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John Deere SST18 Troubleshooting
The
John Deere SST18 lawn tractor from SST Series was manufactured between 2000 and
2003. The John Deere SST18 tractor is powered by Briggs and Stratton 350777
Vanguard 4-cycle V-twin cylinder OHV vertical shaft air-cooled gasoline engine.
A 34.8 cubic inches (570 cc) engine has a cylinder bore of 2.83" (72 mm), piston
stroke of 2.75" (70 mm), and rated power of 18 Hp (13.4 kW).
This model is fitted with a hydrostatic transmission with infinite
forward and reverse gears. The John Deere SST18 is equipped with a
hydraulic power steering, electric PTO clutch, disc brakes, 13x5.00-6
front tyres, and 20x10.00-8 rear tyres. The operating weight is 660 lbs
(299 kg). The tractor is compatible with a 48" mid-mount 3-blade mower
deck with a cutting height of 1.0-4.0" (25-102 mm) and mechanical lift
system.
| Engine Troubleshooting |
| Engine starts hard or won't start |
| Empty gas tank - Add fuel |
| Wrong fuel grade - Use correct gasoline grade |
| Air in the fuel system - Air bleeding |
| Damaged spark plug wiring connection - Check spark plug wiring connection, repair or change |
| Spark plug is faulty - Change spark plug as required |
| Plugged fuel filter - Install new filter |
| Defective safety switch - Replace if required |
| Carburetor components worn out - Repair or replace parts |
| Bad compression - Check and change damaged parts |
| Throttle cable is worn or adjusted improperly - Change cable or adjust properly |
| Cooling fins are clogged - Need to clean or wash |
| Ignition system malfunction - Check ignition and replace faulty components |
| Faulty or stuck throttle cable - Clean or change the cable |
| Air filter element is plugged - Clean or replace air filter |
| Fuel pump is clogged or faulty - Inspect fuel pump and change as required |
| Engine starts and stops suddenly |
| Faulty spark plug - Change spark plug as required |
| Faulty or clogged carburetor - Service or replace carburetor |
| Ignition coil is faulty - Install a new ignition coil |
| Valve springs are damaged or weak - Replace valve springs |
| Valves sticking - Clean the valves |
| Insufficient engine oil - Check oil level and add oil as required |
| Excessive engine load - Reduce load |
| Clogged cooling fins - Need to wash or clean |
| Carburetor mixture is too lean - Set the carburetor properly |
| Ignition timing is improper - Set the ignition timing properly |
| Valve setting is improper - Valves needs to be set correctly |
| Low octane fuel - Use correct fuel |
| Engine is under excessive load - Load reducing is recommended |
| Insufficient engine oil - Checking oil level and add if necessary |
| Low idle speed setting is incorrect - Adjustment required |
| Fuel pump is clogged or faulty - Test fuel pump and change if necessary |
| Worn crankshaft or main bearings - Change defective components as required |
| Valve clearance is not correct - Adjust valve clearance |
| Cylinder bore or piston rings are worn - Change defective components |
| Engine power is insufficient |
| Carburetor is improperly adjusted or clogged - Service or properly adjust carburetor |
| Plugged air filter - Replace or clean air filter |
| Fuel pump is faulty or clogged - Clean or replace fuel pump |
| Ignition failure - Check ignition and replace faulty components |
| Damaged cylinder-head gasket - Change cylinder head gasket |
| Valves are burned or stuck - Clean or replace valves |
| Push rod is bent or worn - Replace push rod |
| Worn cylinder block components - Replace defective parts as required |
| Choke doesn't open well - Adjust or replace choke cable |
| Carburetor main jet is improperly adjusted - Adjust the carburetor main jet correctly |
| Loose or faulty spark plug - Change or re-tighten spark plug |
| Stuck, burned, or worn valves - Change or service valves |
| Piston, sleeve, or rings are damaged - Change faulty components |
| Valve clearance is wrong - Adjust valve clearance according to specifications |
| High engine oil consumption |
| Seals or gaskets are wearing excessively - Replace worn parts to avoid leaks |
