Lawn mowing season at full swing.............

[Oldpath05]

This is the forth time I mowed my make believe lawn this year and my 2015-ish 22hp S. C. riding mower had the erratic motor running syndrome and the grass is on the high side so I called a Mechanic and Mr Marvel to try and get to run smooth without replacing the allusive and hard to find carburetor replacement. But after 4 hrs of operating I think it's fixed but for how long I'm not sure......

I just uploaded a couple videos of how it was running, it should play, the first video would've came out better if the first part of it videoed right side up, but was able to cut and splice another previous one, at around 0:48 the mower comes out of it's governor running up and down symptom from trying Mechanic in a Bottle and then hour later added some Marvel Mystery oil, the cause of this erratic motor running is still undetermined........

This is Saturday>>>> Riding mower with erratic idle til :49 - YouTube

And heres the mower running today>>>>>>>>>> Riding mower still running smooth - YouTube

 

[Oldpath05]

I was hoping I had my riding mower all set but two days ago while mowing it stopped, thought it ran out of gas, it was way down but dont think it was completely out, so filled it up and still no go not even fire once. I ran it out of gas before and if I choke it I could still get it to fire.

Next day hauled in the garage did some trouble shooting, as if I dont have enough to do now, I started with the feeling the mower wasn't getting gas. 1st check see if fuel flows out fuel pump, none, 2nd check see if fuel was flowing out of fuel filter, pours out, so my conclusion is fuel pump but this riding mower is only 3 years old. I ordered one off ebay with filter for $9.00, they sell anywhere from 5-20.00$$, under $8.00 and it's from China, if I went to Sear web site it would probably be $40.00. Should be here Sat then hopefully it runs then theres the belt issue.....................

 

[Oldpath05]

After much researching the first picture I guess is the right way the mower deck belt goes on but I noticed it's really loose that way after I change the blade spindle, so I put the belt on behind the blade brake thing, then noticed it made more noise that way.

So that's when I did some online looking, cant find the freaken owners manual, all I needed was one colored picture then I'd know, the digram on the mower deck doesn't help for people with diagram disorder syndrome. Then I measured the belt the best way I could, lay it flat bench, two vice grips on each end, wrap tape around it, I got 101-1/2", the headache continues. Now some more online searching for a new correct belt, model numbers and cross model numbers, sometimes seems endless, but what else is there to do after hours.

So now according to all the model numbers and cross references, mind is suppose to take a 101" so ordered that one $12.00, but think that's is going to be a whisker to long, have to wait and see, hopping it will be here by Sat. so if it is to long I can go to the nearest tractor place and maybe get a shorter one. One thing for sure all 42" mowers are not created equal.

 

[Oldpath05]

That middle idler pulley looks crooked, Bering doesn't seem wore out, so guess it's suppose to be crooked, to bad it wont slide back more that would take up more slack on the belt.

 

[hunt4570]

Hey Oldpath, looks like a good project.. and you have this thread to yourself.. well did have anyway! Sometimes I like those kind of projects, and sometimes not!

Just went out to start my brushcutter yesterday, worked fine when I put it up a week ago, yesterday... nothing! Dang!

 

[searcyfarms]

That middle idler pulley looks crooked, Bering doesn't seem wore out, so guess it's suppose to be crooked, to bad it wont slide back more that would take up more slack on the belt.
View attachment 612241

this picture is the correct belt routing, it also might be more straight when you engage the idler and the belt is over the engine pulley to take up the slack, its hard to tell how much slack there is until you have it mounted on the mower, looks like the idler assembly/bracket might be a little bent but i would look at it when mounted and raising the mower up/down and see if the idler has an angle on it to offset the angle of the track of the belt when installed to help it maintain its track on the idler - it doesnt look terribly out of whack since the paint is not worn off on one side of the idler it looks to be worn pretty much in the middle and if its not jumping off or hitting on the edge of the idler it wont be tearing up the belt, i dont see signs of that either. - regarding the fuel pump, those are an easy test to see if they pump fuel by just removing the hose and pumping into a jug/can or you cna bypass the pump and see if gets fuel by hooking the hose up to a jug and let gravity fuel the tank, if you pour a little gas in the carb and it runs you know is a fuel issue for sure

 

[Oldpath05]

Hey Oldpath, looks like a good project.. and you have this thread to yourself.. well did have anyway! Sometimes I like those kind of projects, and sometimes not!

Just went out to start my brushcutter yesterday, worked fine when I put it up a week ago, yesterday... nothing! Dang!

You talking about the reliable DR brush cutter?

 

[Oldpath05]

this picture is the correct belt routing, it also might be more straight when you engage the idler and the belt is over the engine pulley to take up the slack, its hard to tell how much slack there is until you have it mounted on the mower, looks like the idler assembly/bracket might be a little bent but i would look at it when mounted and raising the mower up/down and see if the idler has an angle on it to offset the angle of the track of the belt when installed to help it maintain its track on the idler - it doesnt look terribly out of whack since the paint is not worn off on one side of the idler it looks to be worn pretty much in the middle and if its not jumping off or hitting on the edge of the idler it wont be tearing up the belt, i dont see signs of that either. - regarding the fuel pump, those are an easy test to see if they pump fuel by just removing the hose and pumping into a jug/can or you cna bypass the pump and see if gets fuel by hooking the hose up to a jug and let gravity fuel the tank, if you pour a little gas in the carb and it runs you know is a fuel issue for sure

I just got the new fuel pump today so sometime this weekend after I go over my priority list I'll put it on, and I'll take another look at that idler pulley. I have a new deck belt coming, might get it tomorrow, because I think I stretched out the one that was on the mower from having the belt on wrong.

 

[hunt4570]

You talking about the reliable DR brush cutter?

Nah, my Stihl brush cutter, kind of a weed wacker on steroids..

Seems to be getting gas, I don't think its getting spark for some reason.. need to tear it apart.

 

[searcyfarms]

well good luck with the fuel pump and belt keep us posted