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John Deere STX38 Troubleshooting
The
John Deere STX38 is a two-wheel drive lawn tractor. This model was manufactured
from 1989 to 1997. The driveline consists of 24.3 cu.in (398 L) Kohler Command
LT CV13 4-cycle single cylinder OHV vertical shaft air-cooled gasoline engine
with a rated power of 13 Hp (9.8 kW), and Dana 4360 gear transmission with 5
forward and 1 reverse gears or Tuff Torq K50 hydro transmission with infinite
forward and reverse gears.
The John Deere STX38 is equipped with a manual steering system, electric
PTO clutch, external disc brakes, 13x6.50-6 front tires, and 18x8.50-8
rear tires. The operating weight is 430 lbs (196 kg). The John Deere
STX38 tractor is compatible with the following attachments: 38"
mid-mount 2-blade mower deck with a mechanical lift system and 38"
front-mount 1-stage snow blower.
| Engine Troubleshooting |
| Engine hard starting or not starting |
| No fuel in fuel tank - Add fuel |
| Wrong grade of gasoline - Change gasoline |
| Air in the fuel lines - Bleed the fuel lines |
| Loose or disconnected spark plug wire - Check spark plug wiring connection, repair or change |
| Defective spark plug - Change spark plug as required |
| Fuel filter is dirty - Change fuel filter |
| Safety contact for brake pedal defective - Install new part |
| Carburetor is clogged - Clean the carburetor |
| Low cylinder compression - Check cylinder block and replace worn parts |
| Improperly adjusted or worn throttle cable - Adjust correctly or change the cable |
| Engine runs intermittently |
| Air intake screen is blocked - Need to clean or wash |
| Ignition system problems - Check ignition system and replace faulty parts |
| Choke cable is stuck or faulty - Service or change the cable |
| Clogged air filter - Replace or service air filter |
| Clogged or defective fuel pump - Clean or install new fuel pump |
| Engine starts but then shuts off |
| Damaged spark plug - Install new spark plug |
| Dirty or defective carburetor - Service or repair carburetor |
| Ignition coil is defective - Ignition coil should be replaced |
| Valve springs are broken or bad - Change valve springs |
| Valves sticking - Service the valves |
| Not enough engine oil - Fill up the engine oil |
| Engine overload - Reduce the load |
| Clogged cooling fins - Wash or clean as required |
| Carburetor fuel mixture is too lean - Use proper settings |
| Bad ignition timing - Set the ignition timing correctly |
| Incorrect valve setting - Adjust valves as required |
| Abnormal engine knocking or noise |
| Low octane fuel - Use proper fuel |
| Engine is running overloaded - Reduce the load |
| Low engine oil level - Fill up the oil to required level |
| Incorrect low idle setting - Adjustment required |
| Dirty or defective fuel pump - Service or change fuel pump |
| Worn main bearings or crankshaft - Worn parts replacement required |
| Incorrect valve clearance - Adjust to proper valve clearance |
| Piston rings or cylinder bore are worn - Replace faulty components |
| Carburetor is improperly adjusted or dirty - Adjust the carburetor correctly or clean it |
| Clogged air filter - Service or replace air filter |
| Fuel pump is clogged or faulty - Clean or replace fuel pump |
| Ignition system failure - Test ignition and replace failed parts |
| Defective cylinder head gasket - Change cylinder head gasket |
| Valves are burned or stuck - Service or change valves |
| Push rod is worn or defective - Push rod needs to be changed |
| Cylinder block components are faulty - Replace defective parts as required |
| Engine using too much gasoline |
| Choke did not open fully - Change or adjust choke cable |
| Carburetor main jet is incorrectly adjusted - Adjust the carburetor main jet properly |
| Loose or faulty spark plug - Spark plug need to be tightened or replaced |
| Worn, stuck, or burned valves - Clean or change valves |
| Worn sleeve, piston, or rings - Replace faulty parts as required |
| Valve clearance is not correct - Adjust to proper valve clearance |
| Gaskets or seals may be damaged - Replace defective parts |
| Worn valve stems and valve guides - Valves replacement required |
| Stuck or worn piston rings - Have piston rings replaced |
| Worn piston or cylinder liner - Inspect liner and piston, fit new parts as necessary |
| Blocked breather hose or pipe - Service or replace |
| Transmission Troubleshooting |
| Gears are hard to shift |
| Gear shift linkage is rusty or worn - Lubricate or replace the shift linkage |
