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Hope someone can help
#1
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
I have a new Z325E Zero turn JD mower. Bought 2 months ago. 30 hours on it. Mowing today and when I disengaged the mower blades it started surging, like moving the throttle up and down. When a load is put on it, like mowing it does not surge. I cleaned my 5 gallon gas can, went to a different gas station frilled it up, came back, disconnected fuel line from mower gas tank, installed new gas filter, put gas line into gas can a couple inches below gas level, started the mower ran it 10 minutes and it still surged. It is under warranty, so I called the dealer that would be working on it. First thing they said was bad gas. I filled up 3- 5 gallon cans 2 weeks ago and used one can and no problem till today.
#2
S
SeniorCitizen
S
SeniorCitizen
Bad Gas is the standard when they have no clue . .Put Champion plugs in it .I have a new Z325E Zero turn JD mower. Bought 2 months ago. 30 hours on it. Mowing today and when I disengaged the mower blades it started surging, like moving the throttle up and down. When a load is put on it, like mowing it does not surge. I cleaned my 5 gallon gas can, went to a different gas station frilled it up, came back, disconnected fuel line from mower gas tank, installed new gas filter, put gas line into gas can a couple inches below gas level, started the mower ran it 10 minutes and it still surged. It is under warranty, so I called the dealer that would be working on it. First thing they said was bad gas. I filled up 3- 5 gallon cans 2 weeks ago and used one can and no problem till today.
#3
H
hlw49
H
hlw49
Treat the fuel with sea foam. Take the fuel filter loose and drain the fuel out of it fill it with sea foam. Start and run see if that clears it up.
#4
A
Auto Doc's
Most likely, they need to pull the carburetor and give it a proper cleaning. This machine likely sat on display for months with old fuel gradually starting to turn to a light varnish inside the carburetor bowl. That varnish will stay there for quite a few hours of initial run time until multiple refills with fresh fuel start breaking it down. At that point it slowly turns the varnish to a gel, and that begins choking down the small passages inside the carburetor.
I had this issue several times when I was a service manager for a local John Deere dealer. I began making sure to use only non-ethanol and that all of the fuel we used had stabilizer in it. The problems went away in a very short time.
As an FYI, John Deere does not warranty bad fuel claims, so the shop typically puts it off on the customer to pay for correcting the issue. If the service manager is helpful and creative, they will find a way to warranty the carburetor for "casting porosity" so it can be covered.
A
Auto Doc's
Bad gas is usually from them leaving fuel in them while on the sale line. Fuel left sitting degrades especially with heat and sudden changes in the weather.I have a new Z325E Zero turn JD mower. Bought 2 months ago. 30 hours on it. Mowing today and when I disengaged the mower blades it started surging, like moving the throttle up and down. When a load is put on it, like mowing it does not surge. I cleaned my 5 gallon gas can, went to a different gas station frilled it up, came back, disconnected fuel line from mower gas tank, installed new gas filter, put gas line into gas can a couple inches below gas level, started the mower ran it 10 minutes and it still surged. It is under warranty, so I called the dealer that would be working on it. First thing they said was bad gas. I filled up 3- 5 gallon cans 2 weeks ago and used one can and no problem till today.
Most likely, they need to pull the carburetor and give it a proper cleaning. This machine likely sat on display for months with old fuel gradually starting to turn to a light varnish inside the carburetor bowl. That varnish will stay there for quite a few hours of initial run time until multiple refills with fresh fuel start breaking it down. At that point it slowly turns the varnish to a gel, and that begins choking down the small passages inside the carburetor.
I had this issue several times when I was a service manager for a local John Deere dealer. I began making sure to use only non-ethanol and that all of the fuel we used had stabilizer in it. The problems went away in a very short time.
As an FYI, John Deere does not warranty bad fuel claims, so the shop typically puts it off on the customer to pay for correcting the issue. If the service manager is helpful and creative, they will find a way to warranty the carburetor for "casting porosity" so it can be covered.
#5
sgkent
sgkent
take it to them. They cannot diagnosis it over the phone. If you mess with it, they can say you screwed it up. Could be a small spec of dirt in an idle circuit. There is a warranty.
#6
Tiger Small Engine
Tiger Small Engine
A big box store will refer you to a local shop and it will cost to fix. A good dealer will make it right for no charge (where you bought it).take it to them. They cannot diagnosis it over the phone. If you mess with it, they can say you screwed it up. Could be a small spec of dirt in an idle circuit. There is a warranty.
