One *HOT* 445!

[wwivhobbit]

Got a brand new front grill for my 445 to replace the old one that got broken when it fell off and I ran over it (long story). Well, the lawn had gotten neglected for a couple of weeks while other things were being tended to, and it was nearly a foot high. So, last night I finally got a chance to whack away at the yard and after a couple of hours I finally got it done. When I backed the mower back into the garage I thought I smelled something burning or hot, like plastic melting. I didn't see anything that looked out of the ordinary till I shut off the tractor and went around front to pull down the garage door, when I saw my nice new grill sagging and drooping in a spot just about where the V-Twin emblem is! There were 3 or 4 segments that were almost melted, and all out of shape! My muffler guard is in place, and the temperature gauge reads as normal operating range, so what do you suppose could be the problem? I turned it back on and the radiator fan is running, and the radiator is clean, and like I said, the temperature gauge reads normal, but could have the heavy grass be the culprit here?

 

[RandyT]

about the only thing that would put off enough head to melt the grill would be the exhaust. If the rest of the engine had gotten that hot you would of seen other more advanced problems like the engine seizing up.

 

[Zebrafive]

Were any screen(s) plugged/obstructed, not allowing enough air flow???

 

[beenthere]

Muffler part # AM118857

About $325, but maybe a patch over the hole in the pipe going to the muffler. Would think the un-muffled noise would be a clue to a hole.

 

[wwivhobbit]

Exhaust looks to be brand new, no obstructions, and the temp gauge seems to be working, and showing normal operating range... I had taken the muffler shield off to replace the headlights, and at first thought "you idiot, you forgot to put it back in!", bu it's there, intact, and all tightened as it should be.... Someone else suggested that just the heavy mowing could have caused it to overheat, but wouldn't that show up on the temp gauge or with coolant spewing out?

 

[Gator6x4]

Start the mower, push to full throttle, raise the hood and placed your hand in the area of where the plastic melted and see if you don't feel the hot breath of engine exhaust.

 

[wwivhobbit]

I didn't feel anything, but I'll disassemble things and look around more this weekend. Thanks!

 

[Richard001]

Did you purchase this from JD or after market?

 

[CalG]

Running lean, or running with retarded ignition timing will have the exhaust mighty hot.

Something to check if you don't observe anything else.

 

[wwivhobbit]

Did you purchase this from JD or after market?

Right from JD.