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Home / Lawn and Garden Tractors / John Deere Lawn Tractors / John Deere S180

John Deere S180 Troubleshooting

The John Deere S180 is a 2WD lawn tractor from S100 series. This model was manufactured from 2021 to 2025. The driveline consists of 44.2 cu.in (724 cc) Briggs and Stratton 44U877 4-cycle V-twin cylinder OHV vertical shaft air-cooled gasoline engine with a rated power of 24 Hp (17.9 kW), and belt-driven hydrostatic transmission with infinite forward and reverse gears.

The John Deere S180 is equipped with a manual steering system, electric PTO clutch, disc brakes, 15x6.50-8 front tires, and 22x9.50-12 rear tires. The operating weight is 530 lbs (241 kg). The John Deere S180 tractor is compatible with the following attachments: 54" mid-mount 3-blade mower deck with a mechanical lift system, 44" front-mount one-stage snow blower, and 46" front blade.

Engine Troubleshooting
Engine difficult to start or won't start
Fuel tank is empty - Fill gasoline up
Wrong fuel grade - Use quality gasoline
Dirty fuel lines - Inspect and clean
Disconnected or loose spark plug wire - Inspect the spark plug wire connection, replace or repair
Damaged spark plug - Change spark plug as required
Fuel filter is clogged - Change fuel filter
Faulty safety switch - Change damaged switch
Wrong carburetor adjustment - Adjusting carburetor correctly
Engine has bad compression - Check cylinder block and change wear parts
Worn or unadjusted choke cable - Adjust properly or replace the cable
Engine runs irregularly
Air intake grill is clogged - Clean and wash as required
Ignition failure - Check ignition and replace faulty components
Stuck or faulty throttle cable - Clean or replace the cable
Air filter is blocked - Service or change air filter
Clogged or defective fuel pump - Check fuel pump and replace if necessary
Engine stops after starting
Spark plug is defective - Change spark plug
Carburetor is defective or dirty - Clean or replace carburetor
Ignition coil is defective - Ignition coil should be replaced
Damaged or weak valve springs - New valve springs need to be installed
Valves sticking - Valves need to be cleaned
Engine overheated
Insufficient engine oil - Checking oil level and add if necessary
Engine overload - Reduce the load
Air intake grill is clogged - Need to wash or clean
Too lean carburetor mixture - Adjust carburetor properly
Ignition timing is incorrect - Adjust ignition timing as required
Valve setting is improper - Adjust valves correctly
Engine noises or knocks
Stale fuel - Change fuel
Engine is running overloaded - Load reducing required
Not enough engine oil - Fill the crankcase with engine oil
Low idle speed setting is incorrect - Test and adjust
Dirty or faulty fuel pump - Clean or change fuel pump
Worn main bearings or crankshaft - Worn parts replacement required
Incorrect valve clearance - Need to adjust valve clearance
Cylinder bore or piston rings are worn - Replace faulty parts
Lack of engine power
Carburetor is incorrectly adjusted or dirty - Adjust the carburetor correctly or clean it
Air filter is blocked - Change or service air filter
Dirty or faulty fuel pump - Inspect fuel pump and change as required
Ignition failure - Test ignition and replace failed parts
Cylinder head gasket is damaged - Change cylinder head gasket
Burned or stuck valves - Replace or service valves
Push rod is worn or damaged - Replace push rod
Worn cylinder block parts - Replace defective components
Engine using too much gasoline
Throttle opening is not full - Adjust or change throttle cable
Incorrect carburetor main jet adjustment - Adjust it properly
Spark plug is loose or defective - Tighten or change the spark plug
Burned, worn, or stuck valves - Change or service valves
Sleeve, rings, or piston are damaged - Replace defective components
Valve clearance is wrong - Check and adjust
Excessive engine oil consumption
Gaskets or seals are excessively worn - Replace worn parts to avoid leaks
Worn valve guides and valve stems - Change the valves
Seized or wear piston rings - Change the piston rings as required
Piston or cylinder liner is scuffed - Check piston and liner, change as required
Clogged breather hose or pipe - Clean or replace

Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting
HST transmission makes noise
Speed control pedal linkage is bent or not adjusted - Change or adjust linkage
Transmission overload - Reduce loading
Transmission oil is contaminated or oil level is insufficient - Add oil to proper level or pour fresh transmission oil
Worn or defective transmission components - After disassembling and inspection, change defective components
Difficult to shift
Corroded or worn shift linkage - Lubricate or change linkage
Hydrostatic pump is faulty or seized - Repair or replace pump
Worn or misadjusted transmission shift control parts - Adjust correctly or replace
Loss of power
Low fluid level - Need to add transmission fluid
Drive sheave is defective or worn - Change sheave
Broken or not adjusted shift linkage - Adjust correctly or replace linkage
Speed control linkage is worn or unadjusted - Replace or adjust linkage
Transmission leaking
Transmission seals or gaskets are broken - Seals and gaskets need to be replaced
Leaking final drive shaft - Replace shaft seals
Cracked transmission housing - Install a new transmission housing

Mower Deck Troubleshooting
Excessive mower vibration
Worn or dirty mower drive pulley - Clean or replace pulley
Loose or worn drive belt - Belt needs to be adjusted or replaced
Mower blades are not balanced or warped - Balance or replace blades
Blade mounting bolts are loose - Bolts should be tightened
Discharge chute is regularly plugged
High ground speed - Select a slower speed
Grass is too high - Use a lower cutting height
Engine rpm is too low - Open choke fully
Mower deck set to low cutting - Need to set high cutting height
Incorrect mower drive belt installation - Check drive belt for correct installation
Streaking of uncut grass
Clogged mower deck - Need to clean the mower deck
Blades are not sharp - Need a blade sharpening
Defective or worn blades - Blades need to be replaced
Fast ground speed - Select a lower speed
Cutting level is too low - Change cutting height adjustment
Filled grass bag - Clean grass bag
Blades scalp the grass
Lawn is bumpy or not smooth - Level the lawn
Cutting level is too low - Use a higher cutting height
High mowing speed - Select a slower speed
Incorrect level of mower deck - Level the deck properly
Damaged or bent blades - Blades need to be replaced
Tires are not properly inflated - Need to inflate tires
Uneven cut
Tires are not properly inflated - Inflate tires as required
Deck is not leveled correctly - Level the deck correctly
Excessive blade dullness - Need to sharpen the blades
Worn or defective blades - Replace the blades
Cutting deck clogging - Check cutting deck and clean as necessary
Deck housing is damaged - Replace or rebuild mower deck
Mower spindle is bent or loose - Change or repair the spindle

Electrical Troubleshooting
Battery is not charging
Corroded or loose cable connections - Clean or tighten connections
Electrical terminal connectors are faulty - Install new terminal connectors
Battery bad cell - Use a new battery
Starter turns slow
Low battery voltage - Charge the battery
Battery won’t hold charge - Service charging system or replace battery
Disconnected battery cables or bad terminals - Check wire connections and change or service terminals
Starter motor is not working
Battery is discharged or worn - Replace or charge as required
Wiring is incorrectly connected or disconnected - Inspect wiring and connect correctly
Low battery voltage - Battery is drained, recharge it
Incorrectly gapped or worn spark plug - Clean, gap or change spark plug
Starter motor or solenoid is defective - Repair starter or change solenoid

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