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John Deere LX280 Troubleshooting
The
John Deere LX280 lawn tractor was manufactured from 2004 to 2005. The John Deere
LX280 powerline system components: Kawasaki FH580V 4-stroke vertical V-twin
cylinder air cooled gasoline engine and Tuff Torq K62 belt-driven hydrostatic
transmission.
The 35.7 cubic inches (585 cc) engine has a cylinder bore of 2.92" (74
mm), piston stroke of 2.69" (68 mm), and rated power of 18 hp (13.4 kW).
Max. forward speed - 6 mph (9.6 kph), maximum reverse speed - 3.2 mph
(5.1 kph).
The John Deere LX280 was equipped with a two wheel steering or all wheel
steering (LX280AWS), internal wet disc brakes, 16x6.50-8 front tires,
and 22x11.00-10 rear tires. The wheelbase is 49" (1240 mm). The tractor
is compatible with 42" mid-mount 2-blade and 48" mid-mount 3-blade mower
decks. Both decks have a cutting height of 1.5-4" (38-102 mm), 13 cut
positions, and mechanical lift system.
| Engine Troubleshooting |
| Engine doesn't start or starts hard |
| No gasoline in tank - Fill gasoline up |
| Improper fuel grade - Use correct fuel grade |
| Air in fuel system - Bleed fuel system |
| Spark plug wire is loose or disconnected - Check spark plug wiring connection, repair or change |
| Spark plug is damaged - Install new spark plug |
| Fuel filter is clogged - Fuel filter needs changing |
| Faulty safety switch - Change damaged switch |
| Carburetor problems - Carburetor diagnostics required |
| Engine has bad compression - Check cylinder block and change wear parts |
| Throttle cable is worn or adjusted improperly - Change cable or adjust correctly |
| Air intake grill is clogged - Need to wash or clean |
| Defective ignition system - Inspect ignition system and change failed components |
| Choke cable is faulty or stuck - Change or clean the cable |
| Air filter is dirty - Clean or replace air filter |
| Fuel pump is dirty or defective - Clean or install new fuel pump |
| Engine starts but stalls immediately |
| Damaged spark plug - Replace spark plug |
| Dirty or faulty carburetor - Clean or change carburetor |
| Damaged ignition coil - Change ignition coil as required |
| Valve springs are loose or broken - Valve springs need to be changed |
| Valves are stuck - Valves need to be cleaned |
| Engine oil level low - Check oil level and add oil as required |
| Engine overload - Load reducing is recommended |
| Air intake screen is blocked - Need to wash or clean |
| Carburetor fuel mixture is too lean - Set the carburetor properly |
| Ignition timing is wrong - Set the ignition timing properly |
| Incorrect valve setting - Adjust valves correctly |
| Low octane fuel - Change gasoline |
| Excessive engine load - Reduce the load |
| Lack of engine oil - Fill the crankcase with engine oil |
| Wrong adjustment of low idle speed - Correct idle adjustment |
| Fuel pump is clogged or faulty - Clean or install new fuel pump |
| Crankshaft or main bearings are worn out - Repair or replace defective parts |
| Valve clearance is incorrect - Check and adjust |
| Piston rings or cylinder bore are damaged - Change faulty components |
| Carburetor is dirty or incorrectly adjusted - Carburetor needs to be adjusted correctly or cleaned |
| Air filter is blocked - Service or replace air filter |
| Clogged or defective fuel pump - Check fuel pump and replace if necessary |
| Defective ignition system - Check ignition and replace faulty components |
| Cylinder head gasket is blown - Install new cylinder head gasket |
| Burned or stuck valves - Replace or clean valves |
| Worn or bent push rod - Install a new push rod |
| Damaged cylinder block components - Defective parts need to be replaced |
| Engine uses too much fuel |
| Choke is not fully open - Check choke cable and adjust it |
| Incorrect carburetor main jet adjustment - Adjust main jet as required |
| Defective or loose spark plug - Tighten or change the spark plug |
| Stuck, worn, or burned valves - Clean or change valves |
| Sleeve, rings, or piston are damaged - Change defective parts |
| Valve clearance is improper - Adjust valve clearance |
| Excessive oil consumption |
| Seals or gaskets are wearing excessively - Replace worn parts to avoid leaks |