| Damaged valve stems or valve guides - Install new valves |
| Stuck or worn piston rings - Have piston rings replaced |
| Worn piston or cylinder liner - Check piston and liner, change as required |
| Breather pipe or hose is plugged - Replace or service |
| Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting |
| Excessive hydrostatic transmission noise |
| Defective or not adjusted speed control pedal linkage - Adjust or repair linkage |
| Transmission overloaded - Reduce transmission load |
| Transmission fluid is dirty or fluid level is too low - Add fluid to the correct level or fill the transmission with fresh fluid |
| Damaged or worn components of hydrostatic transmission - Replace or repair defective components |
| Worn or rusty shift linkage - Install new linkage |
| Faulty or blocked hydrostatic pump - Repair or replace pump |
| Unadjusted or damaged transmission shift control parts - Adjust properly or change |
| Lack of transmission oil supply - Add oil to the transmission housing |
| Drive pulley is defective or worn - Replace pulley |
| Shift linkage is damaged or unadjusted - Replace or adjust linkage |
| Worn or out of adjustment speed control linkage - Adjust or change linkage |
| Transmission seals or gaskets are broken - Replace gaskets or seals |
| Final drive shaft is leaking - Replace shaft seals |
| Transmission case is cracked - Change broken case |
| Mower Deck Troubleshooting |
| Excessive mower vibration |
| Mower deck drive sheave is clogged or worn - Service or replace sheave |
| Worn or loose drive belt - Adjust belt tension or change the belt |
| Mower blades are bent or out of balance - Balance blades or replace it |
| Loose blade mounting bolts - Bolts need to be tightened |
| Discharge chute regular clogging |
| High mowing speed - Select a slower speed |
| Long grass - Adjust mower to lower cutting height |
| Engine runs at low revs - Throttle is not fully open |
| Mower deck set to low cutting - Must be set to high cutting height |
| Mower drive belt installation is improper - Reinstall drive belt properly |
| Mower leaving random uncut of grass |
| Clogged mower deck - Clean out the mower deck |
| Excessive blade dullness - Need a blade sharpening |
| Damaged or worn blades - Install new blades |
| Mowing speed is too high - Need to slow down |
| Mower deck set to low cutting - Use a higher cutting height |
| Grass bag is full - Empty the grass bag |
| Bumpy or not smooth lawn - Level the lawn |
| Cutting height is too low - Must be set to high cutting height |
| Mowing speed is too high - Use a lower speed |
| Incorrect level of mower deck - Adjust mower deck level properly |
| Worn or bent blades - Change the blades |
| Tires are not properly inflated - Need to inflate tires |
| Incorrect tire pressure - Inflate tires correctly |
| Deck is not leveled correctly - Adjust the level of mower deck correctly |
| Not sharp blades - Need a blade sharpening |
| Bent or worn blades - Change the blades |
| Discharge chute is plugged - Clean mower deck as required |
| Broken mower deck housing - Rebuild or replace mower deck |
| Loose or faulty mower spindle - Spindle needs to be repaired or replaced |
| Electrical Troubleshooting |
| Battery will not charge |
| Electrical wire connections are loose or corroded - Tighten or service connections |
| Defective battery terminal connectors - Change terminal connectors |
| Faulty cell in battery - Change the battery |
| Battery power is low - Battery is drained, charge it |
| Battery discharges quickly - Service charging system or install new battery |
| Disconnected battery cables or bad terminals - Check wiring and clean or replace terminals |
| Battery is low or faulty - Charge or change the battery |
| Wiring is incorrectly connected or disconnected - Inspect wiring and connect correctly |
| Low battery output voltage - Battery is drained, charge it |
| Spark plug worn or incorrectly gapped - Clean, gap or replace spark plug |
| Damaged starter motor or solenoid - Repair starter or change solenoid |
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| Lawn and Garden Tractors Technical Specs |
