John Deere 316 - surging, stalling, hard to start, discharging the battery

[LarryGN]

Hello. I am new to TBN so I don't know if this has been discussed. If so, Google didn't find it.

I have a 1987 John Deere 316 with almost 500 hours on it. It is hard to start - sometimes I use starting fluid to get it going. Then, it surges - rpm goes up and down. If I try running with the throttle less than wide open it will stall.

Are these symptoms related? I read about the vacuum-driven fuel pump and so I am wondering: hard to start because of low rpm/low vacuum while cranking. Then, while running, it pulls in fuel, dropping vacuum, so it slows and vacuum builds, etc.

Is the surging something to do with the governor?

How can I check, and how much of the machine do I have to disassemble to do so?

I also read about the battery-discharging light, that it could have to do with bad connections or bad alternator. Again, where are the relevant connections and how do I get to them to clean/renew them?

Thanks in advance,
Larry

 

[hawkeye08]

Those are the symptoms I have when I leave gas in too long (like over winter). I add some Lucas fuel treatment and it usually clears up. If it is really bad, you may have to drain old gas, clean carb and use fresh gas...

 

[LarryGN]

Thanks hawkeye08. I'll try it. I did use Stabil over the winter and have used a couple of tankfuls so far this summer, but I'll get out the carb cleaner first chance I get. /Larry