Any tractor experts here? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cavaliers16 · #1 06-03-2007, 01:10 PM

My dad is trying to get his Cub Cadet 127 to run again but it is having some issues. The thing starts really hard, runs really hard, and has an inconsistent idle (grrr...nothing...loud grrrr.....nothing...louder grrrr...etc.). It shakes itself to near death when it turns on because it is running so hard and hot. He has replaced the governor, the valves, repaired the valve seats, checked the compression, checked it for a spark, and replaced the head and head gasket.
Anyone here know anything about lawn tractors? It's not a diesel MB so I'm totally lost

kmaysob · #2 06-03-2007, 02:13 PM

carb or fuel injected?im guessing carb. has this started since sitting for a season?

cavaliers16 · #3 06-03-2007, 03:17 PM

Carbureted.

It sat for the winter, he jump started it with the car, and it started really hard. It was losing compression from the head gasket and a cracked head. He replaced those two and it ran really crappy still (inconsistent idle). He replaced the governor hoping it would stop running so hot and hard, but it still heats up a lot and the idle hasn't improved. It isn't strapped for power anymore, but it runs really hard- so hard that it wrecked two valves, which he replaced. The head gasket was replaced again and he had a mechanic do a leak down test. The valves were leaking bad so he had them ground. It still runs like crap. I'm amazed it keeps going- it sounds like it is going to die then it miraculously picks up again, only to sound like dying.

rickg · #4 06-03-2007, 04:02 PM

How's the fuel?(condensation form sitting thru a winter) Water in the fuel will have the same effect. Drain the tank, lines, everything. Clean her out, and put in fresh gas.
Justa thot.

Chas H · #5 06-03-2007, 04:04 PM

If the engine is aircooled, mice may have nested in the shrouding. This can make an engine run way hot.

rickg · #6 06-03-2007, 04:07 PM

..........AND nest in the carb.
Been there, seen that, too

cavaliers16 · #7 06-03-2007, 04:19 PM

OK- the fuel is fine. That was my only contribution to the whole process. I drained the tank so that he could take out the engine. I checked the engine for mice, but I haven't checked the carburetor for mice or anything else, for that matter. Would a gummed (or moused) up carburetor cause the thing to run like that? I suppose he can pull that and give it a look. I'll report back

catmandoo62 · #8 06-03-2007, 04:29 PM

without seeing it in person it's hard to guess,but beings it has power and is running hot and has an erratic idle i'd think something is plugged in the carb.is that un updraft or downdraft??

cavaliers16 · #9 06-03-2007, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

without seeing it in person it's hard to guess,but beings it has power and is running hot and has an erratic idle i'd think something is plugged in the carb.is that an updraft or downdraft??

I have no idea

! How can I tell which one it is?

He is going to pull it tomorrow and see what is going on. Thanks for the help!

kerry · #10 06-03-2007, 05:38 PM

Someone on here (Tom?) suggested burning laquer thinner to clean out a gummed up carburator. Sounded like a very creative idea to me. Could easily be gummed up idle jets. I've had it happen on vehicles that sat for a while with old gas.

MS Fowler · #11 06-03-2007, 07:32 PM

Andrew,
There are some excellent Cub fori on the web. The guys at this one are more tolerant of "beginner" questions. Some of the other forui can be harsh to newcomers.
http://ihregistry.com/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi

I restored my 127 this spring, so I am at least familiar with the tractor.
I would suspect the mixture from the carb is too lean. Lean will casue high temps and burn valves.
As for the hard starting... If you mean that it spins fine until the compression comes up, and then it almost stops, then the answer is pretty easy.
These engines are equipped with ACR ( Automatic Compression Relelease). the ACR lifts the exhaust valave off its seat at cranking speed, but allows it to function normally at running speed. That is why you can't check compression at cranking speed. The ACR is controlled by a tiny spring on the side of the cam. It often gets unhooked and produces the symptoms you describe. You can usually reattatch the spring using a small probe by removing only the oil pan.
Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. By the way where are you located? Many Cubbers will make "house calls" to help with an ailing Cub. If you are close, the National Meet this year will be in Bloomsburg, PA ( above Harrisburg) June 19 -21 or so.

pastmaster · #12 06-03-2007, 08:13 PM

In reading the posts I didn't see what type of ignition you have? Does it have points and condensor? Is it solid state electronic?
If it has points and condensor, it may be the condensor is bad.
Check the battery area and make sure that the battery hold down bracket, is not touching any of the battery terminals, in effect grounding the battery intermittenly. Check ALL the grounds. Check the voltage at the battery and ALL the other HOT wires.

This thing as you describe was also happening on a John Deere farm tractor, owned by a Doctor, friend of mine. It took a couple of weekends tracking and checking the little things, until we discovered the the guilty party. It was a bad condensor, along with the other things I have mentioned. ALL of them helped in keeping the tractor from starting and running, and they were intermittant, so the problem kept changing.

Good Luck!

MS Fowler · #13 06-03-2007, 08:28 PM

The engine should be a "K" series Kohler with point type ignition.

cavaliers16 · #14 06-04-2007, 09:02 AM

Condenser has been replaced too. The points are either new or adjusted, I'm not sure how that works (but I can ask).

MSFowler- thanks for the link. I'll pass that on to him when I get home from school and see if he can get this sorted out.

And yes, it has the Kohler 12hp engine.

As a side note- the alternator is getting so hot that it evaporates water

. That can't be good... The wiring is all new and the alternator is 5 years old. Hopefully that doesn't burn itself out.

Forgot- I'll have him check the spring too, thanks!

Mistress · #15 06-04-2007, 04:19 PM

RLEO- That's who you need.