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Started By
Message
Help With Zero Turn
Posted on 10/25/23 at 1:32 pm
Posted on 10/25/23 at 1:32 pm
So I have a zero turn that I managed to catch a blade on an uneven part of my yard and now won’t start.
I assumed correctly that I had sheared the flywheel key, but even after replacing it the Kawasaki motor won’t catch.
I’ve:
-confirmed battery is good
-replaced spark plug
-checked gap on flywheel to the magnet
-has gas
-Starter spins
-flywheel spins
Even with all that the engine just won’t start.
I have no idea what to try next and because it’s in my yard I can’t easily get it to a trailer with a tow strap even to take it somewhere to have it serviced.
Could it be a timing issue?
Many thanks in advance and please don’t assume I’m smart enough not to have missed something obvious because I’m by no means a mechanic haha.
I assumed correctly that I had sheared the flywheel key, but even after replacing it the Kawasaki motor won’t catch.
I’ve:
-confirmed battery is good
-replaced spark plug
-checked gap on flywheel to the magnet
-has gas
-Starter spins
-flywheel spins
Even with all that the engine just won’t start.
I have no idea what to try next and because it’s in my yard I can’t easily get it to a trailer with a tow strap even to take it somewhere to have it serviced.
Could it be a timing issue?
Many thanks in advance and please don’t assume I’m smart enough not to have missed something obvious because I’m by no means a mechanic haha.
This post was edited on 10/25/23 at 4:02 pm
4
Posted on 10/25/23 at 1:46 pm to tide06
quote:
Could it be a timing issue?
Sure.
quote:
assumed correctly that I had sheared the flywheel key, but even after replacing it the Kawasaki motor won’t catch
How tight are your belts that this happened? Mine is adjusted to double the recced tension and the belt will slip before that happens.
quote:
confirmed battery is good
-replaced spark plug
-checked gap on flywheel to the magnet
-has gas
-Starter spins
-flywheel spins
...have you checked for spark?
Compression + fuel + air + spark = running.
My bet is one of the bullshite grounds going to a safety switch isn't connecting.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 2:44 pm to tide06
What is it doing? Turning over, but not starting? Won’t stay running? Nothing at all?
As mentioned, start by identifying which component is limiting the engine.
If it doesn’t attempt to start, then you know it’s electrical. Either a safety switch, solenoid, etc.
If it’s turning over, but won’t start, it’s fuel or spark. I like to try to use starting fluid here to determine if it’s fuel. If it will fire and run on starting fluid, then you know it’s fuel delivery problem. If not, it’s likely spark related.
If it just won’t stay running, then it’s likely fuel/air delivery. Most of the time this is the little fuel pump on the side. I’ve gotten them to run by gravity feeding fuel into the fuel pump from a cup.
As mentioned, start by identifying which component is limiting the engine.
If it doesn’t attempt to start, then you know it’s electrical. Either a safety switch, solenoid, etc.
If it’s turning over, but won’t start, it’s fuel or spark. I like to try to use starting fluid here to determine if it’s fuel. If it will fire and run on starting fluid, then you know it’s fuel delivery problem. If not, it’s likely spark related.
If it just won’t stay running, then it’s likely fuel/air delivery. Most of the time this is the little fuel pump on the side. I’ve gotten them to run by gravity feeding fuel into the fuel pump from a cup.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 4:00 pm to LSUtigerME
quote:
If it doesn’t attempt to start, then you know it’s electrical. Either a safety switch, solenoid, etc.
It tries to start, but doesn’t backfire or misfire. Flywheel spins, then nothing.
quote:
I like to try to use starting fluid here to determine if it’s fuel.
I tried starter fluid a few times. I can get it to backfire a bit but it won’t actually start.
quote:
If not, it’s likely spark related.
Changed the plug just out of lack of other guess, I can check for actual spark however.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 4:01 pm to X123F45
quote:
My bet is one of the bullshite grounds going to a safety switch isn't connecting.
I’ll double check this to make sure something didn’t get disconnected when I had the flywheel off.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 4:24 pm to tide06
My bad boy has 5 safety switches. A poor ground on any of them cuts spark.
I'll give them this, the wiring harness is only maybe a dozen wires... Buy somehow so convoluted as to make zero sense
I'll give them this, the wiring harness is only maybe a dozen wires... Buy somehow so convoluted as to make zero sense
Posted on 10/25/23 at 4:31 pm to tide06
since it was stopped while moving and PTO engaged and its easy to forget, I'd also make sure the parking brake is on and the PTO is disengaged.
You can also disengage the drive for each wheel, should be a little lever or similar, and then you should be able to push it around fairly easily to where you want it pending where/how it stopped.
You can also disengage the drive for each wheel, should be a little lever or similar, and then you should be able to push it around fairly easily to where you want it pending where/how it stopped.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 5:16 pm to tide06
In solely dealing with the engine, try setting the piston to top-dead-center and adjust the intake and exhaust valves per gap specs. It MAY be the engine wrt spark and valve timing are off, depending how hard the blade hit the turf/root/etc.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 6:55 pm to tide06
If the starter engages, it’s likely not related to a safety switch, parking brake, or PTO. All of those are typically permissive prior to the solenoid. So if it’s trying to start, it’s definitely engine side.
If it’s backfiring and not running appropriately on starter fluid (but still firing), it sounds like it could be timing or compression related.
Verify you have spark, just to rule that out.
Otherwise, you might need to start checking piston/valve positions and see if it aligns.
I just blew up my Kawasaki on my zero turn, so I’m right there with you on the zero turn woes.
quote:
I tried starter fluid a few times. I can get it to backfire a bit but it won’t actually start.
If it’s backfiring and not running appropriately on starter fluid (but still firing), it sounds like it could be timing or compression related.
Verify you have spark, just to rule that out.
Otherwise, you might need to start checking piston/valve positions and see if it aligns.
I just blew up my Kawasaki on my zero turn, so I’m right there with you on the zero turn woes.
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