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Home / Lawn and Garden Tractors / Craftsman Lawn Tractors / Craftsman T1600

Craftsman T1600 Troubleshooting

The Craftsman T1600 is a T1000 series lawn tractor. This model was manufactured by MTD built from 2014 to 2019. The components of Craftsman T1600 powerline system: Briggs and Stratton 4-cycle vertical-shaft single cylinder air-cooled gasoline engine and MTD AutoDrive belt-driven variator transmission with infinite forward and revers gears.

A 32.9 cubic inches (540 cc) engine has a cylinder bore of 3.7" (94 mm), piston stroke of 3.06" (78 mm), and rated power of 19 hp (14.2 kW). The maximum forward speed - 5.5 mph (8.8 kph), max. reverse speed - 2.3 mph (3.7 kph).

The Craftsman T1600 lawn tractor is fitted with 15x6.00-6 front tires and 20x8.00-8 rear tires. The wheelbase is 31 in (780 mm). The tractor is compatible with a 46" mid-mount 2-blade mower deck with a cutting height of 1.5-4.0 in (37-100 mm) and manual lift system.

Engine Troubleshooting
Engine doesn't start or hard to start
Fuel tank is empty - Add gasoline
Low-quality gasoline - Use correct fuel grade
Air trapped in fuel system - Bleed air
Faulty spark plug wire connection - Check the spark plug wire connection, repair or replace
Spark plug is faulty - Change spark plug
Plugged fuel filter - Fuel filter needs to be replaced
Faulty safety switch - Change damaged switch
Carburetor settings incorrect - Adjusting as required
Bad compression - Check and change damaged parts
Choke cable is damaged or not adjusted properly - Change cable or adjust properly
Engine runs intermittently
Clogged cooling fins - Wash or clean as required
Defective ignition system - Check ignition and replace faulty components
Throttle cable is defective or stuck - Change or clean the cable
Air filter is blocked - Clean or change air filter
Fuel pump is faulty or clogged - Check fuel pump and replace if necessary
Engine starts but immediately stops
Faulty spark plug - Spark plug need to be replaced
Carburetor is clogged or faulty - Clean or install new carburetor
Damaged ignition coil - Change ignition coil as required
Loose or worn valve springs - Change valve springs
Valves sticking - Service the valves
Engine overheating
Engine oil level is low - Check oil level and add oil as required
Engine is overloaded - Reduce load
Cooling fins are clogged - Need to clean or wash
Carburetor fuel mixture is too lean - Adjust carburetor correctly
Incorrect ignition timing - Adjust ignition timing as required
Incorrect valve setting - Valves needs to be adjusted properly
Engine knocking sound or abnormal noise
Low octane fuel - Use correct fuel
Engine is under excessive load - Reduce the load
Low engine oil level - Check and refill engine oil
Too low idle RPM - Correct the settings
Clogged or damaged fuel pump - Clean or install new fuel pump
Worn main bearings or crankshaft - Replace crankshaft or bearings
Excessive valve clearance - Adjustment procedure required
Damaged piston rings or cylinder bore - Change faulty components
Engine loses power
Carburetor is incorrectly adjusted or clogged - Adjust the carburetor properly or clean it
Plugged air filter - Clean or replace air filter
Fuel pump is dirty or defective - Check fuel pump and change if required
Ignition failure - Test ignition and replace failed parts
Damaged cylinder-head gasket - Replace the head gasket
Burned or stuck valves - Service or change valves
Bent or worn push rod - Push rod should be replaced
Worn cylinder block components - Defective parts need to be replaced
Excessive fuel consumption
Choke did not open fully - Change or adjust choke cable
Carburetor main jet is improperly adjusted - Adjust main jet as required
Spark plug is loose or faulty - Replace or tighten spark plug
Valves are worn, burned or stuck - Clean or replace valves
Worn piston, rings, or sleeve - Change defective components
Valve clearance is not correct - Check and adjust
High oil consumption
Gaskets or seals can be faulty - Defective components must be replaced
Worn valve guides and valve stems - Valves need to be changed
Worn or stuck piston rings - Piston rings need to be replaced
Piston or cylinder liner is worn - Check piston and liner, install new parts as required
Blocked breather hose or pipe - Service or replace

