Any Ideas

[Gorhad]

My super surfer, is running like crap. The engine sounds like its running correctly then when i put the blades on it dies down. Today i nearly cut out. I have the govenor plate pushed all the way up so im at a loss, any advice would be greatly accepted

[mississippiturf]

I'd check belt tensioner, pullies, and bearings/spindals.

[Phil G]

My super surfer, is running like crap. The engine sounds like its running correctly then when i put the blades on it dies down. Today i nearly cut out. I have the govenor plate pushed all the way up so im at a loss, any advice would be greatly accepted


Hi, it might be that the engine is running slightly lean, maybe a very small blockage in the main jet. Next time you engage the blades use a small amount of choke and see if it still does this. Also, with the engine turn off, check the blades turn freely with no tight spots. Give it a go and get back.
Good luck Phil
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[Gorhad]

thanx will do

[Restrorob]

My guess is it's only running on one cylinder.....

[MowerMedic77]

Is this a Kohler engine? what is the model & spec#, does it have an accelerator pump mounted on the carb?

[Gorhad]

Its a Kawasaki FH500V 17Hp

[Gorhad]

I ran the mower all day today it was running great, then on my last one it lost power and started making a popping noise, so i switched it out for my other mower and finished of.

Just checked the oil dip stick and its got enough in however the oil looks to be blackish in color. The oil was changed within the last 10 days

[mowerknower]

Start with the obvious, put in new plugs, air filter and fuel filter. If that doesnt help Im thinking retrorob is right that it is only running on 1 cylinder. When it starts acting up get a pari of insulated plyers and pull of 1 plug wire at a time. If it completly shuts off on 1 cylinder you probably have a bad coil. 90% of the time I find that its a dirty air filter that fouled a plug.

[Gorhad]

Started engine, let it run for a few minutes then pulled off one plug cap nothing happened engine carried on running

[Phil G]

Started engine, let it run for a few minutes then pulled off one plug cap nothing happened engine carried on running



Now try the other one.
C'mon lad, pull yer self together and lets get this sorted.
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All together now..........Rule Britannia, Britannia Rule the Waves........




Good luck Phil

[Gorhad]

Phil

just pulled the other spark plug cap off and the engine died down considerably and cut out

[dutch1]

Don't necessarily rush to judgment by replacing the coil on the bad cylinder. Do a compression check on both cylinders. If one has little or no compression you likely have a valve stuck open. The reason I say this is that I had an FH500V with exactly the same problem. The exhaust valve had carboned up and sucked the valve guide about a quarter of an inch inside the head thereby not allowing the valve to close. In preparation to diagnosing the problem, I put spark checkers on both plugs and both cylinders had fire in the hole but the compression check revealed 0 compression. If this turns out to be your problem you will have to buy a new head as Kaw does not supply oversize valve guides.

Dutch

[Gorhad]

dutch1

can i do a compression test myself or do i need to take it into the shop

[dutch1]

Apparently you don't have a compression gauge. For a few bucks you can own one but you can probably get a pretty good idea by pulling the plugs and comparw the compression with a finger over the plug hole(make sure the plug wire is away from your hand) on each side. If a valve is indeed stuck open your finger will not likely be pushed off the plug hole. A compression gauge will be a better indicator however.

Dutch

[Gorhad]

Dutch

went to advanced auto parts and brought compression tester, tested both cylinders and they both came out to 180psi

[Gorhad]

This is what the manual says for the FH500V

Cylinder compression (MIN) [390 kPa (57 psi)] (MIN)

[dutch1]

At 180, you're good to go on compression. You most likely are looking at a failing coil. If you have a spark checker, check for adequate spark on each side. In the absence of a spark checker, pull the plug wire one at a time and note any change in running condition. For example, if when you pull the left plug wire and there is no change, replace the wire and remove the right plug wire. If the unit dies with theright wire pulled, the left coil is dead.

[mowerknower]

Just cause you have good compression doesnt mean all is good. If you have a bent push rod the valve wont open far enough to run good but the compression is going to good. 180psi sounds pretty high. This engine has a mechanical compression releef. Im thinking your valve gap is to wide and not allowing the comp releaf to open the valve, and got wide enough on 1 cylinder that the push rod popped off. Anyone wanna bet?

[dutch1]

That indeed is a possibility, Mowerknower. If the valve lash clearance got large enough, either by wear or a loosened rocker retainer, the push rod could have fallen out of the rocker arm. Normally, I wouldn't expect a bent push rod without some related valve/valve guide problem.