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Craftsman LT1500 Troubleshooting
The
Craftsman LT1500 lawn tractor was manufactured between 2009 and 2013. The
Craftsman LT1500 is powered by 30.5 cu.in (500 cc) Briggs and Stratton 31C707
single cylinder OHV air-cooled gasoline engine with a maximum output power of
17.5 hp (13 kW), or 25.6 cu.in (420 cc) Zongshen 4P90HU 4-cycle single cylinder
2-valve gasoline engine with a max power of 11.7 hp (8.7 kW).
The Craftsman LT1500 is fitted with four transmissions: Hydro-Gear
belt-driven hydrostatic transmission, 7x7 MTD Transmatic gear
transmission, 7x1 Shift-On-The-Go gear transmission, and 6x1 belt-driven
gear transmission.
The maximum forward speed - 5.5 mph (8.8 km/h), max. reverse speed - 2.7
mph (4.3 km/h). The Craftsman LT1500 lawn tractor was equipped with a
manual steering system, disc brakes, 15x6.00-6 front tires, and
18x9.50-8 or 20x8.00-8 rear tires. The wheel base is 35 inches (880 mm).
The tractor is compatible with a 42" mid-mount 2-blade mower deck with a
cutting height of 1.5-4.0 in (37-100 mm) and mechanical lift system.
| Engine Troubleshooting |
| Engine won't start or starts hard |
| Empty gas tank - Add gasoline |
| Low-quality gasoline - Use quality fuel |
| Air in the fuel lines - Bleed the fuel lines |
| Damaged spark plug wiring connection - Inspect spark plug wiring connection, change or repair |
| Defective spark plug - Change spark plug as required |
| Fuel filter is dirty - Fuel filter needs to be replaced |
| Safety contact for brake pedal defective - Install new part |
| Wrong carburetor adjustment - Adjusting carburetor correctly |
| Engine has bad compression - Check cylinder block and change wear parts |
| Incorrectly adjusted or damaged throttle cable - Adjust correctly or replace the cable |
| Cooling fins are blocked - Clean and wash as required |
| Ignition system is defective - Inspect ignition system and change faulty parts |
| Faulty or stuck throttle cable - Clean or change the cable |
| Air filter element is clogged - Replace or clean air filter |
| Fuel pump is clogged or faulty - Clean or replace fuel pump |
| Engine stalls after starting |
| Spark plug is faulty - Spark plug need to be replaced |
| Carburetor is faulty or dirty - Clean or replace carburetor |
| Faulty ignition coil - Change ignition coil as required |
| Valve springs are broken or bad - Valve springs need to be changed |
| Valves are stuck - Valves need to be cleaned |
| Engine oil level low - Fill up the engine oil |
| Engine overloaded - Reduce load |
| Air intake screen is blocked - Need to clean or wash |
| Too lean fuel mixture in carburetor - Adjust carburetor properly |
| Ignition timing is wrong - Ignition timing needs to be adjusted correctly |
| Valve setting is incorrect - Valves needs to be set correctly |
| Abnormal engine knocking or noise |
| Stale gasoline - Change gasoline |
| Engine overloaded - Reduce the load |
| Not enough engine oil - Fill up the engine oil |
| Low idle speed setting is incorrect - Correct idle adjustment |
| Dirty or damaged fuel pump - Test fuel pump and replace if necessary |
| Crankshaft or main bearings failure - Repair or replace defective parts |
| Valve clearance is not correct - Adjust to proper valve clearance |
| Piston rings or cylinder bore are worn - Change defective components |
| Carburetor is improperly adjusted or dirty - Clean or properly adjust carburetor |
| Dirty air filter element - Change or clean air filter |
| Fuel pump is clogged or faulty - Check fuel pump and replace if necessary |
| Defective ignition system - Check ignition and replace faulty components |
| Cylinder head gasket is defective - Change cylinder head gasket |
| Stuck or burned valves - Clean or replace valves |
| Push rod is worn or bent - Install a new push rod |
| Cylinder block parts are worn out - Replace defective parts as required |
| Engine using too much gasoline |
| Throttle not fully open - Check throttle cable and adjust as required |
| Incorrect adjustment of carburetor main jet - Adjust the carburetor main jet correctly |
| Loose or defective spark plug - Re-tighten or change the spark plug |
| Worn, stuck, or burned valves - Clean or change valves |
| Worn sleeve, rings, or piston - Replace defective components |
| Incorrect valve clearance - Check and adjust |
| Engine using too much oil |
| Damaged gaskets or seals - Replace defective parts |
| Damaged valve guides or valve stems - Replace defective valves |
| Worn or broken piston rings - Change piston rings |
| Cylinder liner or piston is damaged - Inspect liner and piston, change as necessary |
| Clogged breather hose or pipe - Service or change |
| Transmission Troubleshooting |
| Hard to shift gears |
| Gear shift linkage is stuck or worn - Clean or replace shift linkage |