#7
StarTech
StarTech
Sure you not using the JD dealer here? They couldn't even find a bad spark plug and told another customer that his engine didn't have an oil pump even it tough had an oil filter in plain sight and said just ignore the oil pressure light. That customer won't even allow JD techs touch his equipment even under warranty.
Did said most likely it a restriction in the carburetor idle circuit.
Did said most likely it a restriction in the carburetor idle circuit.
#8
M
macdoesit
(I also copied your response so I can show it to the dealer shop manager.)
M
macdoesit
The problem started at 30 hours, so what you said makes sense. When I bought it, I started it to load on my trailer, after loading, it immediately died. On the way home I stopped at a station to get gas in my pickup, and also filled up the mower, (100% gas) I have never used ethanol in any machine I own. It started right up after gas reached the carb and it ran like a champ till yesterday at 30.7 hours. The weird thing is, when I engage movement or engage the blades the surging stops, I can also hear a very faint popping from exhaust. Is there an additive to mix with gas to dissolve the varnish?Bad gas is usually from them leaving fuel in them while on the sale line. Fuel left sitting degrades especially with heat and sudden changes in the weather.
Most likely, they need to pull the carburetor and give it a proper cleaning. This machine likely sat on display for months with old fuel gradually starting to turn to a light varnish inside the carburetor bowl. That varnish will stay there for quite a few hours of initial run time until multiple refills with fresh fuel start breaking it down. At that point it slowly turns the varnish to a gel, and that begins choking down the small passages inside the carburetor.
I had this issue several times when I was a service manager for a local John Deere dealer. I began making sure to use only non-ethanol and that all of the fuel we used had stabilizer in it. The problems went away in a very short time.
As an FYI, John Deere does not warranty bad fuel claims, so the shop typically puts it off on the customer to pay for correcting the issue. If the service manager is helpful and creative, they will find a way to warranty the carburetor for "casting porosity" so it can be covered.
(I also copied your response so I can show it to the dealer shop manager.)
#9
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
Bought it from Lowes. In Mustang, Oklahoma.A big box store will refer you to a local shop and it will cost to fix. A good dealer will make it right for no charge (where you bought it).
#10
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
I put seafoam in the first tank of gas.Treat the fuel with sea foam. Take the fuel filter loose and drain the fuel out of it fill it with sea foam. Start and run see if that clears it up.
#11
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
First thing dealer said was, they have had a lot of customers in the past 2 weeks with same problem and contributed it to bad gas they told the customers to add HEET to the gas and was told by the customers it fixed the problem. (??)
#12
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
For warranty I don't want to change anything for now.Bad Gas is the standard when they have no clue . .Put Champion plugs in it .
#13
A
Auto Doc's
A
Auto Doc's
Hello macdoesit,
The local JD dealer is who uncrates and performs the make ready for sale on new riders for the big box stores (It's in their JD sales contract to carry the JD products.)
They get minimal fuel put in them for a quick test run and then they set on display for months before being sold.
As for fuels: Consider all fuels to be a refined "blended solvent", as it ages it breaks down and oxidizes if left sitting.
I see many new mowers, push, rider and zero-turn around my area (that don't go to the dealer) at about the 20–30-hour mark for this kind of problem. They are happy to pay me instead of the dealer pick-up and delivery charge it would cost them to have a possible warranty repair done.
The local JD dealer is who uncrates and performs the make ready for sale on new riders for the big box stores (It's in their JD sales contract to carry the JD products.)
They get minimal fuel put in them for a quick test run and then they set on display for months before being sold.
As for fuels: Consider all fuels to be a refined "blended solvent", as it ages it breaks down and oxidizes if left sitting.
I see many new mowers, push, rider and zero-turn around my area (that don't go to the dealer) at about the 20–30-hour mark for this kind of problem. They are happy to pay me instead of the dealer pick-up and delivery charge it would cost them to have a possible warranty repair done.
#14
M
macdoesit
Do you think it would do any good to put a bottle of HEET in the gas. The only mower mechanic around here retired 6 months ago. If I have to take to dealer, I have a trailer, so delivery is no problem.
M
macdoesit
Thank you.Hello macdoesit,
The local JD dealer is who uncrates and performs the make ready for sale on new riders for the big box stores (It's in their JD sales contract to carry the JD products.)
They get minimal fuel put in them for a quick test run and then they set on display for months before being sold.
As for fuels: Consider all fuels to be a refined "blended solvent", as it ages it breaks down and oxidizes if left sitting.
