Bob Weisner
03-29-2006, 6:53 PM
Hi:
This question is for anyone who is a small engine mechanic. I started up my 11 year old 12 hp MTD lawn tractor today (6th time I ran it this year), and everything was running fine. I was pulling a 12 cu. ft. wagon to haul some crushed stone that I was shoveling off of the lawn after the winter snowplowing. I loaded up the wagon and started the tractor. Everything was fine until I backed up into the driveway to dump the stone in the driveway. When I backed up the tractor, I went about 8 to 10 feet and then the engine made this LOUD RACING SOUND!!! This noise lasted for no more that 3 to 5 seconds and then the motor quit!! I tried starting the tractor again. No go. I then took the cover off of the air filter and removed the air filter. I pulled the choke open (As usual), and turned the key. Then engine would start , but only when I had the throttle wide open. After it started, the power was about 20 % of normal. I brought the choke down to normal operating position and the engine speeded up to about 25 to 30 % of normal RPM. The engine will run for no more than 30 seconds. Here are the other symptoms:
1. Backfires. LOUD!!!!
2. White smoke comes out of the air filter chute or whatever it is called when I had the cover and air filter removed.
3. Local hardware engine mechanic thought it might have been just the spark plug. he changed the spark plug, but it did the same thing.
4. New gas in the gas tank. about a quarter inch from being full.
The local mechanic thought that it might be a head gasket or something wrong with the valves..
Any suggestions????:confused: :confused:
Thanks,
This question is for anyone who is a small engine mechanic. I started up my 11 year old 12 hp MTD lawn tractor today (6th time I ran it this year), and everything was running fine. I was pulling a 12 cu. ft. wagon to haul some crushed stone that I was shoveling off of the lawn after the winter snowplowing. I loaded up the wagon and started the tractor. Everything was fine until I backed up into the driveway to dump the stone in the driveway. When I backed up the tractor, I went about 8 to 10 feet and then the engine made this LOUD RACING SOUND!!! This noise lasted for no more that 3 to 5 seconds and then the motor quit!! I tried starting the tractor again. No go. I then took the cover off of the air filter and removed the air filter. I pulled the choke open (As usual), and turned the key. Then engine would start , but only when I had the throttle wide open. After it started, the power was about 20 % of normal. I brought the choke down to normal operating position and the engine speeded up to about 25 to 30 % of normal RPM. The engine will run for no more than 30 seconds. Here are the other symptoms:
1. Backfires. LOUD!!!!
2. White smoke comes out of the air filter chute or whatever it is called when I had the cover and air filter removed.
3. Local hardware engine mechanic thought it might have been just the spark plug. he changed the spark plug, but it did the same thing.
4. New gas in the gas tank. about a quarter inch from being full.
The local mechanic thought that it might be a head gasket or something wrong with the valves..
Any suggestions????:confused: :confused:
Thanks,