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Home / Lawn and Garden Tractors / John Deere Lawn Tractors / John Deere LA115

John Deere LA115 Troubleshooting

The John Deere LA115 lawn tractor was manufactured from 2008 to 2010. The John Deere LA115 driveline system components: Briggs and Stratton 31P677 4-cycle single cylinder OHV vertical shaft air-cooled gasoline engine and Tuff Torq T40 belt-driven hydrostatic transmission with infinite forward and reverse gears.

A 30.6 cubic inches (501 cc) engine has a cylinder bore of 3.56" (91 mm), piston stroke of 3.06" (78 mm), and rated power of 19.5 hp (14.5 kW). Max. travel speed (forward/reverse): 5.5 mph (8.8 km/h) and 3.2 mph (5.1 km/h).

The lawn tractor is equipped with a manual steering system, disc brakes, 15x6.00-6 front tires, and 20x8.00-8 rear tires. The wheelbase is 49" (1240 mm). The John Deere LA115 is compatible with the following attachments: a 42" mid-mount 2-blade mower deck with manual lift and cutting height of 1.0-4.0 in (25-102 mm), 46" front-mount blade with lifting height of 6" (150 mm), and 44" front-mount dual-stage snow blower with clearing height of 18" (450 mm).

Engine Troubleshooting
Engine doesn't start or difficult to start
Empty gas tank - Add fuel
Low-quality gasoline - Change fuel
Dirt and debris in fuel system - Remove debris and dirt
Damaged spark plug wiring connection - Check the spark plug wire connection, repair or replace
Spark plug is damaged - Replace spark plug
Clogged fuel filter - Change fuel filter
Safety contact for brake pedal defective - Install new part
Incorrect carburetor adjustment - Adjust carburetor idle mixture screw
Low cylinder compression - Check cylinder block and replace worn parts
Not adjusted or damaged throttle cable - Change cable or adjust correctly
Engine runs roughly
Plugged cooling fins - Need to wash or clean
Ignition system failure - Check ignition and replace faulty components
Choke cable is stuck or defective - Service or change the cable
Air filter element is clogged - Clean or replace air filter
Dirty or defective fuel pump - Clean or install new fuel pump
Engine starts and stalls suddenly
Damaged spark plug - Install new spark plug
Dirty or defective carburetor - Carburetor needs to be replaced or cleaned
Faulty ignition coil - Ignition coil must be replaced
Valve springs are loose or broken - Change valve springs
Valves sticking - Valves must be cleaned
Engine overheats
Engine oil level is insufficient - Fill up the engine oil
Engine is under excessive load - Reduce load
Cooling fins are clogged - Wash or clean as required
Carburetor mixture is too lean - Make the correct settings
Incorrect ignition timing - Adjust ignition timing correctly
Valve setting is wrong - Adjust valves correctly
Engine knocking or noise
Stale or low octane fuel - Change fuel
Engine overloaded - Load reducing required
Engine oil level is low - Check and refill engine oil
Low idle speed set incorrectly - Adjustment required
Dirty or defective fuel pump - Check fuel pump and replace if necessary
Main bearings or crankshaft failure - Need to install new components
Valve clearance is incorrect - Adjustment procedure required
Damaged cylinder bore or piston rings - Replace defective components
Engine power is insufficient
Carburetor is improperly adjusted or clogged - Carburetor needs to be adjusted correctly or cleaned
Air filter element is clogged - Clean or change air filter
Dirty or faulty fuel pump - Inspect fuel pump and change as required
Ignition failure - Test ignition and replace failed parts
Worn cylinder head gasket - Change cylinder head gasket
Stuck or burned valves - Replace or clean valves
Bent or worn push rod - Change push rod
Worn cylinder block components - Replace defective components
Excessive fuel consumption
Insufficient choke opening - Inspect choke cable and adjust as required
Carburetor main jet is improperly adjusted - Adjust main jet as required
Defective or loose spark plug - Re-tighten or change the spark plug
Valves are worn, burned or stuck - Change or service valves
Rings, sleeve, or piston are damaged - Replace faulty components as required
Excessive valve clearance - Adjust valve clearance according to specifications
Excessive oil consumption
Damaged seals or gaskets - Worn parts need to be replaced
Valve stems or guides are damaged - Valves need to be changed
Stuck or defective piston rings - Change the piston rings as required
Piston or cylinder liner is worn - Inspect piston and liner, replace as required
Plugged breather pipe or hose - Change or service

Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting
HST transmission noise
Speed control pedal linkage is bent or not adjusted - Replace or adjust linkage
Transmission is under excessive load - Reduce transmission load
Fluid is contaminated or fluid level is insufficient - Top up to proper level or change transmission fluid
Damaged or worn components of hydrostatic transmission - Change or repair defective parts
Difficult to shift
Corroded or worn shift linkage - Lubricate or change linkage
Hydrostatic pump is stuck or worn - Change or repair pump
Transmission shift control components are defective or misadjusted - Change or adjust correctly
Power is insufficient
Low oil level - Fill up the transmission oil
Worn or defective drive pulley - Replace pulley
Unadjusted or broken shift linkage - Adjust properly or change linkage
Speed control pedal linkage is bent or not adjusted - Replace or adjust linkage
Transmission leaking
Worn transmission seals or gaskets - Change seals or gaskets
Final drive shaft leaks - Replace shaft seals
Transmission case is cracked - Replace defective case or transmission assembly

Mower Deck Troubleshooting
Mower vibrates excessively
Clogged or damaged mower drive sheave - Change or clean sheave
Loose or damaged drive belt - Adjust belt tension or install a new belt
Mower blades are unbalanced or bent - Balance or change as needed
Loose blade mounting bolts - Tighten it fast
Constant clogging of discharge chute
High ground speed - Operate at slower speed
Tall grass - Must be set to low cutting height
Low engine speeds - Open throttle fully
Cutting level is too low - Change cutting height adjustment
Mower drive belt installation is improper - Install drive belt correctly
Grass patches are not cut
Mower deck is clogged - Inspect and clean cutting deck
Blades are excessively dull - Need to sharpen the blades
Damaged or worn blades - Blades need to be replaced
Mowing speed is too high - Select a slower speed
Cutting height is too low - Change cutting height adjustment
Bagger is overfilled - Clean bagger
Blade scalped grass
Bumpy or not smooth lawn - Lawn needs to be leveled
Mower deck set to low cutting - Use correct cutting height
High mowing speed - Operate at slower speed
Deck is not leveled correctly - Adjust mower deck level properly
Blades are bent or worn - Blades need to be replaced
Tires are not properly inflated - Need to inflate tires
Mower cuts uneven
Tires are not correctly inflated - Need to inflate tires
Incorrect level of mower deck - Adjust mower deck level properly
Blades are not sharp - Need a blade sharpening
Damaged or worn blades - Blades must be changed
Clogged mower deck - Check cutting deck and clean as necessary
Deck shell is broken - Repair or change the deck
Mower spindle is bent or loose - Spindle needs to be repaired or replaced

Electrical Troubleshooting
Battery is not charging
Electrical wire connections are corroded or loose Tighten or clean connections
Battery terminal clamps are faulty - Replace terminal clamps
Worn-out battery - Battery replacement required
Starter motor turns slow
Low battery voltage - Battery is drained, charge it
Battery is not holding charge - Service battery or change it
Disconnected battery cables or bad terminals - Check cables and clean or change terminals
Starter will not work
Battery is discharged or worn - Need to charge or replace the battery
Battery cables are disconnected or incorrectly connected - Check cables and connect as needed
Low battery output - Battery is drained, charge it
Spark plug gapped improperly or faulty - Replace or clean and gap
Solenoid or starter motor is faulty - Repair starter or replace solenoid

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