John Deere ZTrak runs, then dies

[TxFig]

I swear this thing has me so mad, I'm going to just get a case of dynamite and blow this thing up... After years of having wal-mart **** mowers, i the fall of 2017 (16 months ago) I finally broke down and decided to buy a John Deere ZTrack M535 zero-turn mower. Bought it directly from John Deere - not a retail outlet.

Paid a boatload of money for it.

... and now, with only 62 hours on it (16 months later), it runs like a piece of ****.

About every other time I go out, it will start run for 3 hours or so. But after a while, it will start sputtering and then die - acting like it's not getting any gas. I check and the gas tank is still 1/2 full. But I dutifully fill it up the rest of the way - the mower will eventually start, run for a few minutes (cycling between running then dying), then die again after just 1 or 2 minutes.

I have drained the gas tank, thinking maybe some water got in the tank.
I have replaced the fuel filter.
I have replaced the air filter.
I buy premium gas 93-octane... and that's when I can't find ethanol free gas.

If I leave it sitting for a week, we can repeat the process - including it running for 2-3 hours. Which tells me it is NOT simply "bad gas".
I have had the mower into a repair shop 3 times this spring. He drains the tank - fills it up, and it runs for 10 minutes and he calls and says it's fixed.
What in the @$&BO*(&)*@#@ is wrong with this thing?


The longer this goes on, the more I am convinced this is a design defect in this mower. I am quickly becoming one of the worst PR spokesmen for John Deere they have had in this area.

 

[Lnk]

Print out what you just wrote, and hand it to the dealer. I assume this is still under warranty? Give them a chance to fix it right, then update this thread after it is done. Just trying to talk you down off the ledge:confused3: We Al get frustrated. If the dealer won't help you, contact JD headquarters.

Good luck.

 

[groundcover]

What for a motor did they stuff in there ? I’ve seen electronic modules do that when they are failing, also coils.
Once started my ‘86 F250 plow truck with a snow ball by cooling down the module, guy from the repair shop across the street wouldn’t have been anymore surprised if I had grown a second head !

 

[manganos]

Fuel cap vent clogged?

 

[tomplum]

It could be good to bring a pair of pliers with and pop the fuel line clamp at the pump to confirm that you have fuel that far. Bring also a small tin so you don't spill over a hot muffler. These pull fuel out of the top of the fuel tank, thus pine needle / grass debris can start to build in the pick up or line.

 

[jpilk99]

I was thinking more along the lines of Groundcover's comment around electrical. Gas is either bad or it ain't. Carbs either work or they don't. Compression is either there or it ain't. Spark plugs, coils, electrical etc. can kinda 'play games'. Works fine one minute, then don't. Easy to swap plugs. Costs more for coils/ignition, but, like Ink said, the JD dealer should honor the machine and help.

Let us know what it turns out being.

 

[RandyT]

Fuel cap vent clogged?

Non vented caps since 2012. Either will have a second line going to a charcoal canister or a second line going to the low vacuum side of the air intake.

 

[Ashan]

Was this issue ever solved? This sounds like the exact same issue as I am having currently, except I am barely getting 20 to 30 minutes before the issue starts. Mower on has 82 hours. My next step is to take it to the dealer, but I wanted to avoid the added cost.

Thanks

 

[TxFig]

Was this issue ever solved? This sounds like the exact same issue as I am having currently, except I am barely getting 20 to 30 minutes before the issue starts. Mower on has 82 hours. My next step is to take it to the dealer, but I wanted to avoid the added cost.

Thanks

Not really - but I did discover what was causing it and a very EASY "workaround".

Basically there is no filter inside the gas tank, so crap (grass clippings) can get into it. This causes the fuel line leading out of the tank to the motor to get clogged.
The "fix" is to disconnect the fuel line at the fuel filter and take my air compressor and blow air backwards (back toward the tank). This blows all of the crud out of the way and allows the gas to flow freely. It takes about 2 minutes and I am back in business.

