John Deere ZTrak runs, then dies

[AaronM1234]

I swear this thing has me so mad, I'm going to just get a case of dynamite and blow this thing up... After years of having wal-mart **** mowers, i the fall of 2017 (16 months ago) I finally broke down and decided to buy a John Deere ZTrack M535 zero-turn mower. Bought it directly from John Deere - not a retail outlet.

Paid a boatload of money for it.

... and now, with only 62 hours on it (16 months later), it runs like a piece of ****.

About every other time I go out, it will start run for 3 hours or so. But after a while, it will start sputtering and then die - acting like it's not getting any gas. I check and the gas tank is still 1/2 full. But I dutifully fill it up the rest of the way - the mower will eventually start, run for a few minutes (cycling between running then dying), then die again after just 1 or 2 minutes.

I have drained the gas tank, thinking maybe some water got in the tank.
I have replaced the fuel filter.
I have replaced the air filter.
I buy premium gas 93-octane... and that's when I can't find ethanol free gas.

If I leave it sitting for a week, we can repeat the process - including it running for 2-3 hours. Which tells me it is NOT simply "bad gas".
I have had the mower into a repair shop 3 times this spring. He drains the tank - fills it up, and it runs for 10 minutes and he calls and says it's fixed.
What in the @$&BO*(&)*@#@ is wrong with this thing?


The longer this goes on, the more I am convinced this is a design defect in this mower. I am quickly becoming one of the worst PR spokesmen for John Deere they have had in this area.

I'm having the same problem with my Z740 right now. I also experienced this problem with another John Deere and spent a considerable amount of time and money, but it was never resolved. I need to know if your problem was ever resolved, and if so, what was the solution?

 

[Red Pepper]

This is my go to guy when it comes time for issues or just to watch and learn some good fixes, hope it is helpful

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I'd be upset with Kawasaki not Deere.
My troubleshooting ways are unorthodox probably because of 43 years of that I had to be creative.
It's either fuel or spark problems. I'd start with fuel.
On ebay you can order these universal 12V fuel pumps for $10. I'd get one and several feet of 5/16" fuel hose. Add a few feet of wire to the two pump leads with clips on end.
Get a 1 or 2 gallon gas can (new or 100% clean). Zip tie or mount (away from heat ), fuel hose in...to pump in...hose out run directly to carburetor. Plug & clamp removed hose line.
Connect pump leads directly to battery (red+, black--).
See how it runs now.
If it still cuts off you've eliminated fuel, so reconnect original fuel line.
Now spark. Two cylinder engine has two magneto coils each with a 1/4" kill tab. Unplug both tab leads.
Get two 1/4" female wire connectors and an SPST switch. Make a "Y"...connector each end to plug in kill tabs...then to switch...other switch connector a wire to ground. Switch open (off) you have spark. On kills engine.
See how it runs now.

If it runs fine with subbed-in fuel system then troubleshoot what's on mower (hoses, vapor-lock, etc). If it runs fine subbed-in ignition troubleshoot that...rubbed wire insulation, safety switches, ignition switch.

If it still acts up I'd be thinking carburetor. Maybe carb should have a heat shield.
If it runs fine for a few hours then starts sputtering & dying I'd have starting fluid (od safer...WD-40) with me and spray around carb checking for air vacuum leak.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Ebay pump...