| Damaged or worn gear shift forks - Install new shift forks |
| Worn gear shift mechanism - Replace worn components |
| Not enough fluid in transmission - Need to add fluid |
| Dirty transmission oil - The oil must be changed |
| Gears or bearings are damaged - Change defective parts |
| Transmission pops out of gear |
| Incorrectly installed or bent shift lever - Replace or install shift lever correctly |
| Damaged or worn gear teeth - Replace defective gears |
| Worn shift forks or shift rods - Change damaged rods or forks |
| Improper drive belt/shaft adjustment or defective drive belt/shaft - Replace belt/shaft or adjust it |
| Brake/clutch is incorrectly adjusted or faulty - Replace brake/clutch or adjust it |
| Drive pulley is damaged or worn - Change pulley |
| Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting |
| Excessive HST transmission noise |
| Bent or unadjusted speed control pedal linkage - Change or adjust linkage |
| Excessive transmission load - Reduce the load is required |
| Fluid is contaminated or fluid level is insufficient - Fill to required level or change the fluid |
| Worn or defective transmission components - Check hydrostatic transmission components for defect or damage and change if necessary |
| Stuck or worn shift linkage - Linkage need to be replaced |
| Seized or worn hydrostatic pump - Change or repair pump |
| Transmission shift control parts are damaged or misadjusted - Adjust properly or change |
| Lack of transmission fluid - Check and refill the transmission fluid |
| Worn or damaged drive sheave - Replace sheave |
| Shifter linkage is not adjusted or faulty - Change or adjust linkage |
| Defective or not adjusted speed control pedal linkage - Adjust or install new linkage |
| Broken transmission gaskets or seals - Install new seals or gaskets |
| Final drive shaft is leaking - Replace shaft seals |
| Cracked transmission case - Change broken case |
| Mower Deck Troubleshooting |
| Excessive mower vibration |
| Dirty or worn mower drive sheave - Service or change sheave |
| Worn or loose drive belt - Change belt or adjust belt tension |
| Bent or unbalanced cutting blades - Balance or replace blades |
| Blade bolts are not tightened well - Bolts need to be tightened |
| Constant clogging of discharge chute |
| High mowing speed - Operate at slower speed |
| Long grass - Use a lower cutting height |
| Low engine speeds - Open throttle fully |
| Mower cuts too low - Use correct cutting height |
| Improper drive belt installation - Install drive belt as required |
| Cutting deck clogging - Check cutting deck and clean as necessary |
| Blades are too dull - Sharpen the blades |
| Worn or damaged blades - Replace the blades |
| Mowing speed is too high - Need to slow down |
| Cutting height is too low - Change cutting height adjustment |
| Filled bagger - Clean bagger |
| Blades are scalping the grass |
| Bumpy or not smooth lawn - Level the lawn |
| Low cutting height - Must be set to high cutting height |
| Fast ground speed - Select a slower speed |
| Incorrectly leveled mower deck - Adjust the level of mower deck correctly |
| Blades are bent or worn - Change the blades |
| Low tire pressure - Check and inflate the tires |
| Tires are not properly inflated - Need to inflate tires |
| Deck is not leveled correctly - Level the deck correctly |
| Not sharp blades - Sharpen the blades |
| Worn or bent blades - Change the blades |
| Cutting deck clogging - Need to clean the mower deck |
| Deck housing is damaged - Rebuild or change mower deck |
| Loose or defective mower spindle - Spindle needs to be repaired or replaced |
| Electrical Troubleshooting |
| Battery is not charging |
| Loose or corroded electrical wiring connections - Tighten or service connections |
| Defective electrical terminal connectors - Install new terminal connectors |
| Defective battery - Use a new battery |
| Low battery output - Charge the battery |
| Battery does not hold charge - Battery needs service or replacement |
| Disconnected cables or faulty battery terminals - Connect wiring correctly or install new terminals |
| Battery is discharged or defective - Charge or replace the battery |
| Disconnected or improperly connected wiring harness - Inspect battery wiring harness and connect as required |
| Low battery power - Recharge the battery |
| Improperly gapped or dirty spark plug - Replace or clean and gap |
| Faulty solenoid or starter motor - Repair starter or install a new solenoid |
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| Lawn and Garden Tractors Technical Specs |
