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Home / Lawn and Garden Tractors / John Deere Lawn Tractors / John Deere L118

John Deere L118 Troubleshooting

The John Deere L118 is a L100 series lawn tractor. This model was manufactured from 2004 to 2005. The John Deere L118 tractor is powered by Briggs and Stratton 406777 4-cycle V-twin cylinder OHV vertical-shaft air-cooled gasoline engine with operating power of 20 Hp (15.4 kW), or Briggs and Stratton 407777 4-cycle 2-cylinder OHV vertical-shaft air-cooled gasoline engine with rated power of 22 Hp (16.4 kW).

The JD L118 model is fitted with Tuff Torq T40 belt-driven hydrostatic transmission with infinite forward and reverse gears. The maximum forward speed - 5.5 mph (8.8 km/h), max. reverse speed - 3.2 mph (5.1 km/h). The John Deere L118 is equipped with a manual steering system, disc brakes, 15x6.00-6 front tires, and 20x10.00-8 rear tires. The wheelbase is 49 in (1240 mm).

The tractor is compatible with the following attachments: a 42" mid-mount 2-blade mower deck with cutting height of 1.0-4.0" (25-102 mm) and manual lift system, 42" front-mount dual-stage snow blower with clearing height of 21" (530 mm) and mechanical lift.

Engine Troubleshooting
Engine starts up hard or won't start
Empty gas tank - Add fuel
Low-quality gasoline - Use correct fuel grade
Air trapped in fuel system - Bleed air
Faulty spark plug wire connection - Inspect spark plug wiring connection, change or repair
Defective spark plug - Change spark plug
Fuel filter is plugged - Fuel filter needs to be replaced
Defective safety switch - Replace if required
Carburetor is dirty - Wash, clean and adjust
Weak cylinder compression - Inspect cylinder block and change worn parts
Incorrectly adjusted or damaged throttle cable - Adjust properly or change the cable
Irregular engine running
Plugged cooling fins - Need to clean or wash
Ignition failure - Check ignition and replace faulty components
Defective or stuck choke cable - Change or service the cable
Plugged air filter - Change or service air filter
Fuel pump is clogged or faulty - Check fuel pump and change if required
Engine starts but then stalls
Spark plug is faulty - Change spark plug as required
Faulty or clogged carburetor - Service or change carburetor
Ignition coil is not working - Install a new ignition coil
Valve springs are weak or broken - Valve springs need to be changed
Valves sticking - Service the valves
Engine overheated
Engine oil insufficient - Fill up the oil to required level
Engine is overloaded - Load reducing required
Air intake grill is clogged - Need to clean or wash
Carburetor mixture is too lean - Adjust carburetor properly
Ignition timing is improper - Set the ignition timing correctly
Incorrect valve setting - Adjust valves as required
Abnormal engine noise or knocking
Stale fuel - Use proper gasoline
Engine is running overloaded - Reduce engine load
Lack of engine oil - Fill up the engine oil
Incorrectly set low idle speed - Adjust the low idle speed
Dirty or defective fuel pump - Inspect fuel pump and change as required
Main bearings or crankshaft failure - Worn parts replacement required
Valve clearance is incorrect - Adjustment procedure required
Worn cylinder bore or piston rings - Replace defective parts
Low engine power
Carburetor is improperly adjusted or clogged - Service or correctly adjust carburetor
Air filter is blocked - Change or service air filter
Fuel pump is dirty or defective - Check fuel pump and replace if necessary
Ignition system is defective - Check ignition and replace faulty components
Damaged cylinder-head gasket - Cylinder-head gasket replacement required
Valves are stuck or burned - Service or replace valves
Push rod is bent or worn - Push rod should be replaced
Cylinder block parts are faulty - Defective components need to be replaced
Engine using too much gasoline
Throttle is not fully open - Change or adjust throttle cable
Improper carburetor main jet adjustment - Adjust it properly
Defective or loose spark plug - Tighten or replace spark plug
Stuck, worn, or burned valves - Change or clean valves
Rings, sleeve, or piston are damaged - Change defective parts
Valve clearance is improper - Check and adjust
Excessive oil consumption
Gaskets or seals can be faulty - Replace to repair leaks
Damaged valve stems or valve guides - Replace the valves
Seized or wear piston rings - Change the piston rings as required
Worn cylinder liner or piston - Check piston and liner, replace as required
Breather hose or pipe is blocked - Replace or service

Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting
HST transmission makes noise
Speed control linkage is worn or unadjusted - Adjust or replace linkage
Transmission overloaded - Reduce the load is required
Oil is dirty or oil level is too low - Fill to required level or change the transmission oil
Transmission components are damaged or worn - Check internal transmission parts and replace if required
Hard to shift
Stuck or damaged gshift linkage - Replace or repair the linkage
Stuck or defective hydrostatic pump - Change or repair pump
Transmission shift control parts are faulty or unadjusted - Replace or adjust as required
Lack of power
Lack of transmission fluid - Checking transmission fluid level and add if necessary
Drive pulley is worn or faulty - Install a new pulley
Damaged or misadjusted shifter linkage - Adjust correctly or replace linkage
Speed control linkage is worn or unadjusted - Change or adjust linkage
Transmission leaks
Transmission gaskets or seals are damaged - Seals and gaskets need to be replaced
Leaking final drive shaft - Replace shaft seals
Transmission housing is cracked - Replace damage housing or transmission assembly

Mower Deck Troubleshooting
Excessive mower vibration
Worn or dirty mower drive pulley - Service or change pulley
Worn or loose drive belt - Adjust belt tension or change the belt
Cutting blades are bent or unbalanced - Replace or balance blades
Blade bolts are not tightened well - Bolts need to be tightened
Constant clogging of discharge chute
Mowing speed is too high - Select a slower speed
Grass is too high - Need to set low cutting height
Reduced engine speeds - Adjust throttle to full opening
Cutting height is too low - Adjust mower to higher cutting height
Drive belt installed improperly - Reinstall drive belt properly
Uncut grass when mowing
Deck is plugged with grass - Mower deck needs to be cleaned
Excessive blade dullness - Need a blade sharpening
Worn or damaged blades - Blades must be changed
Mowing speed is too high - Use a lower speed
Low cutting height - Change cutting height adjustment
Filled bagger - Remove grass from bagger
Blade scalped grass
Lawn is uneven or bumpy - Lawn needs to be leveled
Cutting level is too low - Use correct cutting height
High ground speed - Use a slower speed
Incorrectly leveled mower deck - Adjust the level of mower deck correctly
Worn or bent blades - Blades must be changed
Low tire pressure - Correct tire pressure
Uneven cutting
Tires are not correctly inflated - Need to inflate tires
Improper mower deck level - Deck should be adjusted correctly
Not sharp blades - Sharpen the blades
Bent or worn blades - Blades need to be replaced
Clogged mower deck - Check cutting deck and clean as necessary
Deck housing is broken - Repair or change the deck
Mower spindle is loose or defective - Repair or change the spindle

Electrical Troubleshooting
Battery will not charge
Loose or corroded wire connections - Tighten or service cable connections
Defective electrical terminal connectors - Change terminal connectors
Worn-out battery - Battery change required
Starter turns slowly
Low battery voltage - Battery is drained, recharge it
Battery is draining quickly - Battery needs to be serviced or replaced
Disconnected wires or corroded battery terminals - Check cables and service or change terminals
Starter will not crank
Battery is discharged or defective - Recharge or replace battery
Battery cables are disconnected or incorrectly connected - Check cables and connect as needed
Low battery output voltage - Charge the battery
Improperly gapped or dirty spark plug - Clean, gap or change spark plug
Solenoid or starter motor is faulty - Repair starter or replace solenoid

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