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Home / Lawn and Garden Tractors / John Deere Lawn Tractors / John Deere LA135

John Deere LA135 Troubleshooting

The John Deere LA135 is a 2-wheel drive lawn tractor from LA105 series. This model was manufactured between 2008 and 2010.

The components of John Deere LA135 powerline system: 40 cu.in (656 cc) Briggs and Stratton 407777 4-cycle 2-cylinder OHV vertical-shaft air-cooled gasoline engine with a rated power of 22 hp (16.4 kW), and Tuff Torq T40 belt-driven hydrostatic transmission with infinite forward and reverse gears. Max. forward speed - 5.5 mph (8.8 kph), maximum reverse speed - 3.2 mph (5.1 kph).

The tractor is equipped with a manual steering system, disc brakes, 15x6.00-6 front tires, and 20x10.00-8 rear tires. The wheelbase is 49" (1240 mm). The John Deere LA135 is compatible with the following attachments: a 42" mid-mount 2-blade mower deck with manual lifting system and cutting height of 1.0-4.0 inches (25-102 mm), 46" front blade with lift height of 6" (150 mm), or 44" front-mount two-stage snow blower with clearing height of 18" (450 mm).

Engine Troubleshooting
Engine starts hard or will not start
Fuel tank is empty - Fill it up
Improper fuel grade - Change gasoline
Fuel system clogged - Repair or replace
Spark plug wire is disconnected or loose - Check the spark plug wire connection, repair or replace
Spark plug is defective - Change spark plug as required
Clogged fuel filter - Install new filter
Brake pedal not depressed - Press the brake pedal
Carburetor problems - Carburetor diagnostics required
Engine has low compression - Check cylinder block and replace defective parts
Worn or improperly adjusted choke cable - Adjust properly or replace the cable
Engine runs unevenly
Air intake screen is plugged - Need to wash or clean
Ignition system malfunction - Test ignition and replace failed parts
Stuck or defective throttle cable - Change or clean the cable
Dirty air filter element - Replace or clean air filter
Fuel pump is faulty or clogged - Test fuel pump and change if necessary
Engine starts and stops immediately
Faulty spark plug - Change spark plug as required
Defective or dirty carburetor - Service or change carburetor
Damaged ignition coil - Replace ignition coil as necessary
Broken or loose valve springs - Install new valve springs
Stuck valves - Service the valves
Engine overheats
Lack of engine oil - Checking oil level and add if necessary
Engine is under excessive load - Reduce the load
Cooling fins are plugged - Need to wash or clean
Carburetor fuel mixture is too lean - Set the carburetor correctly
Ignition timing is improper - Adjust ignition timing as required
Valve setting is incorrect - Set the valves properly
Abnormal engine noise or knocking
Low octane fuel - Use proper gasoline
Engine overload - Reduce load
Low engine oil level - Need to add engine oil
Low idle speed adjustment is incorrect - Test and adjust
Dirty or faulty fuel pump - Clean or change fuel pump
Worn main bearings or crankshaft - Have bearings or crankshaft replaced
Valve clearance is improper - Need to adjust valve clearance
Piston rings or cylinder bore are worn - Replace defective parts
Engine power is insufficient
Incorrectly adjusted or dirty carburetor - Service or correctly adjust carburetor
Dirty air filter element - Service or replace air filter
Fuel pump is faulty or clogged - Service or replace fuel pump
Defective ignition - Check ignition and replace faulty components
Blown cylinder head gasket - Replace the gasket as required
Valves are stuck or burned - Replace or clean valves
Push rod is worn or bent - Install a new push rod
Cylinder block parts are worn out - Change defective components
Excessive fuel consumption
Insufficient throttle opening - Adjust or replace throttle cable
Incorrect adjustment of carburetor main jet - Adjust it correctly
Spark plug is defective or loose - Spark plug need to be tightened or replaced
Valves are worn, burned or stuck - Clean or replace valves
Worn piston, rings, or sleeve - Replace faulty components
Improper valve clearance - Need to adjust valve clearance
Engine consuming too much oil
Defective seals or gaskets - New components need to be installed
Damaged valve guides or valve stems - Install new valves
Seized or wear piston rings - Piston rings need to be replaced
Piston or cylinder liner is scored - Check liner and piston, change as required
Breather hose or pipe is blocked - Change or clean


Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting
Hydrostatic transmission is making noise
Speed control linkage is defective or unadjusted - Adjust or repair linkage
Transmission overload - Load needs to be reduced
Insufficient oil level or contaminated oil - Fill to required level or change the transmission oil
Damaged or worn components of transmission - After disassembly and inspection, replace defective components
Shifting is hard
Shift linkage is stuck or damaged - Clean or change linkage
Hydrostatic pump is stuck or worn - Repair or replace pump
Misadjusted or faulty transmission shift control components - Adjust properly or change
Loss of power
Insufficient transmission oil - Fill the transmission housing to proper oil level
Faulty or worn drive sheave - Change sheave
Shift linkage is damaged or unadjusted - Adjust properly or change linkage
Speed control linkage is worn or unadjusted - Repair or adjust linkage
Transmission leaks
Transmission gaskets or seals are damaged - Seals and gaskets need to be replaced
Final drive shaft leakage - Replace shaft seals
Transmission case is cracked - Install a new transmission case

Mower Deck Troubleshooting
Mower vibrates excessively
Drive sheave of mower deck is dirty or worn - Clean or change sheave
Damaged or loose drive belt - Change belt or adjust belt tension
Bent or unbalanced cutting blades - Balance blades or replace it
Blade bolts are not tightened well - Tighten bolts as required
Discharge chute is regularly plugged
Mowing speed is too high - Need to slow down
Long grass - Must be set to low cutting height
Low engine speeds - Throttle is not fully open
Mower deck set to low cutting - Use correct cutting height
Incorrect mower drive belt installation - Check drive belt for correct installation
Patches of grass uncut
Mower deck is clogged - Mower deck needs to be cleaned
Blades are too dull - Sharpen the blades
Worn or damaged blades - Install new blades
High ground speed - Need to slow down
Cutting level is too low - Use correct cutting height
Filled bagger - Clean bagger
Blades scalping grass
Bumpy or not smooth lawn - Roll or level the lawn
Mower cuts too low - Raise the cutting height
Ground speed is too fast - Operate at slower speed
Deck level is not correct - Adjust mower deck level properly
Blades are bent or worn - Blades must be changed
Low tire inflation - Inflate tires correctly
Uneven cutting
Tire pressure is too low - Need to inflate tires
Improperly leveled mower deck - Level the deck properly
Blades are not sharp - Sharpen the blades
Worn or defective blades - Install new blades
Deck is plugged with grass - Need to clean the mower deck
Damaged mower deck shell - Replace or rebuild mower deck
Mower spindle is faulty or loose - Install new spindle or repair it

Electrical Troubleshooting
Battery cannot be charged
Loose or corroded cable connections - Tighten or clean electrical wiring connections
Faulty battery terminal connectors - Terminal connectors need to be changed
Dead cell in battery - Use a new battery
Starter turning slow
Low battery capacity - Low battery charging, charge as required
Battery discharges quickly - Service or change the battery
Faulty battery terminals or disconnected cables - Connect wiring correctly or install new terminals
Starter will not crank
Battery is low or faulty - Battery needs to be recharged or replaced
Battery wiring is disconnected or improperly connected - Inspect wiring and connect as required
Battery power is low - Low battery charging, charge as required
Spark plug gapped improperly or faulty - Clean and gap or replace
Solenoid or starter motor failure - Repair starter or replace solenoid

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