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John Deere L120 over heating?
#1
S
sheetmetalbabe
S
sheetmetalbabe
Hi. I have a John Deere L120. It starts up fine, runs fine but when I actually mow it ends up dying. My back yard is 1 acre, I got half a lap and it died. I put a mew air filter on it, new fuel pump, check to make sure holes in gas cap weren't clogged and let a little oil out. It didn't have too much oil but I watched a youtube video and guy said if there is too much oil it can get into the carb and cause the mower to not run. I was really trying for a quick fix. All that and I actually got to mow 2 laps before it died again. It seems really hot for only mowing a lap or two. If I let it cool off for a while it starts back up. I have it on the highest setting and it doesn't bog down or anything like the grass is too tall. It just seems to be overheating??? Any thoughts? I also just scraped all the grass out from under the deck 2 weeks ago and checked that , but it's still clean under there. Also put a voltage meter on last fall and new spindles a month ago??? Please help......
#6
Retiredcarguy
Retiredcarguy
#11
S
sheetmetalbabe
S
sheetmetalbabe
OMG
I took the shroud off and there wasn't anything under there except a little film of dirt, but I cleaned if off.
I put B&S oil in it. Called the John Deere Dealer and he said I shouldn't mix the part synthetic oil with the regular and it would get hotter but not enough to make it die.
I mowed 4 laps!! And then it died. I cooled it off with my leaf bower and mowed 2 more laps. Before it dies it starts surging A LOT.
I also noticed the air plenum extension was coming apart and the clip was barely on there. If you close the hood and look thru the louvers there are some gaps where the
extension fits around the grill on top of the fly wheel. Sounds stupid but if all the heat isn't exiting thru the louvers could that make it too hot? The air plenum extension has a small melted spot on it.
I took it off and tried to close the gap but it didn't work. JD dealer is closed and they don't have any in stock anyway. I can't find any pictures of one but I think the gap should be closed????
I did forget to loosen the gas cap, I will try to remember when I go back out, but I did blow air thru it yesterday and it is clean as a whistle.
The JD guy said maybe a coil???? Guess I will watch some youtube videos on coils and check back to see if anyone has any ideas.
Thanks for all the tips, I do appreciate you all taking the time to read this and reply!!!!!!!
I took the shroud off and there wasn't anything under there except a little film of dirt, but I cleaned if off.
I put B&S oil in it. Called the John Deere Dealer and he said I shouldn't mix the part synthetic oil with the regular and it would get hotter but not enough to make it die.
I mowed 4 laps!! And then it died. I cooled it off with my leaf bower and mowed 2 more laps. Before it dies it starts surging A LOT.
I also noticed the air plenum extension was coming apart and the clip was barely on there. If you close the hood and look thru the louvers there are some gaps where the
extension fits around the grill on top of the fly wheel. Sounds stupid but if all the heat isn't exiting thru the louvers could that make it too hot? The air plenum extension has a small melted spot on it.
I took it off and tried to close the gap but it didn't work. JD dealer is closed and they don't have any in stock anyway. I can't find any pictures of one but I think the gap should be closed????
I did forget to loosen the gas cap, I will try to remember when I go back out, but I did blow air thru it yesterday and it is clean as a whistle.
The JD guy said maybe a coil???? Guess I will watch some youtube videos on coils and check back to see if anyone has any ideas.
Thanks for all the tips, I do appreciate you all taking the time to read this and reply!!!!!!!
#12
Carscw
Carscw
#14
S
SeniorCitizen
If your tractor looks similar to this one, the normal air flow for cooling is for the air to enter the louver area on both sides of the hood. Those areas are connected to the round plenum I believe you called it, tinner talk. :laughing:
From there it is drawn in by the flywheel air vanes, travels under the shroud you removed to check for mouse nest and is discharged at the front across the heads on each side. If you carefully place your hand below the heads you'll feel the discharge air. On my tractor that would be below the grill near the ends of the bumper on each side.
Note: these engines are designed to mow at full throttle RPM. Just going to the mail box like I do sometimes lower RPM is OK but under load mowing take the RPM to the top. And of course the outdoor ambient temperature makes a huge difference too being air is the little feller's only method of cooling. Mowing at 70°F as opposed to 95 makes a world of difference.
The melted spot on the extension you mention I don't know about. Maybe it was rubbing on the rotating flywheel screen for some reason.
S
SeniorCitizen
OMG
I took the shroud off and there wasn't anything under there except a little film of dirt, but I cleaned if off.
I put B&S oil in it. Called the John Deere Dealer and he said I shouldn't mix the part synthetic oil with the regular and it would get hotter but not enough to make it die.
