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John Deere STX46 Troubleshooting

The John Deere STX46 lawn tractor was manufactured between 1995 and 1997. The John Deere STX46 tractor is powered by Kohler Command LT CV15S 4-cycle single cylinder OHV vertical shaft air-cooled gasoline engine. A 26 cubic inches (426 cc) engine has a cylinder bore of 3.61" (90 mm), piston stroke of 2.64" (67 mm), and rated power of 15 Hp (11.2 kW).

This model is fitted with several transmission options: 5x1 belt-driven gear transmission or 1-range hydrostatic transmission. The John Deere STX46 is equipped with a manual steering system, electric PTO clutch, external disc brakes, 15x6.50-6 front tyres, and 20x8.00-8 rear tyres. The operating weight is 450 lbs (204 kg). The tractor is compatible with a 46" mid-mount 3-blade mower deck with cutting height of 1.8-3.5" (25-90 mm).

Engine Troubleshooting
Engine won't start or hard to start
No gasoline in tank - Fill gasoline up
Improper fuel grade - Change fuel
There is air in the fuel system - Bleed the system
Defective spark plug wire connection - Check spark plug wiring connection, repair or change
Damaged spark plug - Install new spark plug
Dirty fuel filter - Fuel filter needs changing
Safety contact for brake pedal defective - Install new part
Carburetor is not working properly - Inspect and adjust
Engine has low compression - Check cylinder block and replace defective parts
Choke cable is damaged or not adjusted properly - Change cable or adjust properly
Engine runs roughly
Cooling fins are clogged - Need to wash or clean
Ignition failure - Check ignition system and replace faulty parts
Defective or stuck throttle cable - Clean or replace the cable
Air filter element is clogged - Replace or clean air filter
Dirty or defective fuel pump - Clean or replace fuel pump
Engine starts and stalls suddenly
Defective spark plug - Change spark plug
Clogged or faulty carburetor - Repair or clean carburetor
Ignition coil is not working - Install a new ignition coil
Loose or worn valve springs - Change valve springs
Valves are stuck - Valves need to be cleaned
Engine overheated
Lack of engine oil - Fill the crankcase with engine oil
Engine is running overloaded - Load reducing is recommended
Cooling fins are plugged - Wash or clean as required
Too lean carburetor mixture - Adjust carburetor properly
Incorrect ignition timing - Adjust ignition timing correctly
Improper valve setting - Valves needs to be set correctly
Engine knocking or noise
Low octane gasoline - Change gasoline
Engine overload - Reduce the load
Engine oil level is low - Check and refill engine oil
Wrong adjustment of low idle speed - Adjust the low idle speed
Clogged or damaged fuel pump - Test fuel pump and change if necessary
Crankshaft or main bearings wear - Have bearings or crankshaft replaced
Valve clearance is not correct - Adjustment procedure required
Worn cylinder bore or piston rings - Change defective parts
Engine loses power
Carburetor is improperly adjusted or clogged - Service or properly adjust carburetor
Air filter is dirty - Clean or change air filter
Fuel pump is defective or dirty - Clean or change fuel pump
Ignition system failure - Test ignition and replace failed parts
Blown cylinder head gasket - Install new head gasket
Burned or stuck valves - Clean or replace valves
Push rod is bent or worn - Install a new push rod
Cylinder block parts are worn out - Change defective components
Engine using too much gasoline
Choke didn't open fully - Adjust or change choke cable
Incorrect carburetor main jet adjustment - Adjust the carburetor main jet properly
Spark plug is loose or faulty - Replace or tighten spark plug
Stuck, worn, or burned valves - Replace or service valves
Worn sleeve, rings, or piston - Replace faulty components as required
Valve clearance is incorrect - Adjust valve clearance according to specifications
Engine oil consumption is too high
Worn gaskets or seals - Replace defective parts
Valve stems or guides are damaged - Change the valves
Stuck or defective piston rings - Have piston rings replaced
Piston or cylinder liner is worn - Inspect liner and piston, change as necessary
Breather pipe or hose is clogged - Replace or service

