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John Deere 17 horsepower Kawasaki engine won't run WOT when blades are engaded
When blades are engaged engine won't run WOT. It used to take a few seconds, the engine would cough and a puff of smoke would exit the exhaust. Changed the fuel filter, checked air filter. Removed the plugs, the right plug was white, left was black, not oily or sooty. Installed two new plugs, ran the same. Checked the spark with a spark light, both seemed to light the same. Removed the shroud and air filter, ran engine with blades engaged and neighbor increased engine speed manually at carb linkage, the engine increased speed and ran smooth like it used to after engaging the blades. Neighbor thinks the governor is the problem. Do you know if there is a problem with Kaw 17 hp governors? Or carbs? Thanks, Roger
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Engine Model Number(Kawasaki FC420V
Horsepower (10.5 kW (14 hp)
Displacement (423 cc (25.8 cu.in.)
Crankcase Capacity w/o oil filter (1.3 L (1.4 qt.)
Crankcase Capacity with oil filter (1.6 L (1.7 qt.)
Spark Plug-Gap (0.64 mm (0.025 in.)
Spark Plug-Torque (20 N·m (15 lb-ft.)
Cylinders (One
Stroke/Cycle (Four
Lubrication (Full-Pressure
Oil Filter (Standard Single Element
Air Cleaner (Dual Stage
Engine HD75
Engine Model Numbe(Kawasaki FC540V
Horsepower (12.7 kW (17 hp)
Displacement (535 cc (32.6 cu.in.)
Crankcase Capacity w/o oil filter (1.6 L (1.7 qt.)
Crankcase Capacity with oil filter (1.9 L (2.0 qt.)
Spark Plug-Gap (0.64 mm (0.025 in.)
Spark Plug-Torque (20 N·m (15 lb-ft.)
Cylinders (One
Stroke/Cycle (Four
Lubrication (Full-Pressure
Oil Filter (Standard Single Element
Air Cleaner (Dual Stage
Fuel System
Fuel (See Fuel in the Service Miscellaneous section
Fuel Filter (Single Stage, 60 Micron
Fuel Pump (Vacuum Operated-Diaphragm
Fuel Delivery (Gravity Feed to Fuel Pump)
Fuel Tank Capacity (19 L (5.0 gal.)
Drive Train Mower Deck (36-inch)
Blades (2
Blade Bolt Torque (81 N·m (60 lb-ft.)
Cutting Heights (25-114 mm (1-41/2 in.)
Weight (86.7 Kg (191 lb)
Overall Width (chute up) (927 mm (36.5 in.)
Mower Deck (48-inch)
Blades (3
Blade Bolt Torque (68 N·m (50 lb-ft.)
Cutting Heights (25-127 mm (1-5 in.)
Weight (83.6 Kg (184 lb)
Overall Width (chute up) (1308 mm (51.5 in
Engine Oil (John Deere PLUS-4
Grease (John Deere MOLY HIGH Temperature EP
Transmission Oil (HY-GARD-J20C (TURF-GARD-SAE10W-30 (PLUS-4-SAE10W-30 (TORQ-GARD SUPREME-SAE30
(Specifications and design subject to change without notice.)
Hi, check your belt tension, check all idler pulleys and drive pulleys for free rotation with the belt off and finally check that the belt is not bottoming out in any of the drive pulleys. If so, replace the belt. The blades should come up to speed imediately wether hot or cold and it sounds like your belt is slipping in one or more of the pulleys which drags the motor revs down until it grips. Regards Phil.
sounds like the safety switch under the seat may be bad. unhook and / or bypass the switch. if this fixes the problem then replace the switch. hope this helps you
Normally I believe this mower to have a Kawasaki engine, and the main jet and 'pilot air hole' need to be cleaned. You are running a lean condition, and when the blade is engaged, the engine does not have enough fuel to continue the extra load. A small test for this is to engage the blade and the choke at the same time. If the engine has enough fuel to continue running and engage the blade, this confirms the lean fuel condition. Cleaning those jets will solve the issue.
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