JD LX188 Valve adjustments?

[mongo]

My 92 John Deere LX-188 is surging often and seems to have reduced power. With the powerflow bagger on it will lug and stall in high grass.

I have the tune up kit which I'll get with. So far I replaced the air filter with no improvement. The oil, fuel filter and plugs are next. BTW, do I need to gap the plugs? To what?

I read here that the LX-188 will run great but you need to adjust the valves. Is there a place to find out how to do that short of springing for the $100 maintenance manual from JD? (I already bought the three owners manual to the tune of $60+. Mower, Powerflow bagger, Snow Blower.)

I'd appreciate any advice on tuning.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

My 92 John Deere LX-188 is surging often and seems to have reduced power. With the powerflow bagger on it will lug and stall in high grass.

I have the tune up kit which I'll get with. So far I replaced the air filter with no improvement. The oil, fuel filter and plugs are next. BTW, do I need to gap the plugs? To what?

I read here that the LX-188 will run great but you need to adjust the valves. Is there a place to find out how to do that short of springing for the $100 maintenance manual from JD? (I already bought the three owners manual to the tune of $60+. Mower, Powerflow bagger, Snow Blower.)

I'd appreciate any advice on tuning.

I've never tried this, but some of the old timers around here adjust valves the same way they adjust carburetor mixture screws. Turn it one way till the engine starts to run poorly. Turn it the other way until the engine starts to run poorly. Set if halfway between the two. Rumor has it that this will get you a better adjustment than any feeler gauge.

Wear old clothes if you decide to do this. I guess it involves a bit of an oil shower.

 

[Shimon]

Pull the spark plugs and valve covers. Turn the crankshaft until the top of the cylinder is at TDC and both valves are loose. Adjust to .006". If you haven't ever adjusted valves, let us know and we can provide more specific details...otherwise, it's just like adjusting valves on any other engine. I would get some new valve cover gaskets (o-rings) too.

On edit: engine should be cold.

 

[Shimon]

spark plug gap is .024" - .028"

 

[Crockett2]

My LX 188 has done the same thing on two ocasions, both times i removed the carb and cleaned all of the ports, reinstalled and the surging went away. I would first notice it when at idle at no load, it would worsen and eventually surge under load when mowing. i hope this helps.