JD 325 PTO clutch / voltage regulator / engine won't start

[donl1150]

I have a John Deere 325 garden tractor model year 1995. Serial # < 70000. 48 mower deck. Kawaski 17 HP engine. All have been working fine for 20+ years but have a little problem that I can稚 figure out. The last month or so the yellow light on the dash has been flashing intermittently but I haven稚 had time to figure out the issue. So here is the sequence of events:

Just finishing up about an hour of mowing when I noticed a faint smell something akin to a belt sticking & burning. Then the mower deck quit.
Quickly disengaged the PTO and headed for the driveway.
Looked underneath and the drive pulley looked a little crooked. Wiggled it and it fell off the shaft !
The bolt looked fine so I took the 3 nuts off the clutch assembly. The plates looked pretty worn so I ordered a new clutch assembly.
New one arrives and when reading the instructions, it becomes obvious to me you need pretty specific voltage to the clutch for it to work properly.
Install new clutch and torque to 55 ft-lbs.
Measure the battery: 12.6v. Start it up and at full speed still 12.6v.
Measure the output of the genset: 14.6v. So I figure the voltage regulator needs replacement.
Install new regulator, start it up but the yellow light is still flashing. Hmmm, that痴 odd.
With the mower deck off, engage PTO and the drive pulley spins. Good news I figure.
Install mower deck. Let痴 cut grass. Engage PTO and deck rotates for 5 seconds and engine kills that痴 weird. Try to start and engine just cranks doesn稚 want to start.
Tried many times and almost seems like no spark or no fuel.
Reinstall old voltage regulator same problem.
Remove line from discharge of fuel pump, crank engine, fuel spits out.
Remove spark plug and it is dry, looks ok. Ground it, crank engine. Could not see spark.
o So it appears no current to spark plug. What do you suggest? What needs to be replaced now? And where is it?

 

[beenthere]

Maybe the battery? Maybe time to get the service tech manual for your 325 tractor.

:welcome: to TBN

 

[tomplum]

So I assume yours has a time delay module. AM128906 It is located on the left had side of the shroud with a variety of wires, one of which runs to the + on the solenoid. 14.6 VDC is OK. I don't recall if this has a battery discharge sensor that gets wiggy and turns the light on or not. Many of the LX/ GT 200 series had them that fail a fair amount, don't recall on yours.

 

[donl1150]

Maybe the battery? Maybe time to get the service tech manual for your 325 tractor.

:welcome: to TBN

Battery is only 2 years old. Plus it cranks it over nicely. Just doesn't seem to fire now. Where would I find the tech service manual?

 

[donl1150]

So I assume yours has a time delay module. AM128906 It is located on the left had side of the shroud with a variety of wires, one of which runs to the + on the solenoid. 14.6 VDC is OK. I don't recall if this has a battery discharge sensor that gets wiggy and turns the light on or not. Many of the LX/ GT 200 series had them that fail a fair amount, don't recall on yours.

I will have to look to see if I can spot this. What is the purpose of it?

 

[zzvyb6]

I have a 525, same motor 1 less wheel. When I have a light intermittently flashing, it means I'm out of gas. A dry spark plug could mean the same thing. I replaced the fuel pump on this engine and all the problems went away. It is a common problem on the Kawa motor.

 

[donl1150]

I have a 525, same motor 1 less wheel. When I have a light intermittently flashing, it means I'm out of gas. A dry spark plug could mean the same thing. I replaced the fuel pump on this engine and all the problems went away. It is a common problem on the Kawa motor.

Gas tank is at least always half full....so not that. How about a carburator solenoid valve? Just saw a Youtube on that but for a 345 model I believe. I saw OEM one for a 325 so it must have one.....over $100. Ridiculous price for a solenoid....and it wasn't even painted green! Have to look for after market one and try that maybe. Or maybe the TDM as discussed above.

 

[beenthere]

don
Send a PM to member joecdeere and inquire about a .pdf of a service tech manual for your 325. Just might be in his stash, and he has been very generous and helpful to several other TBN members in need of it.

 

[donl1150]

Gas tank is at least always half full....so not that. How about a carburator solenoid valve? Just saw a Youtube on that but for a 345 model I believe. I saw OEM one for a 325 so it must have one.....over $100. Ridiculous price for a solenoid....and it wasn't even painted green! Have to look for after market one and try that maybe. Or maybe the TDM as discussed above.

Anyone know if I can just use a simple tester to see if there is any current to the carburetor solenoid or does it need a specific voltage to work properly? If there isn't any - or insufficient - I assume that tells me the problem is upstream somewhere? If there is current but the machine doesn't fire, does that mean the solenoid is the problem?

 

[tomplum]

So the carb solenoid is only responsible for letting fuel up through the main of the carburetor. You should have 12 volts when the key is on to operate. Many times if you engage the park brake and hit the key- you can hear or feel the click when the key is cycled.