| Valve stems or guides are damaged - Need to replace the valves |
| Damaged or seized piston rings - Replace piston rings |
| Damaged piston or cylinder liner - Check piston and liner, replace as required |
| Blocked breather hose or pipe - Clean or change |
| Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting |
| HST transmission noises |
| Bent or unadjusted speed control pedal linkage - Replace or adjust linkage |
| Transmission overloaded - Reduce transmission load |
| Insufficient oil level or contaminated oil - Add oil to proper level or pour fresh transmission oil |
| Defective or worn transmission parts - After disassembling and inspection, change defective components |
| Shift linkage is loose or broken - Service or change the linkage |
| Worn or seized hydrostatic pump - Replace or repair pump |
| Worn or misadjusted transmission shift control parts - Adjust properly or change |
| Transmission oil level is low - Check and refill the transmission oil |
| Faulty or worn drive sheave - Change sheave |
| Shift linkage is unadjusted or damaged - Adjust correctly or replace linkage |
| Speed control pedal linkage is damaged or out of adjustment - Replace or adjust linkage |
| Broken transmission gaskets or seals - Install new gaskets or seals |
| Final drive shaft leaks - Change shaft seals |
| Transmission housing is cracked - Replace damage housing or transmission assembly |
| Mower Deck Troubleshooting |
| Mower vibration is excessive |
| Drive sheave of mower deck is dirty or worn - Service or replace sheave |
| Loose or defective drive belt - Adjust belt tension or install a new belt |
| Unbalanced or warped cutting blades - Balance or change as needed |
| Loose blade bolts tightening - Bolts should be tightened |
| Discharge chute is constantly plugged |
| Mowing speed is too high - Use a slower speed |
| Long grass - Need to set low cutting height |
| Engine rpm is too low - Adjust choke to full opening |
| Mower cuts too low - Need to set high cutting height |
| Drive belt installation is not correct - Reinstall drive belt properly |
| Grass patches are not cut |
| Clogged mower deck - Need to clean the mower deck |
| Blades are not sharp - Sharpen the blades |
| Worn or damaged blades - Blades must be changed |
| High mowing speed - Need to slow down |
| Cutting level is too low - Use a higher cutting height |
| Filled bagger - Bagger must be empty |
| Blades are scalping the grass |
| Bumpy or unleveled lawn - Lawn needs to be leveled |
| Low cutting height - Use a higher cutting height |
| High ground speed - Need to slow down |
| Improperly leveled mower deck - Deck needs to be adjusted properly |
| Blades are bent or worn - Change the blades |
| Tires are not properly inflated - Inflate tires correctly |
| Low tire inflation - Need to inflate tires |
| Deck level is not correct - Adjust mower deck level properly |
| Blades are not sharp - Need to sharpen the blades |
| Bent or worn blades - Blades must be changed |
| Deck is plugged with grass - Clean mower deck as required |
| Deck housing is broken - Replace or rebuild mower deck |
| Mower spindle is bent or loose - Install new spindle or repair it |
| Electrical Troubleshooting |
| Battery will not charge |
| Electrical cable connections are loose or corroded - Tighten or clean connections |
| Electrical terminal connectors are faulty - Terminal connectors need to be changed |
| Faulty cell in battery - Use a new battery |
| Battery power is low - Battery needs to be recharged |
| Battery does not hold charge - Service battery or change it |
| Faulty battery terminals or disconnected cables - Connect cables properly or replace terminals |
| Battery is low or faulty - Charge or change the battery |
| Battery wires are disconnected or incorrectly connected - Check wires and connect correctly |
| Battery power is low - Battery is drained, recharge it |
| Spark plug worn or incorrectly gapped - Clean, gap or change spark plug |
| Starter motor or solenoid is defective - Repair starter or replace solenoid |
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| Lawn and Garden Tractors Technical Specs |
