My JD 430 needs help!!!
I mow about 3 acres each week with a JD 430 and 60" mower that I believe is a 1990 or 1991 vintage if memory serves correct. Earlier this year I replaced the fuel solenoid because the piston was gradually easing out, killing the engine. The solenoid change seemed to make everything right again. A month ago, I apparently fried the new fuel solenoid. The tractor took a spell running extremely rough, almost like there was air in the fuel lines. I saw a plume of white smoke come from the back side of the fuel solenoid, and it would no longer hold the piston in place to allow the engine to run. I wired the fuel lever in place to allow the tractor to start and run and have mowed with it like that for about 4 weeks. Once I wired the lever in place to hold it, the engine was idling and running normal.
Last week while mowing the tractor appeared to lose most of it's power and tried to choke down. I turned it off and had to wait about 30 minutes before it would start again. Once it restarted, the low power issue was still present, so I limped back to the garage. This week when investigating what may have happened it will not crank. Dash lights come on when key is turned on, but no sound from the starter. There is a very faint click that can be heard from behind the dash.
Where should I start trying to diagnose and repair this? My grass is growing like crazy!
Mark
I mow about 3 acres each week with a JD 430 and 60" mower that I believe is a 1990 or 1991 vintage if memory serves correct. Earlier this year I replaced the fuel solenoid because the piston was gradually easing out, killing the engine. The solenoid change seemed to make everything right again. A month ago, I apparently fried the new fuel solenoid. The tractor took a spell running extremely rough, almost like there was air in the fuel lines. I saw a plume of white smoke come from the back side of the fuel solenoid, and it would no longer hold the piston in place to allow the engine to run. I wired the fuel lever in place to allow the tractor to start and run and have mowed with it like that for about 4 weeks. Once I wired the lever in place to hold it, the engine was idling and running normal.
Last week while mowing the tractor appeared to lose most of it's power and tried to choke down. I turned it off and had to wait about 30 minutes before it would start again. Once it restarted, the low power issue was still present, so I limped back to the garage. This week when investigating what may have happened it will not crank. Dash lights come on when key is turned on, but no sound from the starter. There is a very faint click that can be heard from behind the dash.
Where should I start trying to diagnose and repair this? My grass is growing like crazy!
Mark