Oil & Fuel john deere lx277 fuel/carb issue?

ltrain27 · Nov 17, 2014

hi- i've read many posts but this is my first time posting. my tractor only starts when i spray carb cleaner into carb but dies right away. i suspect it is not getting fuel into carb but i've already replaced fuel filter and fuel pump. any other ideas? prior to this, it was running kinda rough and will die occasionally. thx in advance for any help!

amaxwell · Nov 17, 2014

ltrain27 said:
hi- i've read many posts but this is my first time posting. my tractor only starts when i spray carb cleaner into carb but dies right away. i suspect it is not getting fuel into carb but i've already replaced fuel filter and fuel pump. any other ideas? prior to this, it was running kinda rough and will die occasionally. thx in advance for any help!

My guess is the carb has gunk buildup or trash in it. You might try a can of spray cleaner ,if that doesn't work carb work is probably next.

ltrain27 · Nov 17, 2014

Thx amaxwell! Is the spray cleaner the same as carb spray or something else? I've sprayed carb cleaner a few times and it would help start but the engine would die right away. I've seen the diagram for the carb and am probably not up for taking it apart... :-(

bruceatlam · Nov 17, 2014

Where do you have good fuel flow?? Fuel flow is gravity only up to the fuel pump. Disconnect the line before the fuel pump and see if you have good flow?? If you do, then do the same with the line before the carb. If you don't have flow at the pump, then you have some kind of obstruction before the fuel pump ---- if you have good flow before the fuel pump but not at carb then the pump is bad. If you have good flow all the way to the carb, then the carb is bad --- either replace it or rebuild it. My vote --- replace it. I never have any good luck rebuilding them.

ltrain27 · Nov 17, 2014

Thx Bruce, much appreciated! Used to drive through Camarillo on my way to UCSB all the time

. I have good fuel flow to and out of the fuel pump but don't think I've checked the line from pump to carb yet. I assumed that was good but for some reason, fuel not going into carb (my assumption since engine only starts with carb spray). Will definitely have to check this line out but will be looking at new carb nonetheless. Thx much!

Navasot · Nov 17, 2014

Is there a fuel shut off on the bottom of the carb? should have a wire plugged into it. Pull it out of the carb and see if the needle is stuck. If so you can clean it up and get it to work but when they start going out its best to replace them. Other cause would be your main jet is stopped up. you will have to pull it out and clean it well.. not much of a process though