I mowed 4 laps!! And then it died. I cooled it off with my leaf bower and mowed 2 more laps. Before it dies it starts surging A LOT.
I also noticed the air plenum extension was coming apart and the clip was barely on there. If you close the hood and look thru the louvers there are some gaps where the
extension fits around the grill on top of the fly wheel. Sounds stupid but if all the heat isn't exiting thru the louvers could that make it too hot? The air plenum extension has a small melted spot on it.
I took it off and tried to close the gap but it didn't work. JD dealer is closed and they don't have any in stock anyway. I can't find any pictures of one but I think the gap should be closed????
I did forget to loosen the gas cap, I will try to remember when I go back out, but I did blow air thru it yesterday and it is clean as a whistle.
The JD guy said maybe a coil???? Guess I will watch some youtube videos on coils and check back to see if anyone has any ideas.
Thanks for all the tips, I do appreciate you all taking the time to read this and reply!!!!!!!
If your tractor looks similar to this one, the normal air flow for cooling is for the air to enter the louver area on both sides of the hood. Those areas are connected to the round plenum I believe you called it, tinner talk. :laughing:
From there it is drawn in by the flywheel air vanes, travels under the shroud you removed to check for mouse nest and is discharged at the front across the heads on each side. If you carefully place your hand below the heads you'll feel the discharge air. On my tractor that would be below the grill near the ends of the bumper on each side.
Note: these engines are designed to mow at full throttle RPM. Just going to the mail box like I do sometimes lower RPM is OK but under load mowing take the RPM to the top. And of course the outdoor ambient temperature makes a huge difference too being air is the little feller's only method of cooling. Mowing at 70°F as opposed to 95 makes a world of difference.
The melted spot on the extension you mention I don't know about. Maybe it was rubbing on the rotating flywheel screen for some reason.
Attachments
#16
S
sheetmetalbabe
S
sheetmetalbabe
Tinner talk LOLOL!!!! You are right but I actually looked it up in the JD Parts Catalog so you all would know what I was talking about
I am also a commercial/industrial roofer, but that talk isn't allowed on here, aahahaha.
Yes, my John Deere looks like that, just no bumper and some peeling pain and a little rust on the deck. I bought it in 2005!
I always mow at full throttle, in case you were wondering.
I call the JD dealer so much they offered me a job :laughing: So is mowing without the hood on a really bad idea?
I don't mean to be such a girl but I thought it would stay cool that way. It has cooled off at least 10 degrees in the last hour, maybe 15. I am going to go see how many laps I can get.
I will be back......
I am also a commercial/industrial roofer, but that talk isn't allowed on here, aahahaha.
Yes, my John Deere looks like that, just no bumper and some peeling pain and a little rust on the deck. I bought it in 2005!
I always mow at full throttle, in case you were wondering.
I call the JD dealer so much they offered me a job :laughing: So is mowing without the hood on a really bad idea?
I don't mean to be such a girl but I thought it would stay cool that way. It has cooled off at least 10 degrees in the last hour, maybe 15. I am going to go see how many laps I can get.
I will be back......
#18
S
shiftsuper175607
Try leaving the plenum off and see if it stays cooler.
also, If the engine is running too lean it can get hot.
S
shiftsuper175607
OMG
I took the shroud off and there wasn't anything under there except a little film of dirt, but I cleaned if off.
I put B&S oil in it. Called the John Deere Dealer and he said I shouldn't mix the part synthetic oil with the regular and it would get hotter but not enough to make it die.
I mowed 4 laps!! And then it died. I cooled it off with my leaf bower and mowed 2 more laps. Before it dies it starts surging A LOT.
I also noticed the air plenum extension was coming apart and the clip was barely on there. If you close the hood and look thru the louvers there are some gaps where the
extension fits around the grill on top of the fly wheel. Sounds stupid but if all the heat isn't exiting thru the louvers could that make it too hot? The air plenum extension has a small melted spot on it.
I took it off and tried to close the gap but it didn't work. JD dealer is closed and they don't have any in stock anyway. I can't find any pictures of one but I think the gap should be closed????
I did forget to loosen the gas cap, I will try to remember when I go back out, but I did blow air thru it yesterday and it is clean as a whistle.
The JD guy said maybe a coil???? Guess I will watch some youtube videos on coils and check back to see if anyone has any ideas.
Thanks for all the tips, I do appreciate you all taking the time to read this and reply!!!!!!!
Try leaving the plenum off and see if it stays cooler.
also, If the engine is running too lean it can get hot.
#23
S
shiftsuper175607
I bought my JD LX277 at auction. It had no hood.
I use it without one. The 4 parts needed to replace would be $500-600 dollars
A hood is decoration and protection from the rain. I do not mow in the rain.
A push mower does not have a hood.