IMHO, this is still a crappy design by John Deere - there should be a screen or something to keep crap out of the tank.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I use this it has a screen. I'd add an inline fuel filter if it doesn't have one.

 

[AaronM1234]

I swear this thing has me so mad, I'm going to just get a case of dynamite and blow this thing up... After years of having wal-mart **** mowers, i the fall of 2017 (16 months ago) I finally broke down and decided to buy a John Deere ZTrack M535 zero-turn mower. Bought it directly from John Deere - not a retail outlet.

Paid a boatload of money for it.

... and now, with only 62 hours on it (16 months later), it runs like a piece of ****.

About every other time I go out, it will start run for 3 hours or so. But after a while, it will start sputtering and then die - acting like it's not getting any gas. I check and the gas tank is still 1/2 full. But I dutifully fill it up the rest of the way - the mower will eventually start, run for a few minutes (cycling between running then dying), then die again after just 1 or 2 minutes.

I have drained the gas tank, thinking maybe some water got in the tank.
I have replaced the fuel filter.
I have replaced the air filter.
I buy premium gas 93-octane... and that's when I can't find ethanol free gas.

If I leave it sitting for a week, we can repeat the process - including it running for 2-3 hours. Which tells me it is NOT simply "bad gas".
I have had the mower into a repair shop 3 times this spring. He drains the tank - fills it up, and it runs for 10 minutes and he calls and says it's fixed.
What in the @$&BO*(&)*@#@ is wrong with this thing?


The longer this goes on, the more I am convinced this is a design defect in this mower. I am quickly becoming one of the worst PR spokesmen for John Deere they have had in this area.

I'm having the same problem with my Z740 right now. I also experienced this problem with another John Deere and spent a considerable amount of time and money, but it was never resolved. I need to know if your problem was ever resolved, and if so, what was the solution?

 

[Red Pepper]

This is my go to guy when it comes time for issues or just to watch and learn some good fixes, hope it is helpful

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I'd be upset with Kawasaki not Deere.
My troubleshooting ways are unorthodox probably because of 43 years of that I had to be creative.
It's either fuel or spark problems. I'd start with fuel.
On ebay you can order these universal 12V fuel pumps for $10. I'd get one and several feet of 5/16" fuel hose. Add a few feet of wire to the two pump leads with clips on end.
Get a 1 or 2 gallon gas can (new or 100% clean). Zip tie or mount (away from heat ), fuel hose in...to pump in...hose out run directly to carburetor. Plug & clamp removed hose line.
Connect pump leads directly to battery (red+, black--).
See how it runs now.
If it still cuts off you've eliminated fuel, so reconnect original fuel line.
Now spark. Two cylinder engine has two magneto coils each with a 1/4" kill tab. Unplug both tab leads.
Get two 1/4" female wire connectors and an SPST switch. Make a "Y"...connector each end to plug in kill tabs...then to switch...other switch connector a wire to ground. Switch open (off) you have spark. On kills engine.
See how it runs now.

If it runs fine with subbed-in fuel system then troubleshoot what's on mower (hoses, vapor-lock, etc). If it runs fine subbed-in ignition troubleshoot that...rubbed wire insulation, safety switches, ignition switch.

If it still acts up I'd be thinking carburetor. Maybe carb should have a heat shield.
If it runs fine for a few hours then starts sputtering & dying I'd have starting fluid (od safer...WD-40) with me and spray around carb checking for air vacuum leak.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Ebay pump...

 

[mjonesnh]

Ebay pump...View attachment 4117517

Have 1 of those on my ztr, Original vacuum pump seems seemed be struggling keeping fuel to carb. Replaced with another vacuum pump, not much change. Put this 12 volt pump on and problem went away. Tied hot to wire to carb solenoid cutoff so when key shutoff fuel flow stopped. Been using this for 6 years with 100% reliability