I'm looking at buying a very clean 2017 Cub Cadet XT1 with 160 hours. It starts right up and runs great. The only issue I'm really seeing is that it will not start when the engine is hot without the choke on. With the choke, it starts right up. This is a video of trying to start it with the engine hot and without the choke (at the end of the video when the engine starts, I put the choke on).
It makes a loud metallic clunking noise when cranking the starter that coincides with the slight up and down movement of the starter pinion gear, The clunk sounds much louder in person than captured on the video. I've never seen a tractor make this noise when cranking so I'm not sure what to make of it? Is this normal for the pinion gear to have that slight up and down movement and make that clunk? Also, the pinion will occasionally stick/hesitate for a second. My guesses on that would be weak battery, weak starter or valve lash needing adjusted. I did not have the battery tested but it reads 12.7v (I know that does not mean the battery is good but I'm leaning away from the battery). I'm guessing valve lash adjustment because it is also very difficult to turn the flywheel by hand and a couple times moving the throttle from full throttle to idle I got a backfire. The plugs are slightly fouled (picture attached), which could affect the starting too but it fires right up with the choke on. The air filter is dirty which could explain the fouled plugs. The tractor sat for 1.5 years, so the carb ports could be slightly blocked too. I did put fresh gas in with no change. Am I on the right track here? I'd appreciate input on the starter clunk/pinion up and down movement, not starting when hot without the choke and any other input. The big question is, what is a fair price for this tractor?
Needs choke to start when hot and What is this tractor worth?
- Thread starter bigjake
- Start date
What I'm seeing.
1.Either ACR is dead and or the valves need adjusting. Does this have hydraulic lifters?
2.Plugs are heavily fouled. Air filter could be plugged solid. Choke stuck on and or carb needle dumping fuel all the time flooding the cylinders. She is rich rich.
3.Nine year old engine probably needs fully de-carboned. Look at your engine manual for more info. Running that rich betting she is loaded with carbon.
4.Could be weak ignition coils.
5.Battery needs LOAD tested. Use a real carbon pile tester for best results.
6.Pull the oil dip stick and smell for GAS. If you smell gasoline you have a carb needle issue.
1.Either ACR is dead and or the valves need adjusting. Does this have hydraulic lifters?
2.Plugs are heavily fouled. Air filter could be plugged solid. Choke stuck on and or carb needle dumping fuel all the time flooding the cylinders. She is rich rich.
3.Nine year old engine probably needs fully de-carboned. Look at your engine manual for more info. Running that rich betting she is loaded with carbon.
4.Could be weak ignition coils.
5.Battery needs LOAD tested. Use a real carbon pile tester for best results.
6.Pull the oil dip stick and smell for GAS. If you smell gasoline you have a carb needle issue.
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ILENGINE
Lawn Royalty
Air filter looks 7000 series Kohler replacement for the Courage Twin. Engine has mechanical tappets, which I would suspect needs valve adjustment. Engine may or may not have ACR. And the starters were always a weak link on that style engine.
And to the OP the starter gear moving up and down is normal as the engine speeds up and slows down while going through the cranking cycle. But starter could weak or have damaged bearings which could make the starter erratic also. And most likely if engine has set will need carb cleaning and make sure the choke is fully closing.
sgkent
Lawn Addict
value is always based on condition, age, willing buyer and willing seller. Someone can always sell one for more, and someone can always get a better deal. What matters is whether you will be happy with it. When I try to price things, I ask myself what is the most someone is going to pay me for this if I am selling an identical one. In other words, somewhere out there is someone who wants double what it is worth, and someone else is giving theirs away just to get rid of it. If you had one what would you want for it? Then don't offer more. Facebook market place is a good place to look for used ones. Sometimes Craigslist is also. Estate sales.
Old paper cellulose air filters can pack up over time and not pass air. I had one on a RER Snapper. No telling how old the filter was. She was running like the choke was partially on. Verified choke was off. Tossed on a new filter and she ran like a top again.
Several engines that have a faint surge to them probably could use a new air filter. Those that are 95% clean runners just have a little hunting to them.
Several engines that have a faint surge to them probably could use a new air filter. Those that are 95% clean runners just have a little hunting to them.
@slomo @sgkent @ILENGINE Thank you for the responses. ILENGINE, you are correct, it is a 22 HP 7000 Series Kohler. I confirmed that the choke is working properly. Oil level is exactly at Full level and has no gasoline smell. I will take the battery to auto parts to get load tested tomorrow. Regarding price, the tractor belonged to a friend who passed away and his wife is leaving it to me to come up with a price. I did check Craigslist and Marketplace but not coming up with a lot of comparables. As expected, the prices on what I found are all over the place from $600 to $1550. The one for $1550 has been on Craislist for a few months. The list price on this XT1 in 2017 was $1,899 at Home Depot. Any direction on price would be appreciated.
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Tiger Small Engine
Lawn Addict
With a 42” deck and pull button PTO, around $600-$800, everything in working order and good condition.
@Tiger Small Engine It is a 46" deck and has a lever to engage the blade. Does that affect price much?
I did not purchase it yet, but I had the battery load tested (it tested good) and I adjusted the valve lash, but the starter still has an intermittent pause, so as @ILENGINE suggested, I'm suspecting that the starter may be going bad.
I'm assuming that a new air cleaner and I'll have to clean the carb to fix the issue of still needing the choke to start after the engine is warm and running rich.
Attachments
Auto Doc's
Lawn Addict
Some engines always need to be choked to start hot or cold even when new. Much of it depends on the size of the carburetor and if all tuneup settings are correct.
As for price, it depends on the market area and how bad people might need a good rider mower. This is bordering 10 years old and has an unknown service history.
As for price, it depends on the market area and how bad people might need a good rider mower. This is bordering 10 years old and has an unknown service history.