S
shiftsuper175607
Tinner talk LOLOL!!!! You are right but I actually looked it up in the JD Parts Catalog so you all would know what I was talking about
I am also a commercial/industrial roofer, but that talk isn't allowed on here, aahahaha.
Yes, my John Deere looks like that, just no bumper and some peeling pain and a little rust on the deck. I bought it in 2005!
I always mow at full throttle, in case you were wondering.
I call the JD dealer so much they offered me a job :laughing: So is mowing without the hood on a really bad idea?
I don't mean to be such a girl but I thought it would stay cool that way. It has cooled off at least 10 degrees in the last hour, maybe 15. I am going to go see how many laps I can get.
I will be back......
I bought my JD LX277 at auction. It had no hood.
I use it without one. The 4 parts needed to replace would be $500-600 dollars
A hood is decoration and protection from the rain. I do not mow in the rain.
A push mower does not have a hood.
#24
S
sheetmetalbabe
S
sheetmetalbabe
Well.....
Called the JD dealer and talked to a different guy, he said it is NOT the coil! He had no clue without seeing it. It's $45.00 just for them to come and get it
He mentioned a compression test but I am clueless on that one and sure I don't have the tool to do it. I might try a fuel pump??
I have a Dodge 1500 4x4. It was doing the same thing, would be going down the highway and it would lose all power. We didn't think it was the fuel pump because I replaced it once.
If I waited 5 minutes on the side of the road, it would be OK and I would make it home. Any thoughts??
Thanks again for everyone trying to help. It's hard when you can't see the actual mower.
I appreciate it!! :biggrin:
Called the JD dealer and talked to a different guy, he said it is NOT the coil! He had no clue without seeing it. It's $45.00 just for them to come and get it
He mentioned a compression test but I am clueless on that one and sure I don't have the tool to do it. I might try a fuel pump??
I have a Dodge 1500 4x4. It was doing the same thing, would be going down the highway and it would lose all power. We didn't think it was the fuel pump because I replaced it once.
If I waited 5 minutes on the side of the road, it would be OK and I would make it home. Any thoughts??
Thanks again for everyone trying to help. It's hard when you can't see the actual mower.
I appreciate it!! :biggrin:
#26
S
SeniorCitizen
So the guy on the phone is guessing the same as we are.
Even though I have no doubt you know what's hot and what's not, let's back up and do some temperature investigation of just how hot it is.
S
SeniorCitizen
Well.....
Called the JD dealer and talked to a different guy, he said it is NOT the coil! He had no clue without seeing it. It's $45.00 just for them to come and get it
He mentioned a compression test but I am clueless on that one and sure I don't have the tool to do it. I might try a fuel pump??
I have a Dodge 1500 4x4. It was doing the same thing, would be going down the highway and it would lose all power. We didn't think it was the fuel pump because I replaced it once.
If I waited 5 minutes on the side of the road, it would be OK and I would make it home. Any thoughts??
Thanks again for everyone trying to help. It's hard when you can't see the actual mower.
I appreciate it!! :biggrin:
So the guy on the phone is guessing the same as we are.
Even though I have no doubt you know what's hot and what's not, let's back up and do some temperature investigation of just how hot it is.
#28
S
sheetmetalbabe
Yes, you are right about the guy on the phone. We are all guessing. I do appreciate all of your time though.
I now agree with you on the overheating thing also. I tried this morning and got one lap in and it died. And it wasn't hot because it didn't run for more than 3 minutes.
My pickup truck was doing the same thing and it ended up being the fuel pump. I went and bought one, just got back. I noticed the fuel filter was full and it usually only gets halfway full.
I am thinking the pump can't keep up. It looks like an easy fix to me. I know about the infra red temp gun because we use them on torch down roofs to check for
hot spots before we leave so we don't set a building on fire. I don't have one and don't know where the guys that do have one are working. BUT you were right! It's not overheating.
Chock one up for Motoman!!! I will let you know if it works.........
S
sheetmetalbabe
Yes, you are right about the guy on the phone. We are all guessing. I do appreciate all of your time though.
I now agree with you on the overheating thing also. I tried this morning and got one lap in and it died. And it wasn't hot because it didn't run for more than 3 minutes.
My pickup truck was doing the same thing and it ended up being the fuel pump. I went and bought one, just got back. I noticed the fuel filter was full and it usually only gets halfway full.
I am thinking the pump can't keep up. It looks like an easy fix to me. I know about the infra red temp gun because we use them on torch down roofs to check for
hot spots before we leave so we don't set a building on fire. I don't have one and don't know where the guys that do have one are working. BUT you were right! It's not overheating.
Chock one up for Motoman!!! I will let you know if it works.........
#29
Carscw
Carscw