Any ideas what is wrong with my B2150 ?

[TimP]

Hi. Before I dropped my mower for the winter season, I wanted to mow the grass one last time in the front of the house.

I have a B2150 with about 500 hours on it and was using a belly mower.

I started losing power rapidly and almost came to a complete stall.

It sounded like I had run over something with the mower and it was binding the blades and therefore the enegine. But I most definately did not run over anything.

The... I noticed smoke from the engine !

It was running kinda rough too.

I shut it off and did not continue to run it anymore.

Of course, the first thing I check was the oil level and it was good.

I have only a very little mechanical knowledge so I will be calling one of my local dealer in the morning.

But I was hoping to have some ideas about what it "could" be so I will know if the dealer is giving me the truth about my problem.

I am a quarter of a mile off the main road, so I definatelty need this tractor to clear snow this winter.

Thanks for any ideas.

Tim

 

[pdowling1]

I susupect water in your fuel. What color was the smoke you saw?

 

[TimP]

I susupect water in your fuel. What color was the smoke you saw?

Thanks for the quick response.

It was white smoke.

Hmmm.. I'll have to take a flashlight and see if I can see any water in the fuel tank.

I've had this tracor for 10 years and this is the very first time it has given me any real problem, so I can't get too mad at it.... yet.....

Tim

 

[pdowling1]

You may not see water in the tank, more likely to find it in the fuel filter. Clean/change the filter. White smoke is a clue that points to water being the problem.

 

[TimP]

You may not see water in the tank, more likely to find it in the fuel filter. Clean/change the filter. White smoke is a clue that points to water being the problem.

Thanks for the input.

I'll be check that out........

REgards, Tim

 

[TimP]

Oh.... I should be clear about the fact that when I said smoke was coming from the engine, I did NOT mean it was coming from the exhasust pipe.

It was coming, literally, from the engine.

I saw some smoke coming from the little rubber oil oil that is like a drain hose unde the engine... and when I pulled the oil dip stick, it was smoking from that too.

Tim

 

[Adam23]

Have you checked under the mower deck to ensure that there in nothing binding the blades?

This time last year, I was mowing my back 2 acres and something seemed to be binding on the deck on my John Deere. I looked under it and saw nothing so I continued to mow. After several more minutes, I knew something was not right so I took it up to the garage and removed my deck. When I flipped it over to get a better look, I noticed that something plastic-like was formed all around the blade spindles and bearings causing it to bind. I quickly put 2 and 2 together and figured out that it was the string that held together the 65 bails of straw that I spread several months earlier. I kept all the string that I cut off the bails but apparently my freind did not. When mowing, pieces of string were sucked up under the deck and quickly wrapped up into the spindle and melted around it.

I know this is not your problem but thought I would share that it might not be apparently obvious if there is something binding. You might not see it the first time you look under the deck. Make sure you look very closely before ruling something out.

Good Luck.

 

[TimP]

Have you checked under the mower deck to ensure that there in nothing binding the blades?

This time last year, I was mowing my back 2 acres and something seemed to be binding on the deck on my John Deere. I looked under it and saw nothing so I continued to mow. After several more minutes, I knew something was not right so I took it up to the garage and removed my deck. When I flipped it over to get a better look, I noticed that something plastic-like was formed all around the blade spindles and bearings causing it to bind. I quickly put 2 and 2 together and figured out that it was the string that held together the 65 bails of straw that I spread several months earlier. I kept all the string that I cut off the bails but apparently my freind did not. When mowing, pieces of string were sucked up under the deck and quickly wrapped up into the spindle and melted around it.

I know this is not your problem but thought I would share that it might not be apparently obvious if there is something binding. You might not see it the first time you look under the deck. Make sure you look very closely before ruling something out.

Good Luck.

I only did a quick looksie under the deck. But I will do a closer inspection inside the mower.

You're right that I should not rule out anything.... so I think it's wise to look at some of the most obvious things and the ones that "I" can check without sending it to the dealer.

Thanks, Tim

 

[Volfandt]

White smoke = water is getting into the combustion chamber.
This also causes an abrupt loss of power.
Best case scenerio is theres water in your fuel tank and fuel filters.
You can try some Power Service to see if this improves it. If it does replace the filters, drain & refill the tank w/fresh fuel.

Worst case is a blown headgasket. Check to see if theres any white milky deposits in the oil. It can usually be easily see on the dip stick.
Hopefully it's the former not the latter.
Good luck

 

[Egon]

To me it sounds like blow by being vented from the crankcase.

I'd let the dealer figure this one out.

 

[TimP]

To me it sounds like blow by being vented from the crankcase.

I'd let the dealer figure this one out.

Thanks to everyone for the ideas.

Egon.... what do you mean by "blow being vented."

Thanks, Tim

 

[Egon]

Combustion gasses are getting into the crankcase and are then vented out the vent pipe.

 

[TimP]

Combustion gasses are getting into the crankcase and are then vented out the vent pipe.

This would more probably indicate a head gasket prroblem then ?

At least that would be better than some other possibilities which would allow combustion gasses in to the crankcase I guess.

How big of a deal is it to replace a head gasket on the B2150 ?

Thanks, Tim

 

[Egon]

You have to wait for a diagnosis to find out what the real problem is. A head gasket may be the cause but there are many other areas of interest also.

 

[TimP]

I was thinking of having a fall tune-up done anyway.... and many dealer are running their Fall/Winter specials for service work.

So I just got off the phone with the local dealer service dept who said they will probably pick it up this afternoon.

$275 for their basic tune-up special. Oil, filter(s), clutch adjustments etc.
The killer for me is the extra $155 pick up and delivery charge.

I explained my smoke and loss of power problem and the service mgr said it sounded like water or other fuel contamination. But they will search for the problem.

I'll let you all know what they find... and what it ends up costing.

Thanks again, Tim

 

[Egon]

I surely hope it is a fuel problem.

 

[TimP]

Me 2.

I'd rather spend the cash on Christmas presents....

But you gotta do what you gotta do.

Tim

 

[rdsaustintx]

As I read this, the OP says smoke came from the engine, but NOT out of the exhaust. If so, forget water in the fuel.

Volf beat me to it (again). You *hope* it's a head gasket!

 

[TimP]

UPDATE:

Not much of an explanation... but I guess it's good news.

The dealer called me this afternoon and said my tractor was ready.

I asked him what they found causing the smoke and loss of power, and he said it was my air filter.

He said it was pretty much completely blocked with dust, pollen and grass.

I have no idea how this would cause the problem... but at least they did not discover any major problem.

Other than a fan belt which was dry rotted, all they did was the "tune-up".

This was the fuel filter, oil filter, oil change, check and top off all other fluids, adjust clutch. This was all done wiht ther fall "Special" price of $275... plus the cost of the new fan belt and pick up & delivery charge of $155.

Totalled up to $500. They were going to deliver back to my house today.

So... not too bad. Very quick service.

Now I just have to drop the mower and mount the FEL and rear blade. I usually dont' swap the blade out for my snowthrower unless they are calling for some major snowfall. ( 8" + )

Thanks to all for your idea and help... I'd still like to know how a clogged air filter caused the problem though.

Tim

 

[Egon]

That is good news.

So much for all us advisors.