X540... PLEASE HELP

[VTtractorguy]

Originally Posted by 2Malamutes

A good practice on the 485, but not really applicable to the X540. 485 has a hydraulic clutch, while the 540 is an electric clutch. I learned from experience on my Mother's 540 to not engage near idle unless I wanted to stall.

But you could engage far off from full throttle without stalling? Unless I let my 540 warm up for 5 minutes and run it wide open, it will stall when engaging the PTO. Something is wrong. I'll play with it tomorrow.

[VTtractorguy]

Originally Posted by JDFANATIC

First thing I would start with is a bunch of grease on all three spindles. See if that resolves anything.

Thanks JD, but I have greased everything and it didn't help. Tractor now has only 11.5 hours on the meter.

[shot_gun]

As far as the engine running on one cylinder, I think it is running on both, but I'm not sure. When it was cold I fired it up for about ten seconds, shut it off then touched the exhaust coming out of each cylinder and both were hot. So I assume both are firing.

An easy way to tell if it firing on both cyl. is to remove one spark plug wire at a time and listen to the engine die down. If you remove a wire and the engine dies down than that cyl. is firing. If you remove the wire and you get no change in rpm then that is the cyl. that is not firing. I've run a couple 540's at work and I don't really remember having a problem with with the pto. I think you can engage it around half throttle and rev it up from there. With 26 hp you shouldn't have any problem turning a 54" deck. I did a quick search on Deere's dealer web site and there has been no reported issues relating to your problem. I think your down a cyl. or an idler or something along those lines is begining to sieze.

[VTtractorguy]

Originally Posted by shot_gun

An easy way to tell if it firing on both cyl. is to remove one spark plug wire at a time and listen to the engine die down. If you remove a wire and the engine dies down than that cyl. is firing. If you remove the wire and you get no change in rpm then that is the cyl. that is not firing. I've run a couple 540's at work and I don't really remember having a problem with with the pto. I think you can engage it around half throttle and rev it up from there. With 26 hp you shouldn't have any problem turning a 54" deck. I did a quick search on Deere's dealer web site and there has been no reported issues relating to your problem. I think your down a cyl. or an idler or something along those lines is begining to sieze.

So with 11.5 hrs and the engine being run this way (down a cyl. or a bad pulley) will there be any long term damage done?

[ChuckinNH]

Most engines have some kind of govenor that kicks in, and maintains rpm when the engine is under load, and it sure sounds like the one on your engine is not working if the mower belts, and pulleys are turning freely. I'm not too familiar with the new small engines, and I suppose that could be controlled by a computer chip, or electronicly now, but the net result is the same. Apply load without one, and the engine will stall.

[shot_gun]

So with 11.5 hrs and the engine being run this way (down a cyl. or a bad pulley) will there be any long term damage done?

With a non firing cyl. you can wash down that particular cyl with the unburnt fuel and possibly cause damage to that cyl over time. I'd give it a check this morning and find out if you are a cyl down. Then you'll know for sure. A ad pulley/idler will usually take out belts which if it does will be covered under warranty.

[2Malamutes]

Originally Posted by VTtractorguy

But you could engage far off from full throttle without stalling? Unless I let my 540 warm up for 5 minutes and run it wide open, it will stall when engaging the PTO. Something is wrong. I'll play with it tomorrow.

No, both X540s I've used, a demo and my Mother's, had to be engaged at full throttle, and even then it is a very noticeable strain on the engine. This seemed odd to me given what I am used to with the 2320, but the dealer said it is normal and that they are two disparate systems.

When my Mother was looking at the 540 I told her to engage the PTO at idle, which promptly stopped the engine as if someone had clamped down the output shaft. I got on it and tried the same thing with the same result, engaging at low RPM stops it dead. I have also tried engaging it right after starting at full throttle and had it stall out, so I'm not convinced there is some complex issue here, but just a tecnically different system than is used by the bulk of the people replying.

[VTtractorguy]

Originally Posted by ChuckinNH

Most engines have some kind of govenor that kicks in, and maintains rpm when the engine is under load, and it sure sounds like the one on your engine is not working if the mower belts, and pulleys are turning freely. I'm not too familiar with the new small engines, and I suppose that could be controlled by a computer chip, or electronicly now, but the net result is the same. Apply load without one, and the engine will stall.

Good thought... I'll try it this morning and see if I can hear the throttle opening up.

[VTtractorguy]

Originally Posted by 2Malamutes

No, both X540s I've used, a demo and my Mother's, had to be engaged at full throttle, and even then it is a very noticeable strain on the engine. This seemed odd to me given what I am used to with the 2320, but the dealer said it is normal and that they are two disparate systems.

Wow, if that's the way they are, I can't imagine it will help for a private resale. If I was looking for a used machine, seeing that would kill the deal for me. Guess I'll be trading it in. Still though... something seems wrong with my machine. It actually didn't do this for the first 8 hours. It strained, but didn't stall. The stalling started right after I changed the oil. I used JD oil (10w30 I think). But that shouldn't have any effect. Maybe going to Mobil 1 synthetic will help.

[2Malamutes]

Originally Posted by VTtractorguy

It actually didn't do this for the first 8 hours. It strained, but didn't stall. The stalling started right after I changed the oil. I used JD oil (10w30 I think). But that shouldn稚' have any effect. Maybe going to Mobil 1 synthetic will help.

After reading through your OP again, I agree it shouldn't be stalling at full throttle if it is warm, but at anything less than full throttle warm I am not surprised given my experience with 2 540s. I was initially surprised at how violent the engagement of the deck is on the 540. Grease all of your pulleys (the Zerks) and change to a 5W30 synthetic.