JD Commerial walk-Behind engine won't shut off...

[lawnart]

Hi guys,
I just bought a used JD Commercial Walk-Behind 48" (not sure what model) about 7-8 years old but still in great condition. Anyway, my problem is, I got it started today (I live in Maine and it's been too cold before now) and when I tried to shut it off, I couldn't... Throttle is all the way down and it still won't turn off. I can't find a kill switch or anything like that either. I feel so stupid...:rolleyes: I am generally good with equipment - but....never had this problem before. So, thought I would get your ideas on it? I had to pinch the gas line and let it run out of gas before it turned off....and trust me, I'm not doing that after every customers lawn! so any thoughts, ideas, or answers? Thanks a bunch!
-Douglas

[Restrorob]

Sounds more like a engine problem, Read this;


http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=144040

[MiksLawncare]

Well what you want to do lawnart is go for the plug wire, the one that attaches to your coil. Pull it off with your hand right where the spark plug connects with the wire and dont be scared to stick your hands in there, you shouldnt have any more problems out of her. This way it is a little less time consuming then pinching the gas line as you will get an instant reaction from the machine. Good luck.

[lawnart]

Haha, thanks for the help guys. I'll figure it out...

[Restrorob]

Well what you want to do lawnart is go for the plug wire, the one that attaches to your coil. Pull it off with your hand right where the spark plug connects with the wire and dont be scared to stick your hands in there, you shouldnt have any more problems out of her. This way it is a little less time consuming then pinching the gas line as you will get an instant reaction from the machine. Good luck.


Dude, I think this post is on the cruel side.....

You ever been lit up when pulling a plug wire off like that ?

The only instant reaction one may get is when that sucker zaps the crap out them.

Now, If you want to go snatching plug wires off (which is not fixin the problem) put a larger plastic wire tie wrap on the plug boot sticking straight out. Grab the tie wrap and this will keep your hand away from striking distance of that high voltage zap.

lawnarts problem sounds like the throttle cable has slipped in the mounting clamp so the throttle pivot is not hitting the stop switch, This is only a guess and can't be confirmed without proper information/engine model and spec numbers.

[MiksLawncare]

Im just giving you a hard time, i hope you figure out the problem.

[lawnart]

lol, trust me, I have enough sense to know not to do that! :hammerhead: :dizzy:

Anyway, the mower is not at my house as I am storing it in a friends heated garage. thus I am not able to get specs on the engine right now. My guess is it has to do with the throttle cable. I'll check it out and write back with what I find out.
Thanks!

[topsites]

I can tell you two things about this issue:

1. Instead of using the regular shut-down method, I recommend leaving
that alone and simply twisting the fuel shut off valve to cut off fuel, as this will
first allow the machine to idle long enough to cool to where it doesn't backfire,
also it prevents any fuel from leaking down through the carburetor into the oil
when the machine is left sitting.
At least this is how I shut down all my machines anymore, because the problem is
a gasket in the carburetor can give way at some point in time, allowing fuel to leak.
It also helps in creating one more small theft or unauthorized use barrier.

2. To FIX the problem, down at the carburetor linkage you need to look...
When the throttle lever (down at the carburetor) moves towards the stop position
there should be a piece where a wire connects that it should be touching at that point,
what happens is the steel throttle piece creates a short between that and the ground,
and this would kill the engine.
More than likely either that piece has moved a bit and it needs to be re-adjusted,
or dirt got on it acting as an insulator, meaning it needs to be cleaned.

[LewisLawn]

could it possibly be a ground wire i had the problem with mine once afer i got it started it wouldn't shut of by the switch until i reattached the ground wire...this is only an idea that i had based off expirience the more i think of it the less likely because you were able to get it started and with out the ground i doubt youd be able to start it

[lawnart]

Thanks for the input guys! I figured it out eventually. The was a keyswith that seemed stuck and the cable was unplugged and I could find where to plug it in. After playing around with stuff for a while I found where it grounds the engine out and I rigged up a switch...so...it works now! Now I can mow!

[betmr]

Topsite's gets my thumbs up, most likely the ground wire is disconected, or the throtle cable isn't pulling far enough to close the switch, in order to ground out the ignition. if not that then the wire could be broken somewhere.