I picked up an old John Deere lx188 outta the woods a couple weeks ago to keep at my new property in the UP. It has been sitting under a lean too for probably 5 years, and hasn’t really been used for 10. It was Grampa’s old mower, when he bought a new zero turn, my dad got it. Dad put a bunch of money and time into it to fix a lot of the neglect that Grampian bestowed upon it, so my nephew could use it to help out around the house. It was too much for him (he’s a slight lil feller). He had a hard time using the controls, hard time steering it, and it would die out hitting bumps (kid didn’t have enough ass to keep the seat safety switch activated).
Anyway, after my bro didn’t want it for his kid, dad kinda parked it and left it for a few years. Since we needed to have something up north for our caretakers to use for mowing, I thought it would be perfect.
The rear tires were dry rotted, so two new tires went on. Then the engine wouldn’t run right, so after a quick exam, the carb was replaced. That got it running pretty well. The deck needs to be rebuilt and someone (Dad) put the blades on upside down. So I fixed that too ( the blades, deck is still noisy as hell).
So, it’s inaugural field cutting (property is still too rough to be called lawn) it ran good for about 45 minutes, then it just died. Wouldn’t restart. Hauled it back home with me (500 miles!) and started to diagnose the issue. Fired right back up with starter fluid. Figured it was the fuel pump going out, since I don’t know how much ethanol has been run through it, rotting the seals. Did a couple quick tests, and the fuel pump is fine. Makes almost 4psi pressure and pumped a quart of fuel in 30 seconds. Both those values are well above the minimum specified in the service manual.
Looked at the fuel that pumped out though….Yuck
And the tank
So, I’ll be pulling the fuel system out for a cleaning. Cheap fix…green parts are EXPENSIVE, so glad I don’t have to put a 140 dollar fuel pump in it.
The tractor itself is in decent shape. Hood isn’t even busted up and the lights still work!
For the record, I think this thing is way over complicated for what it is. Had a liquid cooled engine, fer cripe’s sake. But, I want something reliable and easy to use that can be left there for my sister in law. I don’t need her calling me, and me trying to tell her how to get it running, mowing, etc. worse yet, she’ll possibly get my brother in law involved and things will really get screwed up. My simplicities are a simple, but they take a certain understanding of mechanics to make them purr. You kinda gotta understand the machine. This is a ride it hard and put it away wet kinda machine (I hope).
