Comments on: Fixing up your John Deere

By: Jim and Bonnie

Jim and Bonnie — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 19:36:06 +0000

I would first check and see if the center wire going to the rectifier is hot with the ignition switch on. If it is hot, then you should install a new rectifier and your problem should be solved.

By: ddeberry

ddeberry — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 16:40:38 +0000

I have a John Deer STX38 Lawn Tractor / w a kohler Command 12.5 OVH Model CV12.5s engine. It wil not hold a charge, I have replaced the battery and the starter. It would run a while the stop. The battery is completely dead now. Please advise.

By: Jim and Bonnie

Jim and Bonnie — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 21:37:16 +0000

Yes, I did get that reed valve. I am wondering when your short block was put in if they remembered to remove that reed valve from the old short block and put it into your new short block. You might be running with no reed valve at all and that would be a very good reason for burning oil.

Jim

By: IIN2FORD

IIN2FORD — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:09:20 +0000

Any news Jim?

Barry

By: IIN2FORD

IIN2FORD — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 03:22:24 +0000

Thanks Jim! I appreciate the help!

Barry

By: Jim and Bonnie

Jim and Bonnie — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 20:11:15 +0000

Barry, I am ordering out a reed valve so I can study this out and get an answer for you.

Jim

By: IIN2FORD

IIN2FORD — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 23:39:36 +0000

I was told it has a new short block in it because of the cam gear breaking issue, so I would assume the oil rings are o.k. What about a reed valve for the crank case breather? Someone told me this engine has an internal reed valve. Any ideas how to get to it and check it?

Barry

By: Jim and Bonnie

Jim and Bonnie — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 21:11:32 +0000

A: We had problems with the butterfly bolts vibrating loose on the air cleaners on those FD620 Kawasaki engines. It allowed the engine to suck in unfiltered dirty air damaging the cylinder walls and or the piston rings. I have also seen, like you are saying, that you have good compression but the oil ring could be completely worn out in respect to dirt damage. If this was ever run hot it could have taken the temper out of the oil ring and or o-rings and still have good compression but no oil control, therefore needing an engine overhaul or replacement.

By: IIN2FORD

IIN2FORD — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 22:27:37 +0000

Q: I have a 1993 425 John Deere with roughly 500 hours on it. I recently replaced the valve stem seals because it was puffing blue smoke under a load. It seemed to have helped some, but I am still seeing it. I recently ran a compression test and it was hitting around 200 pounds. Seems good there, so I was wondering if the PCV valve is bad or clogged. I can’t seem to find the location of the PCV. Any ideas if that is it or could it be something else?