My JD LA145 Isn't Starting

[johnwilliamson]

Hello all. I have a LA145 that came with my house. Used it for three years so far, without issue. I followed the maintenance schedule, changing oil, filters, etc, and everything's been fine. It always started after the winter.

Not so this time. Battery checks out fine. It just turns over. I removed the fuel line going into the fuel pump and fed it some gas from a jar, nothing. Removed the outlet line coming from the fuel pump, turned it over, no fuel coming out. I replaced the fuel pump and filter. Still nothing. I checked the choke linkage, seems to be operating fine to me.

I'm not massively knowledgeable about this stuff, but can usually muddle through and get there eventually. Anyone have any suggestions what to try next?

Can someone run me through how to get the carb off to clean it? I took the hood off and poked around a bit, removed the top plastic cover from the engine, but couldn't figure out what to do next.

The local mower repair guys are booked for a few weeks and I really need to get my grass mowed. I found two ticks on my kid yesterday...

Really appreciate any help you could give.

Thanks!

 

[beenthere]

:welcome: to TBN

What indication do you have that the carb needs to come off for cleaning?
Do you have spark to the plug(s) ?

 

[johnwilliamson]

I do have spark, according to my spark tester. And I have no indication, just feeling around in the dark a bit...

 

[beenthere]

john
I think you should find out just what is wrong first.. before tearing more apart. But you have to proceed as you see fit.

 

[Richard001]

John,
Does your engine have a pulse type fuel pump? I found the operators manual, but it doesn't spec the pump.

If as you said, you get no fuel out of the pump, you may have a bad pump, or the pulse line is broken or leaking.

Richard

 

[tomplum]

You need to be able to get fuel to the pump first. What that means is remove the filter and with out lots of pressure- even by mouth blow through the tank opening or even from the line back to the tank to ensure an open line. These pumps need a little help sometimes. Once you physically get fuel to the filter, button it back up and see if it will pump. I think your tractor to has a hole in the center of the fuel cap. Be sure that it isn't blocked.

 

[johnwilliamson]

John,
Does your engine have a pulse type fuel pump? I found the operators manual, but it doesn't spec the pump.

If as you said, you get no fuel out of the pump, you may have a bad pump, or the pulse line is broken or leaking.

Richard

I'm not sure. This is the fuel pump I was told I needed by the dealer and that's what I just installed:
Amazon.com : Briggs & Stratton 88656 Fuel Pump Replaces 69134/88281/692313/55733 : Lawn Mower Tune Up Kits : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Is the pulse line the short one coming straight down out of the pump? Do you know how I'd replace that?

You need to be able to get fuel to the pump first. What that means is remove the filter and with out lots of pressure- even by mouth blow through the tank opening or even from the line back to the tank to ensure an open line. These pumps need a little help sometimes. Once you physically get fuel to the filter, button it back up and see if it will pump. I think your tractor to has a hole in the center of the fuel cap. Be sure that it isn't blocked.

I tried bypassing the fuel line going into the pump by removing the line from the output side of the fuel filter and sticking it in a jar of gas and got the same result. I also cleaned out that breather hole in the gas cap, and also tried starting with the gas cap off. I guess that doesn't mean that the fuel line from the tank to the filter isn't clogged, but there would be another problem if it is, right?

I tried starting it this morning and noticed a really really small amount of gas in the new filter I put in. It's harder to see in this filter, the plastic is sort of frosted, the old one was clear. I read somewhere that there's never that much gas in the filter, but this was about a teaspoon. Still just turned over, though.

Thanks for the ongoing help, guys, it's really appreciated.

 

[Richard001]

John,

Yep, that's a pulse fuel pump. It is driven by the pressure pulses from the crankcase. You can learn how it operates by doing a google on pulse pumps.

I'm not sure. This is the fuel pump I was told I needed by the dealer and that's what I just installed:
Amazon.com : Briggs & Stratton 88656 Fuel Pump Replaces 69134/88281/692313/55733 : Lawn Mower Tune Up Kits : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Is the pulse line the short one coming straight down out of the pump? Do you know how I'd replace that?

I am not familiar with your tractor. Can you provide a photo or two.

Richard

 

[beenthere]

Here is link to operators manual..
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/a6/a60a1a66-ef16-48d8-8798-687a7f81c63e.pdf

And schematic from jdparts

 

[johnwilliamson]

OK, some new things happened this morning. I took the fuel line off the outlet side of the fuel pump and attached another hose, turned the engine over and gas is coming out now. Not sure why, maybe I did something wrong before. I also removed the pulse line and manually turned the air intake screen thing and air is puffing out of the hose.

And about the fuel shutoff solenoid on the carb, it should click when the key is turned on, right? Because that's where I think the click I hear is coming from.

Also, I've read some folks mention the seat switch, but I have the parking brake on and the blades are disengaged, so I think that makes that switch not an issue.

So, I have spark, air is coming out of the pulse line, which I'm guessing means that I have compression, and I have fuel coming out of the fuel pump. That leaves the carb, right?

Any suggestions about what to do next?


So sorry for my ignorance, I'm trying to learn. Thanks for the amazing help.