Question: Why Is My Craftsman Riding Mower Slow On Hills

What causes a lawn mower to lose power going uphill?

Dirty Blades and Air Passages Dirt, debris and corrosion can cause your mower to lose power as it goes uphill When there is mud, grass or other buildup coating the blades, they slow down and the motor works harder to turn them A dirty air filter can also lead to problems with power when mowing uphill

How can I make my Craftsman riding mower faster?

Fill the fuel tank on the Craftsman lawn tractor with a higher octane gas to make the engine burn fuel faster and increase its speed The highest octane gas at standard gas shops is 92 octane

Why does my riding mower go so slow?

Because a lawn mower is powered by a combustion engine that is powered by liquid fuel, clogging is a major issue that slows down or even shuts down performance In fact clogging can occur in many areas of the lawn mower, including the fuel line, the gas cap, the carburetor, the “needle and seat” and the air filter

Why won’t my mower go uphill?

If the drive belt seems good or has been recently replaced, then the problem may be with the idler bracket and tension spring responsible for keeping this belt tight Check for bent or damaged belt idler brackets, a missing, broken, or worn idler tension spring, and service as needed

Why does my riding lawn mower have no power?

Loose, Dirty or Disconnected Spark Plug in Your Lawn Mower: Check it out, clean off debris, re-connect and tighten Dirty Air Filter: Clean or replace Fuel Not Reaching the Engine: Tap the side of the carburetor to help the flow of gas If this doesn’t work, you might need a new fuel filter

How can I speed up my lawn mower?

High-quality gas helps an engine run efficiently so increases mower speed Always run your lawnmower on clean gas that has not been sitting for more than a few weeks If you have gas in your engine and you plan to store it for a while, pour a fuel stabilizer into the gas tank to keep the gas from separating

Can you make a hydrostatic mower faster?

You can make your hydrostatic tranny go faster by installing a bigger pulley If you get it right, the speed could surge spectacularly

Why does my lawn mower speed up and slow down?

Airflow Issues If the air that the engine requires to run is blocked, especially sporadically, it can cause the engine to slow down When the blockage moves or clears, the engine may suddenly rev up in response To fix this type of problem, check the air filter to ensure that it’s not clogged with dirt and debris

What kind of oil does a Craftsman riding lawnmower use?

For craftsman lawnmowers, the most recommended oil grade is SAE 10W-30 with a capacity of around 18-20 Oz for climates where the temperature stays typically above 32 degrees Fahrenheit For colder climates, SAE 5W-30 is preferred as it improves cold starting due to its low viscosity

What size belt do I need for my Craftsman riding mower?

AYP / Craftsman / Sears Drive Belt No AYP / Craftsman / Sears Drive Belt fits 42″ mowers, 12-18 HP Size: 1/2″ x 92-1/4″ Replaces part numbers 532130969 and 130969

Why does my hydrostatic transmission won’t move?

A hydrostatic mower may not move because of a bad drive belt; bad tensioner pulley; broke tensioner spring; old or low hydraulic fluid; hot hydraulic fluid; air in the hydraulic system; or the drive release handles are in the “released” position

What causes a hydrostatic transmission to slip?

By far, the most common reason for hydrostatic transmission failure is old hydraulic fluid John Deere states that “Operating outside of the recommended oil air temperature range may cause premature hydrostatic transmission failure” Oil must be changed when its anti-foam additive decays

How does a hydrostatic transmission work?

The hydrostatic transmission transmits energy using hydraulic fluid The usual transmission has two hydraulic devices; one working as a variable displacement pump and the other working as a motor connected by hydraulic lines

What causes a diesel engine to lose power?

A diesel engine loses power when it’s hot because the energy from the fuel is going towards heating the engine rather than powering it There are many specific problems that can cause this, including clogged fuel filters or exhaust pipes, dirty air filters, dirty spark plugs, or poor compression

What causes a diesel engine to lose power under load?

1 Clogged Fuel Filter The fuel filter removes impurities from the gas so that they don’t find their way into the engine If the fuel filter is clogged, then it won’t be able to properly filter out contaminants, which will cause the engine to eventually lose power

Does EGR cause black smoke?

Dirty EGR valve The EGR helps to re-circulate the engine emission by returning them to the combustion chamber and not sending them directly to the exhaust emission system The carbon chucks could clog your EGR valve, which will result in loss of power, fuel inefficiency and emission of black smoke from your exhaust

Why is my lawn mower so weak?

The primary reason your push mower may lose power is often dirt There are two major locations to check out – the air cleaner elements, and the fuel system The second possibility is dirt and water in the fuel system This will cause build-up in the carburetor, inefficient combustion, sputtering, and power loss

Where is the governor on a Craftsman riding mower?

Find the Craftsman mower governor’s plastic flap It sits beside the engine’s magneto, which is on the side of the exposed flywheel

How fast can a riding lawn mower go?

Speed varies by model, but lawn and garden tractors typically offer forward speeds up to 5 1/2 miles per hour (mph), while ZTR mowers can have forward speeds up to 7 mph

How do I get more horsepower out of my riding mower?

How to Get More HP Out of a Lawn Mower Engine Remove the flywheel housing from the top of your engine Unscrew the bolt holding the governor flap next to the flywheel with the proper sized wrench Inspect the muffler Fill the gas tank on your mower with a high octane gas Maximize the air flow

How do you purge a hydrostatic transmission?

After the engine is running, move throttle control to slow position With motion control levers in neutral (N) position, slowly disengage clutch/brake pedal Step 4-Move motion control levers to full forward position and hold for five (5) seconds Move levers to full reverse position and hold for five (5) seconds