Engine shakes while engaging blades

[doug9694]

So I posed the question some AI application it might be from Google so the question I asked was could a blown head gasket create an illusion where you believe there's something wrong with the mower deck I asked something like that anyways here's the response from Google's AI engine:

No, a blown head gasket on a Briggs & Stratton engine does not directly cause physical damage to the mower deck. However, a blown head gasket can lead to various issues, including loss of power, excessive smoke, and oil leaks, which might indirectly make it seem like there is damage to the mower deck if these symptoms are mistaken for deck problems.

Quite often any AI response makes no sense for me anyways but this time I think it did pretty good.

Jim
I never thought of blown head gasket could cause problems with the mower deck butt that's the way the AI read it

Looks like the belt has a burnt spot. Making it thinner there. And belts shrink when overheated.

 

[JimP2014]

Looks like the belt has a burnt spot. Making it thinner there. And belts shrink when overheated

Looks like the belt has a burnt spot. Making it thinner there. And belts shrink when overheated.

Doug thank you very much,, I was thinking about getting a new belt for it. I can't see what you're talking about but I believe you.

I wanted to add this, it took FOUR tries to get the correct belt size. I ended up with:

Drive Deck Belt 1/2" x100 1/4" Made with Kevlar​

I used this as the search:

917289070 Craftsman Lawn Tractor​

Maybe I made some mistakes in ordering, or looking things up but the 100 & 1/4" seemed to work the best.

Also this deck ( all decks ) should have a feature where it might be an additional pulley or something where you can, "take up belt slack" or even,
"accomodate a shorter belt". I mean where this can adjust for belts say 2" to long or maybe 1" to short.

I thought this deck had a "belt tensioner" but it does not it has:
It has a Flat idler pulley Part #197379
and a Husqvarna Lawn Mower Idler Pulley 532177968

Besides 2 fixed pulleys. So 4 pulleys in total, but no way to adjust the "big loop" the belt travels.

I have thought of adding another pulley to mower decks, and have it on a slide, even a design where it would deflect ( the belt presses against it ) the belt enough to and in this
case shorten belt length.

Jim



Jim

 

[rhkraft]

I believe the shaking is the result of unbalanced blades. See if they are worn. They make a balancer, enter "lawn mower blade balancer" on google. Sharpen your blades, then set them on the balancer. If one end is low, it is heavy. Grind a little metal off the back side of that blade at the end and recheck. Do that until the blade rests level on the balancer. Or buy an expensive professional balancer. Unbalanced blades can make things shake. Consider new blades if yours are really beat up.

 

[rhkraft]

Remember, AI is only what the program writer was thinking. If his experience is limited, the AI won't be better. From my experience, computer geeks are good at what they do, but dim bulbs out of their element. I wouldn't trust AI for anything. Web sites use it so they don't have to hire a pro to answer questions. Political AI is worse because their political bias is part of the answers.

 

[bentrim]

Have you used the new torque spec and pattern? Have tried to copy file and attach the file but the computer won't allow it. So here is th jist of the service bulletin.
1 New design head bolt, with new torque pattern. No part number given.
2. Tighten 1/3 value, then 2/3, then final torque.
3 new torque 250 in ib-in or 28.2 Nm
4 pattern 1. bottom center 2 top center, 3, botom center left side, 4 top right, 5 bottom right, 6 top left, 7 bottom left, 8 left center top.

6 2 4
8
3
7 1 5

APSI # 87
NOVEMBER 2012
SUBJECT CYLINDER HEA D TORQUE CHANGE
MODELS 21OOOO, 280000, 310000, 330000 vertical shaft engines

 

[JimP2014]

Have you used the new torque spec and pattern? Have tried to copy file and attach the file but the computer won't allow it. So here is th jist of the service bulletin.
1 New design head bolt, with new torque pattern. No part number given.
2. Tighten 1/3 value, then 2/3, then final torque.
3 new torque 250 in ib-in or 28.2 Nm
4 pattern 1. bottom center 2 top center, 3, botom center left side, 4 top right, 5 bottom right, 6 top left, 7 bottom left, 8 left center top.