Transmission Troubleshooting
Hard to shift gears
Rusty or worn gear shift linkage - Install a new gear shift linkage
Damaged or worn shift forks - Install new shift forks
Gearshift mechanism is worn out - Repair or replace worn components if required
Transmission makes noise
Transmission oil level is low - Fill the transmission housing to proper oil level
Dirty transmission fluid - The fluid must be changed
Bearings or gears are damaged - Install new gears or bearings
Transmission pops out of gear
Shifting lever is incorrectly installed or bent - Reinstall the lever correctly or change it
Gear teeth are worn or damaged - Change gears
Shift forks or shift rods are worn - Replace defective rods or forks
Transmission slipping
Drive shaft/belt is worn or incorrectly adjusted - Change belt/shaft or adjust it
Improper clutch/brake adjustment or faulty clutch/brake - Change clutch/brake or adjust it
Drive pulley is defective or worn - Change pulley

Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting
HST transmission makes noise
Worn or out of adjustment speed control linkage - Change or adjust linkage
Transmission overload - Reduce loading
Low transmission oil level or contaminated oil - Add oil to proper level or pour fresh transmission oil
Worn or defective parts of the hydrostatic transmission - After disassembly and inspection, replace defective components
Hard shifting
Shift linkage is stuck or damaged - Clean or change linkage
Faulty or blocked hydrostatic pump - Change or repair pump
Defective or unadjusted transmission shift control components - Adjust correctly or replace
Lack of power
Transmission fluid level is low - Checking transmission fluid level and add if necessary
Drive pulley is defective or worn - Install a new pulley
Unadjusted or broken shift linkage - Adjust correctly or replace linkage
Worn or out of adjustment speed control linkage - Repair or adjust linkage
Transmission leaking
Transmission gaskets or seals are damaged - Install new seals or gaskets
Final drive shaft leaks - Shaft seals need to be changed
Cracked transmission housing - Install a new transmission housing

Mower Deck Troubleshooting
Mower vibration is excessive
Mower deck drive sheave is clogged or worn - Clean or replace sheave
Loose or defective drive belt - Change belt or adjust belt tension
Not balanced or bent mower blades - Balance or change as needed
Loose blade bolts tightening - Tighten it fast
Discharge chute regular clogging
Ground speed is too fast - Use a slower speed
Grass is too long - Must be set to low cutting height
Engine rpm is too low - Adjust choke to full opening
Cutting level is too low - Adjust mower to higher cutting height
Drive belt installation is not correct - Reinstall drive belt properly
Lawn mower leaving uncut grass
Mower deck is clogged - Need to clean the mower deck
Blades are too dull - Need to sharpen the blades
Blades are worn or damaged - Change the blades
Ground speed is too fast - Select a slower speed
Cutting level is too low - Need to set high cutting height
Grass bag is overfilled - Clean grass bag
Blades are scalping the grass
Uneven or bumpy lawn - Level the lawn
Mower deck cutting height is set too low - Adjust mower to higher cutting height
Fast ground speed - Select a lower speed
Incorrect level of mower deck - Level the deck correctly
Damaged or bent blades - Change the blades
Low tire pressure - Need to inflate tires
Mower cuts uneven
Tire pressure is too low - Inflate tires correctly
Deck is not leveled correctly - Level the deck correctly
Blades are too dull - Blades need to be sharpened
Blades are worn or damaged - Install new blades
Deck is plugged with grass - Clean mower deck as required
Deck shell is damaged - Replace or rebuild mower deck
Bent or loose mower spindle - Replace or repair the spindle

Electrical Troubleshooting
Battery does not charge
Corroded or loose cable connections - Service or tighten cable connections
Faulty battery terminal clamps - Terminal clamps need to be replaced
Worn-out battery - Battery replacement required
Starter motor turns slow
Low battery output voltage - Charge the battery
Battery is not holding charge - Service battery or replace it
Disconnected wiring or bad battery terminals - Connect wiring properly or install new terminals
Starter motor is not working
Battery is drained or worn - Recharge or replace battery
Battery cables are disconnected or incorrectly connected - Check cables and connect as needed
Battery capacity is low - Battery needs to be recharged
Spark plug gapped improperly or faulty - Replace or clean and gap
Solenoid or starter motor is faulty - Starter/solenoid needs to be replaced

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