Does 29hp Kawasaki DFI Watercooled have problems

bontai_Joe · Jul 8, 2008

I'm sure you are having vapor lock problems. No reason for the fuel pump to normally get hot to the touch. Is the pump picking up heat from the motor in some way. I'm guessing the replacement fuel pump will be mounted on stand offs to space it away from whatever is generating the heat.

Mike_S · Jul 11, 2008

bontai_Joe said:
I'm sure you are having vapor lock problems. No reason for the fuel pump to normally get hot to the touch. Is the pump picking up heat from the motor in some way. I'm guessing the replacement fuel pump will be mounted on stand offs to space it away from whatever is generating the heat.

The electric fuel pump is located beside the seat and not even close to the engine -- I have a gut feeling that the vapor lock has something to do with the new alcohol-blended fuels AND the digital fuel injection and am awaiting the arrival of the Kawasaki pump.

I suspect that as long as fuel is passing through the fuel pump, it remains warm, but when it is deprived of fuel, it overheats (just a guess).

Hopefully, the new pump will arrive today.

Mike

shot_gun · Jul 11, 2008

Keep us updated please. Just incase I have a problem in the future it would be nice to refrence.

shot_gun · Jul 16, 2008

Mike Any news on your machine?

Mike_S · Jul 17, 2008

shot_gun said:
Mike Any news on your machine?

I gave up on my local sales/service center since they didn't seem to care once I bought a commercial machine from them, so in desperation, stopped by a "Master Service" center for Toro that was a half-hour away and they immediately took a serious interest, called Toro and Kawasaki and found out that YES, there was a problem with the fuel pumps on the water-cooled Kawasaki engines with digital fuel injection--vapor lock was an issue with the new alcohol blended fuels. Kawasaki stated that the solution was to use their fuel pump and not the Toro fuel pump (Toro part number). The new pump was received by the service center a few days later, but my timing was an issue -- the new Toro dealer (new to me, but has been in business many years) is going on vacation next week.

The new pump does not bolt on the same way nor does it have the same electrical connector as the Toro OEM pump, so the service center will pick up my mower and between them, Toro and Kawasaki, will figure out how to mount the new pump.

Kudos to this other Toro dealer that took a serious interest in my warranty problem even though I did not purchase the machine from him. It turned out that mine was not the only Kaw 29 hp engine out there with that problem and all my local dealer had to do was make a couple of phonecalls.

Hopefully, in abou a week, it will be running right thanks to a dealer that actually cared--will post when it gets fixed.

Mike

shot_gun · Jul 19, 2008

Thanks! and if you can will you post a pic of the new pump? Just curious if it looks like mine or not.

Mike_S · Jul 31, 2008

shot_gun said:
Thanks! and if you can will you post a pic of the new pump? Just curious if it looks like mine or not.

The Toro Master Service center owner personally picked up my ZMaster 589 and installed the new Kawasaki fuel pump and delivered it today. Although the grass was tall and wet, I mowed three acres and it did not die once, thus I feel that the problem was solved. I have never posted a picture on this forum, so will give it a try. Many thanks to Curtis Arnold whose efforts solved the vaporlock problem even though I did not purchase the mower from him -- he gets my business next time (he earned it unlike the local dealer).

Mike