6 2 4
8
3
7 1 5

APSI # 87
NOVEMBER 2012
SUBJECT CYLINDER HEA D TORQUE CHANGE
MODELS 21OOOO, 280000, 310000, 330000 vertical shaft engines

I never saw this before but I understand what it says. I basically did tighten in this order.
I will allow go to the 250 in/lbs when done. I plan on taking it all apart, using that "copper" spray, cleaning both metal sides etc.
Thanks for the info Bentrim!
Jim

 

[JimP2014]

This is where someone is making their own copper gasket, rather than the spray type out of using Permatex copper.

 

[JimP2014]

Have you used the new torque spec and pattern? Have tried to copy file and attach the file but the computer won't allow it. So here is th jist of the service bulletin.
1 New design head bolt, with new torque pattern. No part number given.
2. Tighten 1/3 value, then 2/3, then final torque.
3 new torque 250 in ib-in or 28.2 Nm
4 pattern 1. bottom center 2 top center, 3, botom center left side, 4 top right, 5 bottom right, 6 top left, 7 bottom left, 8 left center top.

6 2 4
8
3
7 1 5

APSI # 87
NOVEMBER 2012
SUBJECT CYLINDER HEA D TORQUE CHANGE
MODELS 21OOOO, 280000, 310000, 330000 vertical shaft engines

I will use this pattern also I was watching someone who basically said 4 is not as important as 5 since 5 ( if looser can cause oil leaks ). Of course they are all important, but I add this "tidbit" of info to what you have posted.

 

[doug9694]

Doug thank you very much,, I was thinking about getting a new belt for it. I can't see what you're talking about but I believe you.

I wanted to add this, it took FOUR tries to get the correct belt size. I ended up with:

Drive Deck Belt 1/2" x100 1/4" Made with Kevlar​

I used this as the search:

917289070 Craftsman Lawn Tractor​

Maybe I made some mistakes in ordering, or looking things up but the 100 & 1/4" seemed to work the best.

Also this deck ( all decks ) should have a feature where it might be an additional pulley or something where you can, "take up belt slack" or even,
"accomodate a shorter belt". I mean where this can adjust for belts say 2" to long or maybe 1" to short.

I thought this deck had a "belt tensioner" but it does not it has:
It has a Flat idler pulley Part #197379
and a Husqvarna Lawn Mower Idler Pulley 532177968

Besides 2 fixed pulleys. So 4 pulleys in total, but no way to adjust the "big loop" the belt travels.

I have thought of adding another pulley to mower decks, and have it on a slide, even a design where it would deflect ( the belt presses against it ) the belt enough to and in this
case shorten belt length.

Jim



Jim

I worked on a John Deere that has one of the pulleys that pivots to take up the slack when you engage the deck. It has an adjustment to add or remove slack.
This deck shook a lot from loose spindle bearings. Replaced all 4 and new belt. Running like new now!! Some mowers have adjustments that move to the deck towards the engine to loosen, and away for tighter!

 

[JimP2014]

I worked on a John Deere that has one of the pulleys that pivots to take up the slack when you engage the deck. It has an adjustment to add or remove slack.
This deck shook a lot from loose spindle bearings. Replaced all 4 and new belt. Running like new now!! Some mowers have adjustments that move to the deck towards the engine to loosen, and away for tighter!

Thanks for the additional info, I was not aware that such a thing exists. I believe with this LTS2000 the deck does a front rod ( single rod, it used to be two rods )that goes from the mower deck to the frame and it does have 2 holes, to me it seemed like one or the other with no adjustment in between - not sure about this. Correction I think the deck has a plate with 2 holes, but I thought it was only for tuning the deck height not belt length.

But thanks again,
Jim