LA145 running problem

8198 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by TractorNoob, May 28, 2012

kev73

Discussion Starter · May 23, 2012

Hi everybody new here and have a question about my LA145 rider. I bought it new about 5 years ago from my local dealer and was excited to up grade from a husky until i started to mow my 2.5 acers worth of lawn and got about a hour and a half into it and the mower died. checked the fuel,not that. started back up and did it again after another 10 or 15 minutes.took it back to the dealer they checked it and changed the ign. module and set me on my way thinking they fixed the problem......not it. Took it back told them the story they kept it and checked some more into it and changed the fuel cap.......still not it. The service manager took it home with him and used it over the weekend and told me he couldn't duplicate the problem so i take it home and to no avail just like everytime i use it after 30 minutes or so it will die. It acts like its not getting enough fuel to run unless i apply the choke some and then it will try to stay running. I have changed the fuel filter, plugs, air filter, and fuel pump on my own trying to correct the problem but no success. Not sure if it may be the carb or not, not really wanting to spend $170 on a part if it's not going to fix it. It is out of warranty and the dealer wont do anything else for me on it without a hefty bill.......not really excited with them. Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated

See less See more

Save

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

T-Mo

· #2 · May 23, 2012

First, I would have save all documentation from your dealer visits and take them back to the dealer and tell them to make it right. If they refuse, find the number to the regional sales office and give them a call. If you had it in that many times and they couldn't find the problem, then it should be on them if it's still not running right.

Also, let's see if we can't diagnosed the problem. You say it runs find for about 30 minutes. Does it start to act up at a particular location on your property or just a flat 30 minutes. If it's at a certain place on your property if could be a faulty or overly sensitive seat switch. Engines just don't die without some cause, so the things you replaced, especially the fuel filter are the ones I would have replaced. How about a relay?

Talk to a small engines repair who has experience on Briggs engines and get his opinion also.

See less See more

Save

jhon

· #3 · May 23, 2012

I am a little confused. (Normal for me) Has this been happening for 5 years, or has it just started this year?

Save

kev73

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 23, 2012

Doesn't really matter where on the property it happens so i would rule out the seat switch it seems to work fine when you lift up.It does seem to take longer to act up if it is not at full throttle and cutting taller grass though.
yes it has been doing this almost from the time i first bought it. Hard to blame the dealer for not being able to fix it because they cant get it to duplicate the problem but it does not instill a whole lot of confidence in me if i bring it home and it does it for me when i use it.
I would take it back more often but i live about 45 minutes from town so it kind of a trip to get there

See less See more

Save

2365

· #5 · May 24, 2012

La-145

I too have a LA-145 riding mower we bought new a couple of years ago. We had to replace the pulleys and spindles last year to the tune of around $300. The black "plastic" pulley melted and messed up everything else on top of the mower deck. JD has a rebuild mower deck kit so they know they will give out shortly after 100 hours or so. Mine currently just has 137 hours on it. The engine started running rough and then would die. I asked the dealer about the problem and he was of the opinion it was the carb being gummed up. I've run some Sea Foam cleaner through it and fresh gas, for now, it's been running fine again. I strongly recommend you not use water to wash off the top of the mower deck. My JD mechanic says that water rusts out the spindle bearings. I have a large 60 gallon shop compressor and use compressed air to clean my mowers after use. Over all, it's been an ok plastic mower. They sure don't build them like they use to

See less See more

Save

kev73

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 25, 2012

Thanks Barry for the input. Had to replace all the bearings in the deck after about 100 hours of use, (sounded like a pavement grinder) after i pulled it off and apart they were just common bearings, not heavy duty enough but replaceable.
think im just gonna trade it in on a EZtrak and be done with it!!!!
Like the deere just not this one

See less See more

Save

TractorNoob

· #7 · May 28, 2012

kev73 said:
Doesn't really matter where on the property it happens so i would rule out the seat switch it seems to work fine when you lift up.It does seem to take longer to act up if it is not at full throttle and cutting taller grass though.
yes it has been doing this almost from the time i first bought it. Hard to blame the dealer for not being able to fix it because they cant get it to duplicate the problem but it does not instill a whole lot of confidence in me if i bring it home and it does it for me when i use it.
I would take it back more often but i live about 45 minutes from town so it kind of a trip to get there

FWIW, you should always mow at full throttle. The tranny depends on it for cooling. Overheating the tranny causes premature failure. I know this isn't the cause of your immediate problems, but it's still important. Good luck! :good2:

See less See more

Save

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month