[AJD] 345 garden tractor

[chester win]

Ron,  

A couple of thoughts.  I have had that problem from late timing.  It will pop, pop, pop on and on but doesn't want to start.  On the assumption yours has electronic ignition, I don't know if that can be a possibility, or if it can be adjusted if it is.  Someone else on the list will probably know.  Beyond that, it is possible you have a leak at the head gasket which allows the piston down stroke to draw in air instead of air/fuel mix from the carburator.  I have seen that cause very hard starting over a long period of time before being detected.   Sometimes when the engine is being cranked, you may be able to hear a slight whistle or shhh sucking sound.  That would be the air drawing in.  A loose carb mount or a faulty carb to engine gasget will have the same result, allowing air to be drawn.

Good luck, and let us know how you make out with it.

Charlie V.



-----Original Message-----
From: "Ronald L. Cook"<rlcook at pionet.net>
To: antique-johndeere at lists.antique-tractor.com
Date: Mon Jan 31 12:06:37 PST 2005
Subject: [AJD] 345 garden tractor

>Yep, I know.  It is not an antique.  However, someone on this list can 
>help me.  This thing has the single cylinder Kawasaki engine.  It always 
>cranks until the battery is darn near run down before it will start. 
>Drives me NUTS!  Why does it have to turn over so many times?  Been that 
>way since new.  My dealer was no help.  Are they all like that?  If it 
>was a recoil start, I would have thrown it in the Missouri river a long 
>time ago.<g>  Anyone have anything to offer?  It is worse in cold 
>weather.  Maybe the choke does not completely close.  That is the only 
>thing I can think of to check.
>
>Ron Cook
>Salix, IA
>
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>Antique-johndeere mailing list
>http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/antique-johndeere


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