1554 owners

[ttstraw]

I got a buddy at work that bought a 1554 and this thing is a dog for a 27hp machine. It will run up hill just fine without the deck engaged but when you engage the deck it has to crawl up the very same hill, you can have the deck all the way up not even cutting grass and it all but shuts down. down hill or on level its fine. The dealer cant look at it for a week or so so I figured I would ask the folks here for ideas on what to look for.

So, any ideas...there has got to be something wrong with this thing, it only has 1 hour or so on it?

Tom

 

[GACub1554]

Two things come to mind, first make sure the drive belt is routed properly around the tensioner pulley (this was not done correctly on my new tractor and it caused similar results). If you look under the tractor, the belt may still be somewhat tight even if it is incorrectly routed around the tensioner... and the tractor will still operate on flat surfaces. If the belt routing is not the problem, you may need to purge the hydro of any air that may be in the system. You can do this by disengaging the hydro lever on the back of the tractor, running the tractor at full throttle and simultaneously pressing the accellarator 10 times or so. I think i described that correctly, I have not done that since my tractor was new (I now have 60 trouble free hours on it) but you can find the exact method for doing it in the tractor's owners manual.

 

[CCinCT]

I think there was a problem with the tensioner springs on the 1000's and 1500's last year. It was too weak and would cause similar problems. It was a factory recall/replacement/service bulletin/whateverthehecktheycallit.

 

[ttstraw]

well we took a look at it during lunch today so here is what we found. Belts, all routed correctly. Popped the spark plugs, one is burning just fine, the other is wet with gas. We think its running on one cylinder. I got to run it too, this thing will flat out die on what I had to ask twice was the slope in question, guys this is not a slope and with the deck up and the blades engaged...full throttle....when you push the go pedal down you can literally kill the engine. We also did the purging thing but I don't think that is the issue, it will go fine without the deck engaged. I think there is an engine problem.

 

[GACub1554]

I wish i was more help to you at this point, but i am not skilled enough at engine repair to give anybody else advice on them. It sounds like a warranty issue now, i hope you are dealing with a "stand-up" type dealer who will get the issues squared away. It really is a nice machine to be non-shaft drive! I will be spending quality time with mine today

 

[ttstraw]

Good dealer, he is coming down Saturday to look it for him. This machine should rip throught the grass with a 27hp engine.

 

[dooleysm]

I just bought one this spring and I really enjoy it. I can get through my 1.3 acres in 50 minutes if I don't bag it. Closer to 1.5 hours if I do bag and take time to spread the clippings when full.

It definitely rips through the gas though, ouch!

 

[papabear]

We just bought a GT1554 last week and have used it once.My lot is only 11,000SF( i know,serious overkill) and as flat as a table top but I can say we have no problems with ours. John

 

[Fordlords]

Sure sounds like an engine problem to me, probably with the ignition for the one cylinder. Warranty should take care of it.
-Fordlords-

 

[dqdave1]

swap the plugs and see what happens; might just have a bad plug.