I see many new mowers, push, rider and zero-turn around my area (that don't go to the dealer) at about the 20–30-hour mark for this kind of problem. They are happy to pay me instead of the dealer pick-up and delivery charge it would cost them to have a possible warranty repair done.
Do you think it would do any good to put a bottle of HEET in the gas. The only mower mechanic around here retired 6 months ago. If I have to take to dealer, I have a trailer, so delivery is no problem.
#15
A
Auto Doc's
Using HEET is not a bad suggestion in my opinion. Honestly, I forgot about that.
HEET is basically a bottle of Methanol fuel solvent (petrol) (Not to be confused with Ethanol (corn). It has to be churned in a fuel can, not just poured in the tank to be effective.
A
Auto Doc's
Hi macdoesit,First thing dealer said was, they have had a lot of customers in the past 2 weeks with same problem and contributed it to bad gas they told the customers to add HEET to the gas and was told by the customers it fixed the problem. (??)
Using HEET is not a bad suggestion in my opinion. Honestly, I forgot about that.
HEET is basically a bottle of Methanol fuel solvent (petrol) (Not to be confused with Ethanol (corn). It has to be churned in a fuel can, not just poured in the tank to be effective.
#16
S
slomo
S
slomo
Taryl debunked the alcohol removes water from gas. So did Chickanic if I recall correctly. Heet is a wallet draining item that does not work. Project Farm I think did a video on this too I think??
Why would you use seafoam, on any engine? Nothing but a solvent with some oil. A new engine doesn't need this. It's not going to protect anything in the engine. If it DID work, Briggs, Kawasaki and the like would recommend it in their engine manuals. Never seen any recommendation other than E-10 or less, 87 octane or higher. Seafoam was actually made for 2 stroke engines. This guy owns a 4 stroke. So after the OP used seafoam, he STILL has an issue.
I agree on the dealer call and them blaming the fuel. That is the first trick in their book. They don't have a clue even most times after looking at the mower in person.
Why would you use seafoam, on any engine? Nothing but a solvent with some oil. A new engine doesn't need this. It's not going to protect anything in the engine. If it DID work, Briggs, Kawasaki and the like would recommend it in their engine manuals. Never seen any recommendation other than E-10 or less, 87 octane or higher. Seafoam was actually made for 2 stroke engines. This guy owns a 4 stroke. So after the OP used seafoam, he STILL has an issue.
I agree on the dealer call and them blaming the fuel. That is the first trick in their book. They don't have a clue even most times after looking at the mower in person.
#17
A
Auto Doc's
If I believed everything You Tube shows us, there would not much else in life to do but be a pessimist. Those shows tend to be very biased and flip flop opinions based on conjecture.
Alcohol does not "remove" water; it breaks it down and encapsulates it so it can pass through with the fuel in a microscopic form.
HEET is not cheap, but it has been a proven product for years.
I'm not a big fan of Seafoam, never have been.
Here lately I've been fighting a rash of canned Trufuel victims with 2-stroke engines. That high priced "special" fuel breaks down if on the store shelves too long, and it gets worse once the can is opened and left only partially full. I have come to dislike 2-stroke weed eaters because they turn out to be bigger problems than most other lawn equipment.
A
Auto Doc's
Hi slomo,Taryl debunked the alcohol removes water from gas. So did Chickanic if I recall correctly. Heet is a wallet draining item that does not work. Project Farm I think did a video on this too I think??
Why would you use seafoam, on any engine? Nothing but a solvent with some oil. A new engine doesn't need this. It's not going to protect anything in the engine. If it DID work, Briggs, Kawasaki and the like would recommend it in their engine manuals. Never seen any recommendation other than E-10 or less, 87 octane or higher. Seafoam was actually made for 2 stroke engines. This guy owns a 4 stroke. So after the OP used seafoam, he STILL has an issue.
I agree on the dealer call and them blaming the fuel. That is the first trick in their book. They don't have a clue even most times after looking at the mower in person.
If I believed everything You Tube shows us, there would not much else in life to do but be a pessimist. Those shows tend to be very biased and flip flop opinions based on conjecture.
Alcohol does not "remove" water; it breaks it down and encapsulates it so it can pass through with the fuel in a microscopic form.
HEET is not cheap, but it has been a proven product for years.
I'm not a big fan of Seafoam, never have been.
Here lately I've been fighting a rash of canned Trufuel victims with 2-stroke engines. That high priced "special" fuel breaks down if on the store shelves too long, and it gets worse once the can is opened and left only partially full. I have come to dislike 2-stroke weed eaters because they turn out to be bigger problems than most other lawn equipment.
