________________________________________________________________________________________

Home / Lawn and Garden Tractors / John Deere Lawn Tractors / John Deere LA145

John Deere LA145 Troubleshooting

The John Deere LA145 is a LA105 series lawn tractor. This model was manufactured from 2008 to 2010. The John Deere LA145 powerline system components: Briggs and Stratton 407777 4-cycle V-twin OHV vertical-shaft air-cooled gasoline engine and Tuff Torq T40 belt-driven hydrostatic transmission with infinite forward and reverse gears.

A 40 cubic inches (656 cc) engine has a cylinder bore of 2.97" (75 mm), piston stroke of 2.89" (73 mm), and rated power of 22 hp (16.4 kW). The maximum forward speed - 5.5 mph (8.8 kph), max. reverse speed - 3.2 mph (5.1 kph). The John Deere LA145 was equipped with a manual steering system, wet disc brakes, 15x6.00-6 front tires, and 20x10.00-8 rear tires. The wheelbase is 49" (1240 mm).

Compatible attachments for the tractor: a 48" mid-mount 3-blade mower deck with cutting height of 1.0-4.0 in (25-102 mm) and manual lift system, 44" front-mount 2-stage snowblower, and 46" front-mount blade with lift height of 6" (150 mm).

Engine Troubleshooting
Engine starts up hard or will not start
No gasoline in tank - Fill gasoline up
Improper fuel grade - Use quality fuel
Fuel system clogged - Repair or replace
Spark plug wire is loose or disconnected - Check the spark plug wire connection, repair or replace
Damaged spark plug - Spark plug need to be replaced
Plugged fuel filter - Fuel filter needs changing
Safety contact for brake pedal defective - Install new part
Carburetor incorrectly set - Set carb correctly
Poor cylinder compression - Check cylinder block and change worn parts
Choke cable is worn or not adjusted properly - Adjust correctly or replace the cable
Engine runs unevenly
Air intake grill is clogged - Need to wash or clean
Ignition system problems - Inspect ignition system and change failed components
Throttle cable is stuck or defective - Replace or service the cable
Dirty air filter element - Replace or service air filter
Fuel pump is defective or dirty - Service or replace fuel pump
Engine starts and immediately shuts off
Spark plug is damaged - Install new spark plug
Faulty or dirty carburetor - Clean or install new carburetor
Faulty ignition coil - Install a new ignition coil
Bad or damaged valve springs - Change valve springs
Stuck valves - Clean the valves
Engine overheats
Insufficient engine oil - Add oil to the engine crankcase
Excessive engine load - Load reducing required
Plugged cooling fins - Wash or clean as required
Carburetor is running lean - Adjust carburetor properly
Bad ignition timing - Ignition timing needs to be adjusted correctly
Valve setting is improper - Valves needs to be adjusted properly
Engine noises or knocks
Stale gasoline - Change fuel
Engine is running overloaded - Reduce engine load
Lack of engine oil - Fill up the oil to required level
Improperly adjusted low idle speed - Need to adjust idle speed
Fuel pump is clogged or faulty - Clean or change fuel pump
Worn crankshaft or main bearings - Change or repair worn components
Incorrect valve clearance - Need to adjust valve clearance
Worn piston rings or cylinder bore - Replace defective parts
Low engine power
Carburetor is dirty or improperly adjusted - Carburetor needs to be adjusted correctly or cleaned
Air filter element is plugged - Replace or clean air filter
Clogged or damaged fuel pump - Service or change fuel pump
Ignition system is defective - Test ignition and replace failed parts
Cylinder head gasket is worn - Cylinder-head gasket replacement required
Burned or stuck valves - Replace or service valves
Push rod is worn or defective - Replace push rod
Faulty cylinder block components - Replace defective parts
High fuel consumption
Insufficient throttle opening - Adjust or replace throttle cable
Improper carburetor main jet adjustment - Adjust main jet as required
Loose or defective spark plug - Tighten or replace spark plug
Valves are worn, burned or stuck - Clean or replace valves
Worn sleeve, rings, or piston - Replace faulty parts
Valve clearance is wrong - Adjust valve clearance according to specifications
Engine using too much oil
Damaged seals or gaskets - New components need to be installed
Worn valve guides and valve stems - Valves replacement required
Piston rings are defective or worn - Piston rings replacement required
Damaged cylinder liner or piston - Check piston and liner, replace as required
Plugged breather pipe or hose - Service or replace


Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting
Excessive HST transmission noise
Speed control pedal linkage is damaged or out of adjustment - Change or adjust linkage
Excessive transmission 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 transmission - Check transmission components and change if necessary
Difficult to shift
Loose or broken shift linkage - Change defective linkage
Worn or seized hydrostatic pump - Repair or change pump
Transmission shift control parts are faulty or unadjusted - Replace or adjust as required
Power is insufficient
Transmission oil insufficient - Check transmission oil level and add oil as required
Drive sheave is worn or faulty - Change sheave
Faulty or unadjusted shifting linkage - Change or adjust linkage
Worn or out of adjustment speed control linkage - Replace or adjust linkage
Transmission leakage
Transmission gaskets or seals are damaged - Change seals or gaskets
Final drive shaft leakage - Install new shaft seals
Cracked transmission case - Install a new transmission case

Mower Deck Troubleshooting
Mower vibration is excessive
Damaged or clogged mower drive pulley - Clean or change pulley
Defective or loose drive belt - Install a new belt or adjust belt tension
Bent or unbalanced mower blades - Balance blades or replace it
Blade mounting bolts are loose - Bolts should be tightened
Discharge chute keeps clogging
High ground speed - Select a slower speed
Tall grass - Must be set to low cutting height
Reduced engine rpm - Choke is not fully opening
Low cutting height - Change cutting height adjustment
Incorrect mower drive belt installation - Check drive belt for correct installation
Patches of grass uncut
Deck is plugged with grass - Clean mower deck as required
Blades are excessively dull - Need to sharpen the blades
Worn or damaged blades - Blades must be changed
Fast ground speed - Use a lower speed
Low cutting height - Use correct cutting height
Grass bag is overfilled - Grass bag must be empty
Blade scalped grass
Lawn is not level or bumpy - Lawn needs to be leveled
Mower deck cutting height is set too low - Must be set to high cutting height
Fast mowing speed - Use a slower speed
Deck is not leveled correctly - Level the deck properly
Worn or bent blades - Blades must be changed
Tires are not properly inflated - Need to inflate tires
Mower cutting is uneven
Tires are not properly inflated - Need to inflate tires
Deck is not leveled correctly - Level the deck properly
Blades are excessively dull - Blades need to be sharpened
Worn or bent blades - Change the blades
Cutting deck is clogged - Mower deck needs to be cleaned
Broken mower deck shell - Repair or replace the deck
Loose or defective mower spindle - Spindle needs to be repaired or replaced

Electrical Troubleshooting
Battery will not charge
Wiring connections are corroded or loose - Service or tighten cable connections
Defective battery terminal clamps - Change terminal clamps
Battery faulty cell - Replace the battery
Starter turns slowly
Low battery voltage - Recharge the battery
Battery is draining quickly - Battery needs to be serviced or replaced
Bad terminals or disconnected battery cables - Connect wires properly or change terminals
Starter motor is not working
Battery is drained or defective - Recharge or replace battery
Battery wiring is disconnected or improperly connected - Inspect wiring and connect as required
Low battery voltage - Recharge the battery
Spark plug dirty or improperly gapped - Clean and gap or replace
Faulty solenoid or starter motor - Repair starter or change solenoid

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Lawn and Garden Tractors Technical Specs
JOHN DEERE 314 JOHN DEERE D130 JOHN DEERE E150 JOHN DEERE L118
KUBOTA G5200 KUBOTA GR2100 KUBOTA T1400 KUBOTA T1560
FORD 140 FORD GT95 FORD LGT14D FORD LGT165
CRAFTSMAN GT5000 CRAFTSMAN LT2500 CRAFTSMAN T2000 CRAFTSMAN YT3000
CUB CADET 782D CUB CADET 1811 CUB CADET 2186 CUB CADET LT1045
HUSQVARNA CTH151 HUSQVARNA TC138 HUSQVARNA TS142T HUSQVARNA GT2254