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Craftsman T1200 Troubleshooting
The
Craftsman T1200 two-wheel drive lawn tractor was manufactured by MTD built from
2015 to 2020. The components of Craftsman T1200 powerline system: 25.6 cubic
inches (420 cc) Zongshen 4P90HU 4-cycle single cylinder 2-valve vertical shaft
air-cooled gasoline engine and mechanical CVT transmission with infinite forward
and reverse gears.
The engine has a float carburetor, splash lubrication system, and
electronic ignition system. The maximum travel speed (forward/reverse):
5.5 mph (8.8 km/h) and 2.3 mph (3.7 km/h).
The Craftsman T1200 lawn tractor is equipped with a manual steering
system, mechanical disc brakes, 15x6.00-6 front tires, and 20x8.00-8
rear tires. The wheelbase is 31 inches (780 mm). The tractor is
compatible with a 42" mid-mount 2-blade mower deck with a cutting height
of 1.5-4.0" (37-100 mm) and manual lifting system.
| Engine Troubleshooting |
| Engine starts up hard or will not start |
| No gasoline in tank - Add fuel |
| Incorrect fuel grade - Change fuel |
| Air in the fuel lines - Bleed the fuel lines |
| Defective spark plug wire connection - Check spark plug wiring connection, repair or change |
| Spark plug is defective - Change spark plug as required |
| Dirty fuel filter - Replace fuel filter |
| Safety contact for brake pedal defective - Install new part |
| Problems with carburetor adjustment - Adjust as required |
| Low engine compression - Inspect cylinder block and change defective components |
| Unadjusted or worn throttle cable - Change cable or adjust correctly |
| Air intake screen is plugged - Need to wash or clean |
| Ignition system failure - Inspect ignition system and change faulty parts |
| Throttle cable is stuck or defective - Replace or clean the cable |
| Dirty air filter element - Clean or change air filter |
| Dirty or faulty fuel pump - Service or replace fuel pump |
| Engine starts and then stalls |
| Spark plug is faulty - Install new spark plug |
| Defective or clogged carburetor - Service or repair carburetor |
| Faulty ignition coil - Replace ignition coil as necessary |
| Valve springs are damaged or weak - Install new valve springs |
| Stuck valves - Valves must be cleaned |
| Not enough engine oil - Fill the crankcase with engine oil |
| Engine is under excessive load - Load reducing required |
| Plugged cooling fins - Clean and wash as required |
| Carburetor is running lean - Use proper settings |
| Ignition timing is improper - Set the ignition timing correctly |
| Wrong valve setting - Set the valves properly |
| Stale or low octane fuel - Change fuel |
| Engine overload - Load reducing is recommended |
| Engine oil level is low - Checking oil level and add if necessary |
| Incorrectly set low idle speed - Adjust the low idle speed |
| Dirty or faulty fuel pump - Service or change fuel pump |
| Crankshaft or main bearings wear - Change defective components as required |
| Valve clearance is not correct - Need to adjust valve clearance |
| Worn cylinder bore or piston rings - Replace faulty components |
| Carburetor is dirty or improperly adjusted - Service or properly adjust carburetor |
| Air filter element is plugged - Change or service air filter |
| Fuel pump is faulty or clogged - Service or change fuel pump |
| Ignition system is defective - Inspect ignition system and change faulty parts |
| Worn cylinder head gasket - Cylinder-head gasket replacement required |
| Burned or stuck valves - Service or replace valves |
| Worn or defective push rod - Install a new push rod |
| Faulty cylinder block parts - Change defective components |
| Insufficient throttle opening - Adjust or replace throttle cable |
| Carburetor main jet adjustment is improper - Adjust it correctly |
| Faulty or loose spark plug - Tighten or change the spark plug |
| Valves are stuck, burned, or worn - Replace or clean valves |
| Rings, sleeve, or piston are damaged - Replace defective components as required |
| Improper valve clearance - Adjustment procedure required |
| High engine oil consumption |
| Defective seals or gaskets - Worn parts need to be replaced |
| Damaged valve stems or valve guides - Valves need to be changed |
| Piston rings are defective or worn - Change the piston rings as required |
| Worn piston or cylinder liner - Check liner and piston, change as required |
| Clogged breather pipe or hose - Change or clean |
| Transmission Troubleshooting |
| Hard shifting |
| Worn or rusty gear shift linkage - Install new shift linkage |
| Shift forks are bent or worn out - Change the shift forks |
| Faulty gear shifting mechanism - Faulty parts must be changed |
