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Craftsman DLS 3500 Troubleshooting
The
Craftsman DLS 3500 is a two-wheel drive lawn tractor. This model was
manufactured by AYP built from 2007 to 2008. The Craftsman DLS3500 tractor is
powered by 30.6 cu.in (501 cc) Briggs and Stratton 31P777 4-cycle single
cylinder OHV vertical shaft air-cooled gasoline engine with a rated power of 20
hp (14.8 kW).
The Craftsman DLS 3500 is fitted with 2 types of transmission. 1st type:
6-speed transmission with 6 forward and 1 reverse gears. 2nd type:
hydrostatic transmission with infinite forward and reverse gears.
Max. forward speed - 5.5 mph (8.8 kph), maximum reverse speed - 2.4 mph
(3.9 kph). The Craftsman DLS 3500 is equipped with a sector and pinion
type steering system, mechanical disc brakes, 15x6.00-6 front tires, and
18x9.50-8 rear tires. The tractor is compatible with 42" and 46"
mid-mount 2-blade mower decks with cutting height of 1.5-4.0 in (37-100
mm), six cut positions, and mechanical lift system.
| Engine Troubleshooting |
| Engine is not starting or hard starting |
| Gas tank is empty - Add gasoline |
| Wrong grade of gasoline - Change gasoline |
| There is air in the fuel system - Bleed the system |
| Faulty spark plug wire connection - Inspect the spark plug wire connection, replace or repair |
| Spark plug is defective - Change spark plug |
| Plugged fuel filter - Change fuel filter |
| Safety contact for brake pedal defective - Install new part |
| Incorrect carburetor adjustment - Adjust carburetor idle mixture screw |
| Poor cylinder compression - Check cylinder block and change worn parts |
| Choke cable is unadjusted or damaged - Change cable or adjust properly |
| Air intake grill is clogged - Need to clean or wash |
| Ignition system malfunction - Check ignition and replace faulty components |
| Throttle cable is faulty or stuck - Replace or service the cable |
| Plugged air filter - Replace or service air filter |
| Fuel pump is damaged or dirty - Inspect fuel pump and change as required |
| Engine starts and stalls suddenly |
| Spark plug is faulty - Spark plug need to be replaced |
| Faulty or dirty carburetor - Replace or service carburetor |
| Ignition coil is not working - Ignition coil must be replaced |
| Valve springs are weak or broken - Valve springs need to be changed |
| Stuck valves - Service the valves |
| Insufficient engine oil - Check oil level and add oil as required |
| Excessive engine load - Reduce engine load |
| Plugged cooling fins - Clean and wash as required |
| Carburetor mixture is too lean - Use proper settings |
| Ignition timing is wrong - Set the ignition timing properly |
| Incorrect valve setting - Adjust valves correctly |
| Stale fuel - Use correct gasoline |
| Engine is overloaded - Load reducing is recommended |
| Engine oil insufficient - Add oil to the engine crankcase |
| Improperly adjusted low idle speed - Adjust idling as required |
| Fuel pump is damaged or dirty - Clean or change fuel pump |
| Main bearings or crankshaft failure - Have bearings or crankshaft replaced |
| Valve clearance is incorrect - Need to adjust valve clearance |
| Worn piston rings or cylinder bore - Replace defective components |
| Carburetor is clogged or improperly adjusted - Clean or properly adjust carburetor |
| Air filter is dirty - Change or service air filter |
| Fuel pump is defective or dirty - Service or replace fuel pump |
| Ignition system problems - Inspect ignition system and change faulty parts |
| Defective cylinder head gasket - Replace cylinder head gasket |
| Valves are burned or stuck - Change or clean valves |
| Worn or damaged push rod - Push rod should be replaced |
| Faulty cylinder block components - Change defective parts |
| Engine uses too much fuel |
| Throttle did not open fully - Replace or adjust throttle cable |
| Incorrect adjustment of carburetor main jet - Adjust the carburetor main jet correctly |
| Loose or defective spark plug - Spark plug need to be tightened or replaced |
| Worn, stuck, or burned valves - Change or clean valves |
| Sleeve, rings, or piston are damaged - Replace defective parts |
| Valve clearance is wrong - Check and adjust |
| High engine oil consumption |
| Gaskets or seals are excessively worn - Replace worn parts to avoid leaks |
| Valve stems or guides are damaged - Need to replace the valves |
| Worn or stuck piston rings - Install new piston rings |
| Scored cylinder liner or piston - Check liner and piston, change as required |
| Plugged breather hose or pipe - Service or replace |
| Transmission Troubleshooting |
| Difficult to shift gears |
| Rusty or worn gear shift linkage - Install a new gear shift linkage |
| Bent or worn shift forks - Shift forks need to be changed |