| Shift forks are damaged or worn - Install new shift forks |
| Faulty gear shifting mechanism - Faulty parts must be changed |
| Insufficient fluid supply - Fill the transmission housing with fluid |
| Transmission oil is contaminated - Fill up with fresh transmission oil |
| Bearings or gears are damaged - Replace bearings or gears |
| Transmission pops out of gear |
| Improperly installed or damaged shifting lever - Reinstall the lever properly or change it |
| Worn or damaged gears - Change gears |
| Shift forks or shift rods are faulty - Replace damaged forks or rods |
| Drive shaft/belt is worn or incorrectly adjusted - Install a new shaft/belt or adjust it |
| Brake/clutch is improperly adjusted or damaged - Replace brake/clutch or adjust it |
| Worn or defective drive pulley - Replace pulley |
| Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting |
| Hydrostatic transmission noise |
| Worn or unadjusted speed control linkage - Adjust or change linkage |
| Transmission is under excessive load - Reduce the load is required |
| Fluid is contaminated or fluid level is insufficient - Fill to required level or change the fluid |
| Defective or worn transmission parts - Check hydrostatic transmission components for defect or damage and change if necessary |
| Shift linkage is rusty or worn - Lubricate or replace the linkage |
| Hydrostatic pump is worn or stuck - Replace or repair pump |
| Damaged or unadjusted transmission shift control components - Adjust correctly or replace |
| Lack of transmission oil supply - Fill the transmission housing to proper oil level |
| Drive pulley is damaged or worn - Change pulley |
| Shift linkage is unadjusted or damaged - Change or adjust linkage |
| Speed control linkage is worn or unadjusted - Change or adjust linkage |
| Damaged transmission seals or gaskets - Change seals or gaskets |
| Final drive shaft leaks - Install new shaft seals |
| Cracked transmission housing - Install a new transmission housing |
| Mower Deck Troubleshooting |
| Excessive mower vibration |
| Clogged or damaged mower drive sheave - Clean or replace sheave |
| Drive belt is damaged or loose - Change belt or adjust belt tension |
| Cutting blades are bent or unbalanced - Replace or balance blades |
| Loose blade bolts tightening - Tighten bolts as required |
| Discharge chute regular clogging |
| Fast ground speed - Operate at slower speed |
| Grass is too long - Must be set to low cutting height |
| Engine rpm is too low - Choke is not fully opening |
| Cutting level is too low - Change cutting height adjustment |
| Incorrect mower drive belt installation - Check drive belt for correct installation |
| Grass patches are not cut |
| Cutting deck is clogged - Inspect and clean cutting deck |
| Excessive blade dullness - Need a blade sharpening |
| Worn or defective blades - Install new blades |
| Mowing speed is too high - Operate at slower speed |
| Low cutting height - Use a higher cutting height |
| Filled bagger - Bagger must be empty |
| Uneven or bumpy lawn - Lawn leveling required |
| Cutting height is too low - Use correct cutting height |
| High ground speed - Need to slow down |
| Deck is not leveled correctly - Adjust the level of mower deck correctly |
| Blades are worn or bent - Replace the blades |
| Incorrect tire pressure - Need to inflate tires |
| Mower deck to cut unevenly |
| Low tire pressure - Inflate tires correctly |
| Incorrectly leveled mower deck - Deck should be adjusted correctly |
| Blades are excessively dull - Blades need to be sharpened |
| Worn or defective blades - Blades need to be replaced |
| Discharge area is clogged - Clean mower deck as required |
| Damaged mower deck shell - Rebuild or replace mower deck |
| Loose or defective mower spindle - Change or repair the spindle |
| Electrical Troubleshooting |
| Battery does not charge |
| Electrical cable connections are loose or corroded - Service or tighten cable connections |
| Battery terminal clamps are faulty - Replace terminal clamps |
| Faulty cell in battery - Change the battery |
| Battery power is low - Battery is drained, charge it |
| Battery does not hold charge - Battery needs to be serviced or replaced |
| Battery cables are disconnected or terminals are faulty - Connect wiring correctly or install new terminals |
| Starter motor is not working |
| Battery is discharged or defective - Recharge or change battery |
| Battery cables are disconnected or improperly connected - Inspect cables and connect properly |
| Battery capacity is low - Recharge the battery |
| Improperly gapped or dirty spark plug - Clean and gap or replace |
| Starter motor or solenoid failing - Starter/solenoid should be replaced |
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| Lawn and Garden Tractors Technical Specs |