Transmission Troubleshooting
Difficult to shift gears
Gear shift linkage is damaged or loose - Replace or service the shift linkage
Shift forks are damaged or worn - Shift forks need to be replaced
Faulty gear shifting mechanism - Faulty parts must be changed
Transmission is making noise
Transmission oil insufficient - Fill up the transmission oil
Transmission oil is dirty - Transmission oil change required
Damaged bearings or worn gears - Replace faulty parts
Transmission jumps out of gear
Damaged or improperly installed shifting lever - Change or install shift lever properly
Damaged or worn gears - Replace defective gears
Shift forks or shift rods are worn - Change damaged forks or rods
Transmission slipping
Improper drive shaft/belt adjustment or damaged drive shaft/belt - Adjust or change belt/shaft
Brake/clutch is improperly adjusted or damaged - Adjust clutch/brake or install a new one
Drive pulley is defective or worn - Install a new pulley

Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting
Hydrostatic transmission makes excessive noise
Speed control linkage is defective or unadjusted - Adjust or replace linkage
Transmission overloaded - Reduce transmission load
Low transmission oil level or contaminated oil - Add oil to the correct level or fill the transmission with fresh oil
Transmission components are damaged or worn - Change or repair defective parts
Difficult to shift
Stuck or worn shift linkage - Linkage need to be replaced
Hydrostatic pump is defective or blocked - Replace or repair pump
Unadjusted or damaged transmission shift control parts - Adjust correctly or replace
Low power
Transmission oil insufficient - Add oil to the transmission housing
Drive sheave is damaged or worn - Change sheave
Faulty or unadjusted shifting linkage - Change or adjust linkage
Speed control pedal linkage is damaged or out of adjustment - Adjust or change linkage
Transmission leaking
Worn transmission seals or gaskets - Install new seals or gaskets
Leaking final drive shaft - Install new shaft seals
Transmission case is cracked - Replace case or transmission assembly

Mower Deck Troubleshooting
Mower vibrates excessively
Mower deck drive pulley is worn or dirty - Service or replace pulley
Drive belt is damaged or loose - Adjust belt tension or install a new belt
Mower blades are warped or not balanced - Balance or change blades
Blade bolts are not tightened well - Bolts should be tightened
Discharge chute is constantly plugged
Ground speed is too fast - Select a slower speed
Tall grass - Adjust mower to lower cutting height
Engine runs at low revs - Open throttle fully
Cutting height is too low - Need to set high cutting height
Mower deck drive belt installed incorrectly - Drive belt must be installed correctly
Uncut grass when mowing
Deck clogged with grass clippings - Mower deck needs to be cleaned
Excessive blade dullness - Need to sharpen the blades
Worn or defective blades - Install new blades
High ground speed - Use a lower speed
Mower cuts too low - Must be set to high cutting height
Bagger is full - Remove grass from bagger
Blades scalp the grass
Bumpy or unleveled lawn - Roll or level the lawn
Low cutting height - Adjust mower to higher cutting height
High ground speed - Use a lower speed
Improperly leveled mower deck - Deck needs to be adjusted properly
Blades are worn or bent - Blades must be changed
Tires are not properly inflated - Inflate tires correctly
Uneven cutting
Low tire pressure - Inflate tires correctly
Mower deck is not leveled properly - Adjust mower deck level properly
Blades are too dull - Need to sharpen the blades
Damaged or worn blades - Replace the blades
Discharge chute is plugged - Clean out the mower deck
Broken mower deck housing - Rebuild or replace mower deck
Bent or loose mower spindle - Repair or replace the spindle

Electrical Troubleshooting
Battery is not charging
Wiring connections are loose or corroded - Service or tighten cable connections
Battery terminal clamps are defective - Install new terminal clamps
Faulty cell in battery - Change the battery
Starter cranks slowly
Low battery output voltage - Battery needs to be recharged
Battery is draining quickly - Service charging system or replace battery
Bad terminals or disconnected battery cables - Check cable connections and change or clean terminals
Starter motor won't turn
Battery is drained or worn - Change or recharge battery
Battery wires are disconnected or incorrectly connected - Check wires and connect correctly
Battery capacity is low - Battery needs to be recharged
Improperly gapped or dirty spark plug - Clean, gap or replace spark plug
Damaged starter motor or solenoid - Replace solenoid or repair starter

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