L110 sat for 2 years

[donn12]

We gave this mower to my mother in law. One day it stopped running and she threw a tarp over it and let it rot for two years!
What needs to be done to make this usable again? I changed the oil,, battery, gas and fuel filter. The air filter looks fine. Should I assume it needs new plugs and a clean or replacement carb? it will turn over but not fire.

Thanks for the help!

 

[bcb]

check here
OMGX21647_K3

 

[donn12]

I did not see anything in the manual. Are you referring to the storage section?

 

[jenkinsph]

We gave this mower to my mother in law. One day it stopped running and she threw a tarp over it and let it rot for two years!
What needs to be done to make this usable again? I changed the oil,, battery, gas and fuel filter. The air filter looks fine. Should I assume it needs new plugs and a clean or replacement carb? it will turn over but not fire.

Thanks for the help!

Considering that it wouln't start for your mil two years ago you need to figure that part out. I would determine if the fuel is getting to the cylinders (check to see if fuel is on the plugs) and whether the ignition is providing spark to begin with. In most cases one of the two isn't happening.

 

[jinman]

I would determine if the fuel is getting to the cylinders (check to see if fuel is on the plugs) and whether the ignition is providing spark to begin with. In most cases one of the two isn't happening.

Exactly! The two things I check for are fuel and spark. Checking for fuel is the easiest. You just remove the air filter completely and pour in a tablespoonful of gasoline right into the carb intake. Alternately, you can put a little gasoline into a hand spray bottle and spray in a tablespoonful of gas into the carb. For safety in case of backfire, put the air filter and cover back on loosely and try to start the tractor. If the engine fires or starts momentarily, it will die almost immediately because the amount of fuel you put in won't last for long. If this does make the engine run, you next want to check that the fuel pump is sending fuel to the carb. pull the output line off the fuel pump and crank the engine over a few times to see if fuel squirts out. If you have fuel there, then you most likely have a gummed up float chamber needle valve or fuel restriction internally to the carb. On the bottom of the carb is a fuel cutoff solenoid also. With the brake set, turn on the key and see if you can hear that click as it energizes. You should be able to turn the switch on/off a few times and hear it or feel it with your hand. If the solenoid is working and fuel is coming out of the fuel pump, it's time to remove the carb and do an internal cleaning.

For no-spark issues, you want to make sure all the safety switches like the one on the brake pedal, SEAT, and PTO are working. These send a "kill" signal to the engine to remove the spark. If you can identify the kill signal wire to the engine, you can disconnect it so that is not an issue. Electrical troubleshooting is much more involved than checking for fuel, so there are many things to check, but I normally pull a plug wire and hold it (by the insulation) with a tiny gap while turning over the engine and watch for a spark jump to the plug. You can also pull the plug and ground it's metal threads while turning over the engine. I wouldn't suggest this if you have a heart pacemaker. It's pretty easy to get zapped by a spark plug. You can buy inline testers at Harbor Freight that allow you to view a jumping spark if you are afraid of a zap.

As Steve said, figuring out whether it's fuel or electrical and fixing that problem will cure almost every starting problem.

 

[bcb]

I did not see anything in the manual. Are you referring to the storage section?

no this

Engine

IF


CHECK

Poor Engine Performance


Dirt in fuel system or fuel is old. Replace fuel with fresh stabilized fuel. Obtain fuel from another supplier before suspecting machine problems. Suppliers blend fuels differently and changing suppliers will generally solve any performance problems

Fuel blended with alcohol or ether may contribute to performance problems by causing gum and varnish deposits, especially if fuel is stored for several weeks or more. Obtain fresh fuel.

Engine Will Not Start


Brake pedal not depressed.

PTO is engaged.

Spark plug wire is loose or disconnected.

Improper fuel.

Plugged fuel filter.

Defective safety switch.

Electrical problem - See Electrical Troubleshooting Section

Engine Is Hard To Start


Carburetor is not adjusted properly or dirty.

Plugged fuel filter.

Faulty spark plug.

Stale or improper fuel.

Loose or corroded electrical connections.

Engine oil viscosity.

Engine Runs Unevenly


Cooling fins plugged.

Loose electrical connections.

Choke or throttle cable sticking.

Fuel line or fuel filter plugged.

Stale or dirty fuel.

Improper fuel.

Air cleaner element plugged.

Engine Misses Under Load


Faulty spark plug.

Stale or dirty fuel.

Plugged fuel filter.

Engine Vapor Locks


Fuel tank vent plugged.

Dirt in fuel filter.

Cooling fins plugged.

Loose hose connection at fuel filter or fuel pump.

Engine Overheats


Engine air intake screen plugged.

Cooling fins plugged.

Engine oil low or too high.

Engine operated too long at a slow idle speed.

Engine Will Not Idle


Spark plug not gapped correctly.

Faulty spark plug.

Operator raising off the seat.

Engine Knocks


Stale or low octane fuel.

Engine overloaded.

Low engine speed.

Oil level low.

Engine Stops Or Misses When Operating On Hillsides


Fuel tank less than half full of fuel.

Operator raising off of the seat.

Engine Backfires


Faulty spark plug.

Operator raising off of the seat.

Engine Loses Power


Engine overheating.

Too much oil in engine.

Dirty air cleaner.

Faulty spark plug.

Travel speed is too fast for conditions.

Improper fuel.

Excessive Fuel Consumption


Choke is not fully open.

Black Exhaust Smoke


Air filter is dirty or oil soaked.

Engine Stops When REVERSE Foot Pedal Is Depressed And Attachment Is Engaged (Hydrostatic)


Normal condition. (See Using Reverse Implement Option in the OPERATING section.)

Engine Stops When Gear Shift Lever Is Moved To The R (REVERSE) Position and Attachment Is Engaged (Gear)


Normal condition. (See Using Reverse Implement Option in the OPERATING section.)

 

[donn12]

Thanks BCB!