________________________________________________________________________________________
John Deere LX188 Troubleshooting
The
John Deere LX188 lawn tractor was manufactured between 1992 and 1998. The John
Deere LX188 driveline includes a 26.7 cu.in (437 cc) Kawasaki FD501V 4-Cycle
vertical shaft two cylinder gasoline engine with a rated power of 16 hp (11.5
kW), and Tuff Torq K61 belt-driven hydrostatic transmission with infinite
forward and reverse gears.
The engine has a float type carburetor with fixed main jet, diaphragm
type mechanical fuel pump, and full pressure lubrication with spin-on
type oil filter. Max. forward speed - 5.5 mph (8.8 kph), max. reverse
speed - 2.5 mph (4 kph). The John Deere LX188 was equipped with a manual
steering system, mechanical band brakes, 15x6.00-6 front tires, and
20x10.00-8 rear tires. The wheel base is 46" (1160 mm).
The tractor is compatible with a 38" mid-mount 2-blade right-discharge
mower deck with cutting height of 1.5-4.0" (38-102 mm) and manual lift
system, 44", 48" mid-mount 3-blade mower deck with cutting height of
1.0-4.0" (25-102 mm), 13 cut positions, and mechanical lift system, 38",
42" front-mount 1-stage snowblower, or 42" front-mount blade with lift
height of 5" (125 mm).
| Engine Troubleshooting |
| Engine won't start or starts hard |
| Fuel tank is empty - Fill fuel up |
| Improper fuel grade - Change fuel |
| Air in fuel tank - Bleed fuel tank |
| Damaged spark plug wiring connection - Check spark plug wiring connection, repair or change |
| Defective spark plug - Change spark plug |
| Dirty fuel filter - Install new filter |
| Safety contact for brake pedal defective - Install new part |
| Carburetor not adjusted - Adjust according to instructions |
| Poor compression - Inspect and replace wear parts |
| Worn or unadjusted choke cable - Adjust correctly or change the cable |
| Cooling fins are plugged - Clean and wash as required |
| Ignition failure - Inspect ignition system and change failed components |
| Choke cable is stuck or faulty - Change or service the cable |
| Clogged air filter - Service or replace air filter |
| Fuel pump is faulty or clogged - Clean or replace fuel pump |
| Engine starts and immediately shuts off |
| Spark plug is faulty - Install new spark plug |
| Carburetor is defective or dirty - Clean or replace carburetor |
| Faulty ignition coil - Ignition coil must be replaced |
| Valve springs are loose or broken - Valve springs need to be changed |
| Stuck valves - Valves must be cleaned |
| Lack of engine oil - Add oil to the engine crankcase |
| Engine is under excessive load - Reduce engine load |
| Air intake screen is plugged - Need to clean or wash |
| Carburetor is running lean - Set the carburetor properly |
| Ignition timing is incorrect - Ignition timing needs to be adjusted correctly |
| Wrong valve setting - Set the valves properly |
| Engine knocking sound or abnormal noise |
| Stale gasoline - Use proper fuel |
| Engine is under excessive load - Reduce load |
| Engine oil level is low - Need to add engine oil |
| Low idle speed adjustment is incorrect - Need to adjust idle speed |
| Dirty or damaged fuel pump - Inspect fuel pump and change as required |
| Worn main bearings or crankshaft - Install new parts as as required |
| Valve clearance is wrong - Need to adjust valve clearance |
| Damaged cylinder bore or piston rings - Change faulty parts |
| Incorrectly adjusted or dirty carburetor - Carburetor needs to be adjusted correctly or cleaned |
| Air filter element is clogged - Replace or clean air filter |
| Fuel pump is faulty or clogged - Clean or change fuel pump |
| Defective ignition - Inspect ignition system and change failed components |
| Defective cylinder head gasket - Replace the gasket as required |
| Valves are burned or stuck - Clean or replace valves |
| Damaged or worn push rod - Install a new push rod |
| Worn cylinder block components - Replace defective components |
| Engine uses too much fuel |
| Choke did not open fully - Change or adjust choke cable |
| Incorrect carburetor main jet adjustment - Adjust the carburetor main jet correctly |
| Loose or defective spark plug - Tighten or replace spark plug |
| Burned, worn, or stuck valves - Clean or replace valves |
| Rings, sleeve, or piston are damaged - Change defective components |