| Transmission is excessively noisy |
| Low oil level - Check transmission oil level and add oil as required |
| Transmission oil contamination - Change the oil |
| Worn bearings or gears - Install new bearings or gears |
| Transmission jumps out of gear |
| Improperly installed or bent gear shift lever - Replace or install shift lever correctly |
| Damaged or worn gears - Change defective gears |
| Worn shift forks or shift rods - Replace damaged rods or forks |
| Drive shaft/belt is incorrectly adjusted or worn - Install a new shaft/belt or adjust it |
| Incorrect clutch/brake adjustment or worn clutch/brake - Install a new brake/clutch or adjust it |
| Drive sheave is worn or faulty - Change sheave |
| Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting |
| Hydrostatic transmission is making noise |
| Worn or out of adjustment speed control linkage - Adjust or install new linkage |
| Excessive transmission load - The load should be reduced |
| Transmission fluid is dirty or fluid level is too low - Add fluid to the correct level or fill the transmission with fresh fluid |
| Transmission parts are worm or defective - Replace or repair defective components |
| Corroded or worn shift linkage - Lubricate or change linkage |
| Hydrostatic pump is stuck or worn - Change or repair pump |
| Faulty or misadjusted transmission shift control parts - Adjust properly or change |
| Insufficient transmission fluid - Fill the transmission housing to proper fluid level |
| Defective or worn drive sheave - Change sheave |
| Shifting linkage is broken or misadjusted - Adjust correctly or change linkage |
| Worn or out of adjustment speed control linkage - Replace or adjust linkage |
| Damaged transmission seals or gaskets - Install new gaskets or seals |
| Leaking final drive shaft - Install new shaft seals |
| Transmission case is cracked - Install a new transmission case |
| Mower Deck Troubleshooting |
| Mower vibrates too much |
| Damaged or clogged mower drive pulley - Replace or service pulley |
| Loose or damaged drive belt - Adjust belt tension or change the belt |
| Cutting blades are bent or unbalanced - Replace or balance blades |
| Loose blade bolts tightening - Bolts need to be tightened |
| Discharge chute is regularly plugged |
| High mowing speed - Need to slow down |
| Grass is too long - Must be set to low cutting height |
| Low engine speeds - Choke is not fully opening |
| Mower deck set to low cutting - Must be set to high cutting height |
| Drive belt installed improperly - Drive belt must be installed correctly |
| Grass patches are not cut |
| Discharge area is clogged - Check cutting deck and clean as necessary |
| Excessive blade dullness - Need to sharpen the blades |
| Damaged or worn blades - Blades need to be replaced |
| Fast ground speed - Need to slow down |
| Cutting level is too low - Use a higher cutting height |
| Grass bag is full - Clean grass bag |
| Bumpy or unleveled lawn - Lawn needs to be leveled |
| Mower deck set to low cutting - Change cutting height adjustment |
| High mowing speed - Need to slow down |
| Deck level is not correct - Level the deck properly |
| Worn or bent blades - Blades need to be replaced |
| Tires are not correctly inflated - Check and inflate the tires |
| Mower deck to cut unevenly |
| Tires are not correctly inflated - Correct tire pressure |
| Improper mower deck level - Adjust mower deck level properly |
| Blades are not sharp - Sharpen the blades |
| Bent or worn blades - Change the blades |
| Discharge chute is plugged - Check cutting deck and clean as necessary |
| Damaged mower deck housing - Replace or repair the deck |
| Loose or faulty mower spindle - Repair or replace the spindle |
| Electrical Troubleshooting |
| Battery is not charging |
| Wiring connections are loose or corroded - Clean or tighten wiring connections |
| Battery terminal clamps are defective - Change terminal clamps |
| Defective battery - Replace the battery |
| Battery capacity is low - Battery is drained, recharge it |
| Battery is draining quickly - Service charging system or change battery |
| Disconnected cables or faulty battery terminals - Connect wires properly or change terminals |
| Battery is low or faulty - Recharge or replace battery |
| Battery wires are disconnected or incorrectly connected - Check wires and connect correctly |
| Battery power is low - Battery is drained, charge it |
| Spark plug worn or incorrectly gapped - Clean, gap or replace spark plug |
| Starter motor or solenoid is defective - Change solenoid or repair starter |
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| Lawn and Garden Tractors Technical Specs |
