. Was tricky at first cause never drove a zero turn before. After doing a few speed and lever adjustments it got easier. Noticed that the zero turns are tricky on inclines they tend to slide sideways and wish I had a seat belt cause you do slide in the seat and this makes you lose control of the levers. After mowing for most of the summer I find my cutting time is cut to 1/3 from 1 hour to 20 minutes and no need to go around with the weed wacker as much cause machine cuts closer. Over all love the RZ 4824.