Calling small engine mechanics
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Calling small engine mechanics
Help! I have a john deere riding mower that has problems. And I'm tired of cutting the grass with the tractor.
It seems that over a short period of time the crankcase fills with gas.
I can drain it, fill with oil and it fills again. Any ideas?
Its a Briggs, 13 hp and it does smoke on start-up a little. It only has about 500 hours on it though. The mower is a Sabre 1338. I know, piece of junk, but its all I have.
Thanks for any advice.
It seems that over a short period of time the crankcase fills with gas.
I can drain it, fill with oil and it fills again. Any ideas?
Its a Briggs, 13 hp and it does smoke on start-up a little. It only has about 500 hours on it though. The mower is a Sabre 1338. I know, piece of junk, but its all I have.
Thanks for any advice.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
Didn't I see this not long ago with an 18 horse in another thread or forum?
Have you looked at the fuel pump diaphram, the float bowl and needle/seat, and all that?
In some of these if the fuel pump diaphram leaks it can suck fuel directly into the crank case.
GOT IT! You're in luck - here is the link:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=398910
Have you looked at the fuel pump diaphram, the float bowl and needle/seat, and all that?
In some of these if the fuel pump diaphram leaks it can suck fuel directly into the crank case.
GOT IT! You're in luck - here is the link:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=398910
Last edited by Greywolf; Aug 9, 2005 at 08:07 PM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,413
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From: cape may county NJ
To start with it should be a 28000 series motor OHV needle is sticking or has dirt in the carb they come with junk FUEL FILTERS just clean the fuel bowl and the needle and seat area and put a good FUEL FILTER on if it has a fuel shut off solenoid on the bottom of the bowl (anti backfire valve) you will need a very thin wrench to remove it and that will take care of the flooding issues,as far as it smoking it might be just from the gas in the oil drain and change a couple of times and it should be good if not they had a problem with the head gasket blowing out at the push rod opening mostly due to the decompression mechanism not being adjusted right,if it cranks hard or acts like it has a dead battery that could be the problem still pretty easy to fix just get a manual for a briggs single cylinder OHV engine from your local lawn mower shop and will show how to repair it
Glenn
Glenn
Last edited by GlennFordx4; Aug 10, 2005 at 07:33 AM. Reason: words missing
Posting Guru
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From: Adams TN
I hate those anti bull crap solinoids on the bottom of the carbs, my craftsman had one on the original engine, it always leaked around it and the connection would wiggle loose and the engine would shut off. I have a special wrench Briggs provides small engine shops with(not free) to do it. Last summer i worked at my buddy's shop and got a whole bag of them, i only have like 2 or 3 now i can't remember what i did with the rest.
DT
DT
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Thanks guys. I have had to constantly work on this mower since about year two. I bought it in 1997 and it has been nothing but a headache. "Nothing runs like a deere."
Yeah right!! The guys at the local shop even get that "I'm sorry" when I tell them I need more parts for my Sabre. What a junk heap JD made with this one. I would buy a new one, but who's got an extra $1500- 2000 laying around.
Anyway thanks for the replys. I'll check the carb next chance I get. BTW Glenn, when it does run, and it does if I drain the gas and put oil back in, it does crank like it has a dead battery. If carb cleaning fixes gas issues, is the gasket something I should fix? Or should I get it running and go trade it somewhere?
Yeah right!! The guys at the local shop even get that "I'm sorry" when I tell them I need more parts for my Sabre. What a junk heap JD made with this one. I would buy a new one, but who's got an extra $1500- 2000 laying around.
Anyway thanks for the replys. I'll check the carb next chance I get. BTW Glenn, when it does run, and it does if I drain the gas and put oil back in, it does crank like it has a dead battery. If carb cleaning fixes gas issues, is the gasket something I should fix? Or should I get it running and go trade it somewhere?
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Originally Posted by prcrboy
Thanks guys. I have had to constantly work on this mower since about year two. I bought it in 1997 and it has been nothing but a headache. "Nothing runs like a deere."
I need more parts for my Sabre. What a junk heap JD made with this one.
I need more parts for my Sabre. What a junk heap JD made with this one.
Deere didn't make that one.
Nor do they make any of the Sabre line.
