Fixed my JDHD75 Hydro and then this...

[kr0n0s82]

I bought the mower used and knowing that the left hydro was bad. I cracked it open and was able to fix it without purchasing any new parts. I got one successful cut out of it and then 24 hours later....

My engine makes an awful noise and splits wide open with burning oil smoke spewing everywhere.

Engine is a Kawasaki FC540V 17HP. Looks like its back to the parts catalogues

[Ben's Landscape]

Man that sucks!!! I feel bad for you. What caused it to happen?? i haven't ever seen that before. Was it on a costumers yard or your own?? Good luck with it!!

[4.3mudder]

Wow, man, I would have been pissed if that happened to me.

[Micheal2008]

Overheated id say.. Unless you bogged it down big time and put alot of stress on the engine, not sure if thats possiable on a mower but has happen to me in a car... Guess thats why cars aint meant to be playing in big water holes :).

Sry for your luck

[2brothersyardcare]

wat broke i cant tell

[Coastal Lawn Maintenance]

wat broke i cant tell

the side of the engine block

[2brothersyardcare]

thats wat i was thinking or the cover

[mowerdude777]

that sucks

[kr0n0s82]

Man that sucks!!! I feel bad for you. What caused it to happen?? i haven't ever seen that before. Was it on a costumers yard or your own?? Good luck with it!!

I am just hypothesizing but I think it overheated. I may have had a bad O-Ring where the plastic pipe for adding oil joins the engine. I had to tip the mower forward and back a few times to get to all the things on the bad hydro.

I would not have noticed an oil leak because I had oil all over the garage floor anyway from fixing the hydro. I got so excited when I fixed it i took it out for a test drive in my own lawn without checking. It was late at night so i cut a small section, but not all. I finished the cut the next morning and was pleased... up until what you see. It happened quite suddenly, within a few seconds. I've had engines overheat before, and usually i notice a decrease in power because of the increased friction. It sends up a red flag, but i never had the feel for this mower since i never had it working before.

So the lesson i take from this seems simple... to check the damn oil after servicing.

The JD parts catalog has the replacement engine listed for 2k ish, but fat chance of me doing that. I am fairly certain i can get my hands on a suitable replacement for half. I just have to take the old engine off first to measure the shaft and other things before i get a monkeywrench thrown in my plans.

I only paid 600 for the mower since it was busted when i bought it. Even after an engine replacement, I will come out OK since it is still less than similarly aged mowers. I can fix anything, but I could sure as hell could do without the labor right now.

[ProTouch Groundscapes]

Guess thats why cars aint meant to be playing in big water holes

hot engine+cold water= metal expanding and contracting at different rates.

[robertdmcgaughey]

r u going to part out the old engine, cause i could use the head, valves, push rods, piston and piston rod. Please let me know.

[Lawn Freak]

Man that's too bad. Hopefully you get your mower back in action. How many hours where on it? Makes me cringe about how hot my mowers get throughout the day. Good luck!
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[grassman177]

had the same thing happen to ours, it was lready on its way out man, overheated is the word too, probably grasspacked under the engine shroud

[MarcSmith]

The JD parts catalog has the replacement engine listed for 2k ish, but fat chance of me doing that. I am fairly certain i can get my hands on a suitable replacement for half. I just have to take the old engine off first to measure the shaft and other things before i get a monkeywrench thrown in my plans.

Be careful, JD is very proprietary when it come to engines... measure twice and buy once.... we replaced an engine in our gators on campus, and the mechanic bought a non JD kawi, man was he surprise when the shaft sizes were different...

[bobcat48]

That sucks,good luck.