Terrible Cub Cadet LTZ1040, oil pressure issues.

[nazbom2]

So I bought a Cub Cadet LTZ 1040 for around the house grass cutting and other odd yard work jobs. Almost from Day 1 there were issues, having owned an older CC I didn't give up though. Having the LT since 2009 there has not been a year without onew majpor issues or the other and the warranty people claiming the "issue" was not covered. Well enough on that I kept keeping on, now the problem is serious. I have a low oil pressure warning light on. Along with the backfires on turn off, gas draining into crank case, burning oil, the thing now has an oilt pressure issue. I have kept this thing going for the past 3 seasons and would like to this year.

My question is; is any one aware of a similar issue, or does any one have any ideas of where to looK? I did a search on TBN and the rest of internet and found similar symptoms but no solutions. Suggestion range from head gaskets to clogged breathers. I really don't feel like dropping the money for a new lawn tractor but I really need one.

Thanks in advance

 

[savageactor7]

Hello there, backfiring is serious esp if it happens all the time.

There is a procedure to turn off the tractor...it's in the book. However I don't follow it, instead I choke the tractor after a 45 second cool down as the engine sputters I turn the key off.

If it were my machine I'd dump the contaminated oil and replace with shell Rotella and keep an eye on it. It could possible be an improperly functioning oil sending sensor, keep your fingers crossed.

Also observer good maint procedures such as blowing out air filter with compressed air, blowing grass debris off engine. Cooler is better and you get to see other imp things that need attention when you do this after every other cutting.

Your lucky you didn't start you machine on fire with those backfires cause that has happened to others.

 

[nazbom2]

I've maintained the tractor religiously since I've owned it, got it new in spring of 09, as I do all my machinery. There has been a laundry list of failures since I've owned it fromthe spindles, throwing belts, blades constantly going out of time, carb and engine issues and I can't figure it out. I own and maintain my Yanmar tractor, I kept a POS Murray LT running for counltess hours and sold it to a neighbor who still uses it. The Cub Cadet has just over 100 hrs on it, Low hours and I don't know of any other piece of machinery that is this troublesome. That being said I don't want to get rid of it. Last night searching the net I found others with similar issues so was wondering if anyone else has experoienced or heard of this? I change the air filter yearly and clean as needed, change oil regular and filter, lube the points that can be lubed, change blades quite often (at $60 a pop) cause when the belt goes out of time it pretty much ruins the blades. The gas leaking to the crankcase is purported to be a needle valve sealing issue. when mine FILLED the crankcase with gas (since I check oil prior to every start) i knew something was wrong, drained flushed and refille with oil. I took carb apart cleaned it thouroughly so far no issues. for the past few months upon start up it's been smoking like a steam engine rolling down the line, obviously burning oil. Saturday past I checked oil, it was a little low, added to full mark, started it up rode it around front of house and the dash lights were flashing warning and said oil pressure issue with a code. I smelled burning oil and shut it off immediately. This tractor has 100 hours on it and I am at a loss....Not to mention the backfire everytime I turn it off...

 

[rcbe]

OP- you best pull that dipstick and smell the residual oil on in it for the presence of raw fuel before you fire it up the next time.. and if you DO smell raw fuel, stop - drain/replace the crankcase oil/filter before you lose your engine. OIL contaminated with raw fuel offers no lubrication and yer engine will soon lock up.
Then, find source of leaking - usually a bad fuel float valve in carb. Install an inline fuel shutoff and use it. But, it may be too late for that engine as it apparently can't develop enough oil pressure at idle due to excessive internal wear already.
To avoid backfire on shutdown, CC says to crack throttle to 1/2 open before turning ignition key off - or do as Savagetractor7 suggests.

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

Oil diluted with fuel can cause a low pressure situation. I'm not that familiar with the 1040 but larger models have a low oil pressure safety shutoff. They also have a diaphragm rocker arm actuated fuel pump. A rupture in the diaphragm could allow fuel dilution. If it has a fuel shutoff solenoid, a failure could cause backfiring on shutoff. The recommendation for many models is to shutoff at full throttle to prevent backfiring. I run mine above idle and then push the throttle wide open at the same time I turn the ignition off. It never backfires with this procedure.

Bob B.