x540 low power, smells of gas while running

[buckthorn]

We've got a 2009 liquid-cooled x540 (bought used), now with roughly 300-350 hours on it. When we got it it a couple of seasons ago, it was running great, such a smooth and powerful machine. Recently, though, my wife (the main user of this machine) has been complaining of low power. So I went out and tried it myself, and she was right (as usual). The power just isn't there. The tractor could barely run the 54-inch mowing deck, and it's spewing out a nasty smell of gas fumes. Seems as though there must be a gas leak somewhere, but where? And for good measure, my wife got so PO'd at the thing she kept trying to push the throttle up to get more power, and busted the throttle handle. So now it's on full throttle all the time, at least until we get that fixed.

 

[kevin37b]

Is the choke on at throttle lever full on ?

 

[Dashe]

It sounds like it is running rich. Have you checked the air filter?

 

[BleedingOrange]

Might also be a bad coil, coil wire or plug. If it cann,t burn the fuel to produce power, it just dumps it out the exhaust.
Buy a spark test and see if your getting spark. Even a quik look at the plugs might tell you which side has the problem.
A friend of ours had the same complaint, and I found that mice had chewed right thru the ignition wire leading to the plug. Fixed that up, and got the power back.

 

[buckthorn]

It sounds like it is running rich. Have you checked the air filter?

I had the same notion, and will recheck it. But it wasn't all that long ago that I cleaned it. But definitely worth checking again.

 

[buckthorn]

Might also be a bad coil, coil wire or plug. If it cann,t burn the fuel to produce power, it just dumps it out the exhaust.
Buy a spark test and see if your getting spark. Even a quik look at the plugs might tell you which side has the problem.
A friend of ours had the same complaint, and I found that mice had chewed right thru the ignition wire leading to the plug. Fixed that up, and got the power back.

This sounds like a promising avenue. I'll check those plugs. And we definitely have plenty of mice in the barn (who doesn't?). Thanks -- I'll post back after doing these checks.

 

[buckthorn]

I tested the plugs with a spark test, and sure enough, one side is not getting a spark. To eliminate the plug itself as the cause, I swapped the plugs and the same thing happened. I tried following the wires as best I could, but it's pretty hard to see more than a little of it, and I couldn't find anything obviously wrong. So I guess it's time for a call to the JD service dept. (I've got to get that throttle handle replaced anyway). At least I can tell them which side it is now.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Sounds like it,s probably the coil or the spark plug wire coming from that side of the engine.
Please let us know what you find. The coil and wire I replaced was around 80 bucks.
Then the labor to get at it. I was surprised that mice had chewed completely thru the plug wire, and that it was only still attached by a thread. If that is the cause, I would be setting up traps around the tractor, so it doesn,t keep happening.
For some reason, they seam to like the taste of the rubber that coats the wire. Good luck.

 

[buckthorn]

It was the coil. You guys hit the nail on the head. It's a little dismaying to see something like this go on such a relatively new tractor, but that's the way it goes, I guess.

 

[adegiulio]

I'm having the same trouble with my x500. After reading this thread, I checked the wires and plugs... and of course a mouse had chewed right through the spark plug wire. Unfortunately it's integrated with the coil, so repairing it will be more expensive, but thanks to you guys I have a quick solution. Thanks!