#18
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
It is a new mower 30 hours. I clean the whole mower, frame engine after every mow, 5 acres.Taryl debunked the alcohol removes water from gas. So did Chickanic if I recall correctly. Heet is a wallet draining item that does not work. Project Farm I think did a video on this too I think??
Why would you use seafoam, on any engine? Nothing but a solvent with some oil. A new engine doesn't need this. It's not going to protect anything in the engine. If it DID work, Briggs, Kawasaki and the like would recommend it in their engine manuals. Never seen any recommendation other than E-10 or less, 87 octane or higher. Seafoam was actually made for 2 stroke engines. This guy owns a 4 stroke. So after the OP used seafoam, he STILL has an issue.
I agree on the dealer call and them blaming the fuel. That is the first trick in their book. They don't have a clue even most times after looking at the mower in person.
#19
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
What do you mean, churned in a fuel can? How long does it take for the HEET to work? If it is just for bad gas, I have already taken the gas tank off, drained all gas, I had to jerry rig a shop vac to suck all the gas out because there is an inner sleeve in the neck of the gas fill spout. When you turn the gas tank upside down about a half quart collects into this inner sleeve, you have to turn the tank right side up and fenagle a hose jerry-rigged to the shop vac hose down into the odd shaped gas fill spout to suck the remaining gas, etc out. I don't understand why JD would do this, completely stupid.Hi macdoesit,
Using HEET is not a bad suggestion in my opinion. Honestly, I forgot about that.
HEET is basically a bottle of Methanol fuel solvent (petrol) (Not to be confused with Ethanol (corn). It has to be churned in a fuel can, not just poured in the tank to be effective.
#20
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
The JD dealer is in Shawnee, OK. they sale and work on large, small JD tractors, skid steers and mowers. I'm getting ready to load it on my trailer and take it to them.
#21
A
Auto Doc's
Sometimes my Southern vocabulary is not quite understood. LOL
A
Auto Doc's
Mix it according to instructions in the fuel can/jug being used, then gently shake the fuel/jug around to mix it (churn it).What do you mean, churned in a fuel can?
Sometimes my Southern vocabulary is not quite understood. LOL
#22
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
Will it clean the carb ?Mix it according to instructions in the fuel can/jug being used, then gently shake the fuel/jug around to mix it (churn it).
#23
A
Auto Doc's
A
Auto Doc's
I would not expect anything immediate, but I have seen it work. Run it and get the fuel mix down in the carburetor well, then let it set and see if it works its magic.
#24
Tiger Small Engine
I would say your mower with 30 hours on it has either older gas, or gas with water in it, and possibly needs a carburetor cleaning as well for it to run 100% right.
Seafoam contains 4 main ingredients, with one of them being the same as Heet. People love taking shortcuts in life, but they often don’t work.
One of the downsides to buying from a big box store is lack of service after the sale. You are just a number to them, and a customer for the local small engine shop.
Tiger Small Engine
Heet allows the fuel and water to mix so that a tiny amount of water can be burned with the gas. Heet will not overcome large amounts of water. The label says one once of Heet per gallon.I would not expect anything immediate, but I have seen it work. Run it and get the fuel mix don in the carburetor well, then let it set and see if it works its magic.
I would say your mower with 30 hours on it has either older gas, or gas with water in it, and possibly needs a carburetor cleaning as well for it to run 100% right.
Seafoam contains 4 main ingredients, with one of them being the same as Heet. People love taking shortcuts in life, but they often don’t work.
One of the downsides to buying from a big box store is lack of service after the sale. You are just a number to them, and a customer for the local small engine shop.
#25
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
Gas is always fresh. Bought the mower June/16/2025.Heet allows the fuel and water to mix so that a tiny amount of water can be burned with the gas. Heet will not overcome large amounts of water. The label says one once of Heet per gallon.
I would say your mower with 30 hours on it has either older gas, or gas with water in it, and possibly needs a carburetor cleaning as well for it to run 100% right.
Seafoam contains 4 main ingredients, with one of them being the same as Heet. People love taking shortcuts in life, but they often don’t work.
One of the downsides to buying from a big box store is lack of service after the sale. You are just a number to them, and a customer for the local small engine shop.
#26
M
macdoesit
M
macdoesit
Took the mower to JD, will let you all know what happens. Thank you for all the help.
#27
R
RevB
R
RevB
I'm right over by Will Rogers airport on the west side...let us know what JD has to say....Took the mower to JD, will let you all know what happens. Thank you for all the help.