Won't Start

[Jim The Deere]

Hi. I have a 1999 John Deere 445. I started having problems about a week ago. The radiator was low and it was running hot. There is a lot of soot around the engine. I took some sort of cleaner to the engine and hosed it off. Prior to this it was smoking and running hot. When it started it was bogging down for 2-5 minutes, then it went to normal power. It almost sounded as if it was over reving "fast engine speed'. I had a tough time starting it the last few times. Now I want to start it and "no go". Here is waht I did. No start. Took off air cleaner cover. cranked engine. Fire ball out of carb. the more you crank, the less you get. Short turns gibe you a "ruha ruha rum rum rum (sorry, the best I could dso). It wants to start but won't. I noticed the red oil light goes on and it has oil. I never saw that before. PLEASE HELP AS I LOVE THIS OLD GIRL! SHE HAS NEVER LET ME DOWN.

 

[beenthere]

jim
:welcome:

Trying to determine why there would be soot around the engine. Sounds like some blow-by maybe from a bad valve. Or a fuel injection part of the system went bad. Or a leak in the exhaust manifold.

A number of things seem to pop up, but none seem to define the problem.
How about a compression check in both cylinders, and go from there.

You didn't say if you ran out of fuel before the problem started. ??

Do you by chance have the tech manual...either paper or CD?