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stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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Posted by hankll Tennessee (My Page) on Fri, Nov 20, 09 at 22:42
| Ok, somewhere I read about this on a Kohler. Could have been here, but I thought "Naaa" mine is running fine. I just bought this JD STX38 w/ Kohler 13hp Command. I had to adjust the carb to be able to turn on the blades. Other than that adjustment I had never had any trouble. So today, mowing my leaves up into piles around my trees, it stalled on me and no amount of choking it would keep it running. Looked in the gas tank, found I was about a 1/4 tank. So remembering what I read, I went & got the gas can, filled it up again, and I was off to the races again, just like that. So the fuel filter must be at issue and I'll certainly go and see if I can get a Kohler fuel filter if that is what it takes, but I really don't understand what the difference in filters, OEM, or after market, would really affect this carb so differently. I was mowing some heavy leaves and hay ( new grass seed/yard starting ) and it was really getting a workout. The other thing I noticed after I had filled it up once before, was, it wanted to stall out going up a fairly steep hill in my yard. That was before this big event when I couldn't keep it running at all. The number on engine is Family:skh398u1g2rb Model:cv13s Spec:21509 seril?:26115602342
What ever I read about this, was that the assumption was that the setup really should have had a fuel pump on it. It makes one really wonder how these over priced engineers can really stay hired with design flaws like this. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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| Ok, it was Mownie that I read about the Kohler needing the "correct" fuel filter. The part number another post suggests that I replace with Kohler #25-050-21s. So I guess I'll try it. It'll hopefully solve my particulat issue. But then I haven't taken apart the carb yet either to clean it out. And since I'm a believer of using ethanol treatment and I have fresh fuel, I 'm ruling that out. It was just as described in that other post. Below half tank and refilled to full and instantly started again. |
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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| Yes, I started forwarding the information about Kohlers being very finicky about which filter you use. Apparently, it is a combination of things that can cause the problem when not using a genuine Kohler filter (and even then it must be the CORRECT Kohler filter). Aftermarket parts providers/manufacturers understand that unless THEIR part has a close VISUAL resemblance to the OEM part, the potential customer may not purchase it (on the premise that "it does not look like it fits"). So the "AM marketeers" put more emphasis on making the parts identical in physical appearance than on actual performance (have you ever heard somebody say "take the old one with you and just match it up"?). Kohler, as the OEM has a good reason to monitor the quality and performance of all products they buy for their assembly line, and for their own replacement parts line of products. An aftermarket parts company really only has to be concerned with putting to market a product that is sufficient in performance/quality that it will meet the minimum standards of the product it is replacing. In a fuel filter, that might mean the new aftermarket filter only flows about as much fuel as OEM filter did after a couple of years of service. Yes, the AM filter might cost less than OEM in some cases, but the consumer may need to change them more often to maintain a level of performance, so it might actually be more expensive to use the "cheaper" AM filters. And that is especially true if the AM filter causes performance issues right from the carton. For all my own OPE fuel filters, I buy a large size automotive filter that fits the fuel hose on the machine and to heck with "looks". I personally understand that these filters are compatible with the application, even if they do have 10X the filter media inside (compared to OEM). For people who want to stay with OEM parts, that's OK too, just make sure that the "OEM part" you buy is the real McCoy, and not a "wolf in sheep's clothing". |
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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| For some reason, which I have not been able to correct, one of my STX's will not run once the fuel level gets to about 1/4 tank. I cleaned the tank, replace the fuel lines and filter (the right one), and cleaned the carb. At 1/4 tank, it runs out of gas. It's been that way for years, so I just live with it. My other STX will run until the tank goes bone dry. Go figure. |
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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| Mownie, that makes total sense to me. I've seen those at NAPA Auto parts, I think I'll run by there and get one, I noticed the fuel line is cracking around one end of the filter that is on there now. So I'll need fuel line, too. Next have to check out rattling sound on the mower deck. Looks like it didn't do well after all the leaf mowing. Something is pretty noisy under there. Set a concrete block on the seat and looked under the deck to watch what the blades were doing. They seem to be ok as far as I can tell just looking at them while they were running. May have to drop the deck and see if I have a bad bearing in one of the spindles, or maybe a bad idler pulley bearing. I saw the blade belt jumping a bit. Might be belt got damaged while shoving all the leaves up in the belt area. |
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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| Heh heh! ***"I've seen those at NAPA Auto parts, I think I'll run by there and get one"*** House of Parts, Free Hill Road? That's where I get mine. :^) |
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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| Mownie, yep Freehill Rd, they are a real deal Auto Parts supplier, not like the Big Box stores where they change your windshield wipers and batteries. Of course, when it is raining, that is pretty handy to have someone come out in the rain and change your wipers for you ;>) !!! |
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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| Check fuel tank cap vent.Check fuel flow with low fuel in tank. Sometimes heat and age can couse distortion of the outlet at the tank and restrict fuel flow. The carb doesn't care about fuel volume in the tank. It operates on volume. Something is restricting the flow from the tank. The fuel filter of any type will work if it's for gravity flow.You might try using air pressure to blow backward in the fuel line and see if that helps. It doesn't sound like engine problems. |
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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| I've had a couple of these I've addressed. Only thing to add is to route the new fuel line as logically as you can. Give enough out of the tank so you have a good bend without a bunch of extra line. Maybe they really don't have much head which is why some find they starve for fuel as the level gets low in the tank. Ive seen that come up on the Scotts with the like tank design. |
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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***"Maybe they really don't have much head which is why some find they starve for fuel as the level gets low in the tank."***
That is exactly what I'm thinking too. Not enough head to handle the volume needed under all operating angles. I imagine those engineers calculated the head and fall levels and said, "That ought to be sufficient." and so it was built that way. Now you get out into the real world and maybe a bunch of folks are learning that when the tank gets low, and the angle of the mower sort of has the steer axle going uphill, that small amount of head at the tank, reverses and the tank is either level with, or downhill from, the carb. Deere should have used a fuel pump on this application. |
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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| Boy have I got news for you. Re-engined my STX38 4 years ago (with a CommandPro 15) and had the same problem as you for 4 long years......it was as though it was vapor locking. My JD dealer had me (1)install an after market fuel filter that he said he used on ALL mowers and (2) he had me make a 'sleeve' from large size rubber tubing and install it from the 'out' side of the filter to the carburetor bowl. Runs to the last drop now. Likely the fuel filter is your problem. |
RE: stx 38 w/ 13hp ohv stalling with half tank or less
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| You need to check the fuel line and tank to be sure that you have a good fuel flow coming out of the tank before the in-line shut-off valve. Debris will plug the valve and reduce the amount of fuel going to the carburetor. Also, make sure that the tank cap is venting correctly and be sure to use the correct fuel filter for gravity flow type systems. I suggest the you use JD part number AM107314 and install it correctly with the arrow on the filter pointing towards the carburetor. It's a good time now to replace the fuel line from the valve all the way to the carburetor, but be sure to flush it with fuel before attahing it to carburetor. |
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