X540... PLEASE HELP

   / X540... PLEASE HELP
  • Thread Starter
#21  
2Malamutes said:
After reading through your OP again, I agree it shouldn't be stalling at full throttle if it is warm, but at anything less than full throttle warm I am not surprised given my experience with 2 540s. I was initially surprised at how violent the engagement of the deck is on the 540. Grease all of your pulleys (the Zerks) and change to a 5W30 synthetic.

Thanks for your imput. I'll grease everything today. I wonder if this is unique to the X500s or if the X300s and X700s do it as well.
 
   / X540... PLEASE HELP #22  
VTtractorguy said:
Thanks for your imput. I'll grease everything today. I wonder if this is unique to the X500s or if the X300s and X700s do it as well.

X700 has a hydraulic clutch, so it is best engaged at low RPM and then the throttle ramped up for the least strain on the PTO. Since the X300 also has the electric PTO clutch, I imagine that it would be a similar engagement to the X540 although I've never tried one.
 
   / X540... PLEASE HELP #23  
I engage the clutch in my X304 (17HP Kaw 1-cyl) at about half-throttle without it stalling. The sudden load does slow the engine but it's governor picks it back up almost immediately. Then again, this is only a 2-bladed deck & if I read between the lines correctly the 540 has a 3-blade deck.
 
   / X540... PLEASE HELP
  • Thread Starter
#24  
dbdartman said:
I engage the clutch in my X304 (17HP Kaw 1-cyl) at about half-throttle without it stalling. The sudden load does slow the engine but it's governor picks it back up almost immediately. Then again, this is only a 2-bladed deck & if I read between the lines correctly the 540 has a 3-blade deck.

Yes, it has a 54 inch w/three blades.
 
   / X540... PLEASE HELP #25  
Just a thought here, but you aren't trying to engage the blades when the deck is down and in the grass are you?
 
   / X540... PLEASE HELP
  • Thread Starter
#26  
kennyd said:
Just a thought here, but you aren't trying to engage the blades when the deck is down and in the grass are you?

Good thought, but no it stalls when it is fully up and over my driveway :mad:
 
   / X540... PLEASE HELP #27  
I have a new x540 with a 54" arriving in the morning to replace my LX178. I'll let you know what the PTO start effect is on that one shortly.
 
   / X540... PLEASE HELP #28  
Ok, about 8 hours on the meter and here are my observations. The throttle definitely wants to be at near-full to engage the mower. There's no stalling at all, but it does momentarily load the engine (for maybe a second) and it lets out quite a 'chirp' as it starts the deck.

Otherwise, NO complaints!

Bob
 
   / X540... PLEASE HELP #29  
I have a Toro/Wheeel Horse 522xi with a Kohler Command 22HP that will stall out with a cold engine at full throttle when I engage the 54" deck. Once the engine is up to temperature it will engage at partial throttle, but the manual does say to engage at full throttle. To get past the cold engine stalling, I found that just before engaging the blades, I move the choke lever to half choke, engage the blades, let them come up to speed for a second or two, then take off the choke. Works great for me, no more stalling when cold. Maybe worth a try.

Rick
 
   / X540... PLEASE HELP
  • Thread Starter
#30  
Ok, about 8 hours on the meter and here are my observations. The throttle definitely wants to be at near-full to engage the mower. There's no stalling at all, but it does momentarily load the engine (for maybe a second) and it lets out quite a 'chirp' as it starts the deck.

Otherwise, NO complaints!

Bob

Hi Bob:

Thanks for your observations. My dealer gave me a new set of plugs and that seemed to help a bit. It now has about 25 hours on it and it appears better, although I did stall it the other day. I have to let it warm up for a good 2 minutes at full throttle otherwise I run the risk of it stalling. Mine chirps as well. Apparently it's normal for these machines.

What's interesting is when I am done hosing the deck down after mowing, not only does it engage much more smoothly but there is no chirp. Obviously the clutch and/or belts are slipping when wet. I'm no engineer, but it seems to me that Deer should somehow change the PTO clutch to allow it ease into engagement or incorporate some sort of lubrication. Water helps, but I'm not going to hose it down every time I want to engage the deck.

But it won't matter any more... I'm trading it in on a 2305!! The X540 is a great cutting machine (I give it that hands down), but I just don't think it will ultimately suit my needs. And if the engine stalls in the hot summer with the deck, what will it do in the dead of winter at 10 degrees with a snow blower? I really don't want to invest in the blower, chains, weights, cab, etc. and find it's problematic.

At any rate, it sounds like your engine is a bit stronger than mine. Perhaps the compression on mine is off a bit or there is something else not right. Good luck with yours!
 

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