Smoke from my tractor......

16 years ago

Fresh from the owner generated belt snafu, I went out to celebrate by cutting the grass.

About half way through the engine started to hesitate and died. Then I saw smoke.....

Checked the battery and it was under 11 volts. No crank, but a click and slight movement of the engine. I charged up a second battery overnight and tried to jump start it. This generated more smoke seemingly from the solenoid and slight movement again from the crank. Yes I connected the battery correctly. Discovered some evidence of mice nest building which is a first for my tractor. These were in the air filter and starter area.

Its a JD 155 with the Kohler single lung 15hp.

Suggestions?

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Comments (9)

rustyj14
16 years ago
Check in the flywheel shrouding, for mice nests! Its their favorite area to live in--toilet, kitchen, moisture--all the comforts! RJ
akachrisinmass
Original Author
16 years ago
This sounds like it could be quite gross......

Any online manual for these engines?
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krnuttle
16 years ago
This and other Kohler engines area available.

http://www.kohlerengines.com/onlinecatalog/pdf/tp_2339_d.pdf

I have an electronic copy of the 2000 LT155 manual if you would like I would have to send in snail mail as it is 25mb.
akachrisinmass
Original Author
16 years ago
I've got myself a job this weekend. :)
akachrisinmass
Original Author
16 years ago
Pulled the flywheel cover. very little mouse evidence (newspaper).
Solid Starter solenoid click, but no starter movement except for s slight movement the first time I turned it. Battery has a solid 12.5v. Jumping withe a second strong battery made no difference.

I'm wondering what to do next. No prior signs of impending failure. Started fine before.
akachrisinmass
Original Author
16 years ago
Pulled the flywheel cover. very little mouse evidence (newspaper).
Solid Starter solenoid click, but no starter movement except for s slight movement the first time I turned it. Battery has a solid 12.5v. Jumping withe a second strong battery made no difference.

I'm wondering what to do next. No prior signs of impending failure. Started fine before.
krnuttle
16 years ago
What color was the smoke, and could you tell where it was coming from?

Just a thought. Several years ago the tractor was acting up. It would be difficult to start, but when started would run OK. After about two times around my half acre, it would loose power and die, at first playing with it would get it restarted, but it reached the point where it would not restart.

When trying to restart, I would get white smoke from the tractor.

It took several hours of me working on it, and a couple of trips to the JD dealer before they realized the condenser was dead. They replaced it and it has run ever since. The part is relatively inexpensive.
esemilio
16 years ago
You should check your oil level to insure no gas has leaked into it; if you do have a gas leak, your cylinder may be filed with gas and is preventing the engine from cranking.
mownie
16 years ago
***"Solid Starter solenoid click, but no starter movement except for s slight movement the first time I turned it."***
So, you saw the starter try to spin? If so, did the starter drive gear come up and engage the flywheel ring gear, but did not turn the flywheel?
Remove the spark plug and try to turn the flywheel by hand and post your results.