| Gearshift mechanism is worn out - Repair or replace worn components if required |
| Insufficient transmission oil - Checking transmission oil level and add if necessary |
| Transmission oil contamination - Change the oil |
| Damaged bearings or worn gears - Install new gears or bearings |
| Transmission jumps out of gear |
| Incorrectly installed or damaged shift lever - Reinstall the lever properly or change it |
| Gears are damaged or worn - Change gears |
| Faulty shift rods or shift forks - Change defective forks or rods |
| Drive belt/shaft is damaged or incorrectly adjusted - Adjust belt/shaft or install a new one |
| Defective brake/clutch or incorrect brake/clutch adjustment - Replace brake/clutch or adjust it |
| Drive pulley is defective or worn - Change pulley |
| Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting |
| HST transmission makes excessive noise |
| Worn or out of adjustment speed control linkage - Repair or adjust linkage |
| Transmission is under excessive load - Reduce transmission load |
| Contaminated transmission fluid or low fluid level - Pour fresh fluid or add transmission fluid to proper level |
| Transmission components are damaged or worn - Replace or repair defective components |
| Shift linkage is worn or rusty - Replace or lubricate the linkage |
| Hydrostatic pump is seized or faulty - Change or repair pump |
| Unadjusted or damaged transmission shift control parts - Adjust correctly or replace |
| Insufficient transmission oil - Fill up the transmission oil |
| Drive pulley is defective or worn - Change pulley |
| Unadjusted or broken shift linkage - Adjust correctly or change linkage |
| Speed control pedal linkage is bent or not adjusted - Adjust or change linkage |
| Worn transmission seals or gaskets - Install new gaskets or seals |
| Leaking final drive shaft - Install new shaft seals |
| Transmission housing is cracked - Install a new transmission housing |
| Mower Deck Troubleshooting |
| Excessive mower vibration |
| Drive pulley of mower deck is damaged or dirty - Service or replace pulley |
| Worn or loose drive belt - Belt needs to be adjusted or replaced |
| Unbalanced or warped cutting blades - Balance blades or replace it |
| Loose blade bolts tightening - Bolts should be tightened |
| Discharge chute keeps clogging |
| Fast mowing speed - Use a lower speed |
| Tall grass - Must be set to low cutting height |
| Engine runs at low revs - Open choke fully |
| Mower cuts too low - Must be set to high cutting height |
| Incorrect mower drive belt installation - Reinstall drive belt properly |
| Lawn mower leaving uncut grass |
| Discharge area is clogged - Need to clean the mower deck |
| Blades are excessively dull - Blades need to be sharpened |
| Blades are defective or worn - Blades need to be replaced |
| Fast mowing speed - Select a lower speed |
| Mower deck set to low cutting - Need to set high cutting height |
| Full grass bag - Empty the grass bag |
| Uneven or bumpy lawn - Roll or level the lawn |
| Mower cuts too low - Must be set to high cutting height |
| High mowing speed - Select a slower speed |
| Mower deck is not leveled properly - Level the deck properly |
| Blades are bent or worn - Install new blades |
| Low tire inflation - Inflate tires correctly |
| Low tire inflation - Inflate tires as required |
| Mower deck is not leveled properly - Adjust the level of mower deck correctly |
| Excessive blade dullness - Sharpen the blades |
| Blades are worn or damaged - Blades need to be replaced |
| Deck clogged with grass clippings - Check cutting deck and clean as necessary |
| Damaged mower deck shell - Repair or replace the deck |
| Mower spindle is loose or defective - Repair or change the spindle |
| Electrical Troubleshooting |
| Battery is not charging |
| Loose or corroded electrical wiring connections - Tighten or service cable connections |
| Electrical terminal connectors are faulty - Terminal connectors need to be changed |
| Battery faulty cell - Use a new battery |
| Low battery voltage - Low battery charging, charge as required |
| Battery runs out quickly - Service charging system or replace battery |
| Bad battery terminals or disconnected wiring - Check cables and clean or change terminals |
| Battery is low or faulty - Need to charge or replace the battery |
| Wiring is improperly connected or disconnected - Check wiring and connect properly |
| Battery voltage is low - Recharge the battery |
| Spark plug dirty or improperly gapped - Replace or clean and gap |
| Damaged starter motor or solenoid - Replace solenoid or repair starter |
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| Lawn and Garden Tractors Technical Specs |