| Improper valve clearance - Check and adjust |
| High engine oil consumption |
| Damaged gaskets or seals - Change worn parts according to specifications |
| Worn valve stems and valve guides - Change the valves |
| Worn or broken piston rings - Piston rings replacement required |
| Scuffed piston or cylinder liner - Check liner and piston, install new components as required |
| Breather hose or pipe is clogged - Change or clean |
| Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting |
| Hydrostatic transmission is excessively noisy |
| Bent or unadjusted speed control pedal linkage - Adjust or change linkage |
| Excessive transmission load - The load should be reduced |
| Contaminated transmission fluid or low fluid level - Pour fresh fluid or add transmission fluid to proper level |
| Transmission components are damaged or worn - After disassembling and inspection, change faulty components |
| Shift linkage is worn or rusty - Replace or lubricate the linkage |
| Hydrostatic pump is stuck or worn - Replace or repair pump |
| Worn or misadjusted transmission shift control parts - Adjust properly or change |
| Transmission oil level is low - Add oil to the transmission housing |
| Drive pulley is damaged or worn - Change pulley |
| Not adjusted or damaged shifter linkage - Adjust properly or change linkage |
| Speed control linkage is defective or unadjusted - Change or adjust linkage |
| Worn transmission seals or gaskets - Install new gaskets or seals |
| Final drive shaft is leaking - Shaft seals need to be changed |
| Transmission case is cracked - Change broken case |
| Mower Deck Troubleshooting |
| Mower vibrates excessively |
| Drive sheave of mower deck is dirty or worn - Service or replace sheave |
| Drive belt is loose or defective - Adjust belt tension or change the belt |
| Bent or unbalanced mower blades - Balance or change as needed |
| Loose blade mounting bolts - Tighten bolts as required |
| Discharge chute is constantly plugged |
| Fast ground speed - Need to slow down |
| Long grass - Adjust mower to lower cutting height |
| Engine rpm is too low - Choke is not fully opening |
| Mower cuts too low - Use a higher cutting height |
| Improper drive belt installation - Install drive belt correctly |
| Deck is plugged with grass - Clean mower deck as required |
| Blades are not sharp - Blades need to be sharpened |
| Worn or damaged blades - Blades need to be replaced |
| High mowing speed - Use a slower speed |
| Cutting level is too low - Need to set high cutting height |
| Filled grass bag - Remove grass from bag |
| Uneven or bumpy lawn - Lawn leveling required |
| Mower cuts too low - Adjust mower to higher cutting height |
| High ground speed - Use a lower speed |
| Incorrect level of mower deck - Deck should be adjusted correctly |
| Worn or bent blades - Change the blades |
| Tires are not correctly inflated - Check and inflate the tires |
| Tires are not properly inflated - Check and inflate the tires |
| Incorrectly leveled mower deck - Deck should be adjusted correctly |
| Blades are excessively dull - Blades need to be sharpened |
| Blades are worn or damaged - Blades need to be replaced |
| Clogged mower deck - Clean out the mower deck |
| Damaged mower deck housing - Repair or change the deck |
| Loose or defective mower spindle - Repair or change the spindle |
| Electrical Troubleshooting |
| Battery is not charging |
| Loose or corroded wire connections - Tighten or clean connections |
| Faulty battery terminal clamps - Install new terminal clamps |
| Battery is defective - Replace the battery |
| Battery voltage is low - Recharge the battery |
| Battery runs out quickly - Service battery or change it |
| Corroded battery terminals or disconnected wires - Connect cables properly or replace terminals |
| Battery is discharged or defective - Need to charge or replace the battery |
| Battery cables are disconnected or improperly connected - Inspect cables and connect properly |
| Low battery output voltage - Battery is drained, recharge it |
| Spark plug gapped improperly or faulty - Clean, gap or change spark plug |
| Damaged starter motor or solenoid - Starter/solenoid needs to be replaced |
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
| Lawn and Garden Tractors Technical Specs |