Those machines are MTD. Just like every other tractor on the market, with the exception of Craftsman and Husquavarna (at last check).
Yep, you got sold a rebadged MTD. So does everybody else. Too bad folks don't know that at purchase time. Especially with a name like John Deere, where you expect quality.
Best thing to do is assume it's an MTD until you prove otherwise..
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,413
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From: cape may county NJ
First off its a murry built john deere not mtd john deere owns murry now called scotts.second the hard crank problem can be fixed in about 10 to 15 min with a manual there is just to much for me to explain here basicly it needs the valves adjusted,if it needs a head gasket and the mower is in good shape its worth fixing if I had it here at my shop I could take care of all the motor problems for close to a hundred bucks thats including everything ,unless I found something major wrong with the motor I would definitely fix it,I have a customer with the same mower and it has been through hell and back and the motor still runs good the rest of the mower is just falling apart and they have been cutting marsh land with it for 6yrs or more, for the last 2yrs I keep telling them to consider a new rider but they bring it back and I patch it up and they continue to abuse it at one time it had all the same problems yours has including having the ring gear on the flywheel replaced because of the hard start problem the gear is made of plastic and wears out if it is not fixed it can also bend the push rods parts are not that expensive its the labor that can get you so I'll say it again get the manual
Glenn
Glenn
Last edited by GlennFordx4; Aug 11, 2005 at 07:16 AM. Reason: missing words
Tuned
Joined: May 2005
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murry may have built it, but guess who builds murrays?! MTD!!! You can take any coast to coast, yard man, murray, craftsman, etc, etc, and the only thing different is the sheet metal. we would collect as many as we could find for parts- i got so good at replacing those stupid belt drive transmissions one summer i could have the whole thing done in a couple of hours. junk. "if it seems to good to be true, it is." same with "bargain priced" lawnmowers.
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Thanks guys. Glenn, your were right. the bowl was full of rust and the needle was dirty. I still need to replace oil and fuel filter, but I think I got the carb fixed.
As for the flywheel, been there replaced that about 4 years ago. Also replaced two gears on the starter, numerous spindles, tires, battery, blades, I can't remember what all. I bought it expecting John Deere quality, and got this. I realize my teenager has been rough on it, but we don't mow marsh land. I am disappointed to the point of never, NEVER, buying anything John Deere makes ever again.
I'll get the manual, and take alook. Thanks again to everyone.
As for the flywheel, been there replaced that about 4 years ago. Also replaced two gears on the starter, numerous spindles, tires, battery, blades, I can't remember what all. I bought it expecting John Deere quality, and got this. I realize my teenager has been rough on it, but we don't mow marsh land. I am disappointed to the point of never, NEVER, buying anything John Deere makes ever again.
I'll get the manual, and take alook. Thanks again to everyone.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
Craftsman tractors have been made by american yard products since the late 70s at least. They are far from junk. It's the JDs that I've found are junk.. We've had a little of everything over the years, and by far the wheel horse (not toro/wheelhorse) were the best, with our POS ayps second.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,413
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From: cape may county NJ
Glad you found it hope it all works out good luck.
Pfogle I have a 1972 wheelhorse Bronco 14 some one gave me 5yrs ago came with a 50" deck 42" snow plow 42" snow blower and a rear tine roto tiller and a ton of extra belts I had it running within a half hour of it being dropped off I put 60 watt halogen off road lites on it and use the plow in the winter,the only thing I have had to replace is the coil pac.
Glenn
Pfogle I have a 1972 wheelhorse Bronco 14 some one gave me 5yrs ago came with a 50" deck 42" snow plow 42" snow blower and a rear tine roto tiller and a ton of extra belts I had it running within a half hour of it being dropped off I put 60 watt halogen off road lites on it and use the plow in the winter,the only thing I have had to replace is the coil pac.
Glenn
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From: Adams TN
Amen to the wheel horse, at work when i worked at a mowershop, summer before last, our yard tractor we used for pulling non running/undriveable mowers in was, a mid-late 60's WheelHorse, with a 3spd between your legs, a 8hp Kohler K series/ Horizontal shaft, awsome thing.
I can't find one for myself.
DT
I can't find one for myself.
DT