In detail: do-it-yourself centaur engine repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
In this material, we will consider typical malfunctions of a walk-behind tractor engine and how to fix them.
Typically, there are two types of engine faults:
1. The engine will not start.
2. The engine does not work satisfactorily (it does not gain power, it runs intermittently, the engine stops).
If the engine does not start, then in search of malfunctions and their further elimination, you should perform the following steps to identify the causes.
- Checking the presence of fuel in the tank (checking the fuel system)
- Checking the carburetor air damper (when starting a cold engine, the damper must be closed)
- Checking the flow of fuel to the carburetor.
- If there is no fuel entering the cylinder, a dry plug is indicated. Check the presence of fuel in the fuel tank, fuel flow to the carburetor by removing the fuel hose from the inlet fitting. For the K45 carburetor, press the sinker until the fuel leaks through the drain hole.
- If fuel does not flow to the carburetor, unscrew the fuel cock, disassemble it and clean the filter from dirt.
- When fuel enters the carburetor, but there is no fuel supply to the cylinder, check the operation of the fuel valve and the cleanliness of the jets.
- To check the KMB-5 carburetor, remove it from the engine, drain the gasoline from the float chamber, then supply air through the fuel inlet in the operating position of the carburetor. The air should be easily blown through.
- Repeat the purge with the carburetor turned 180 degrees, in this position the air supply should stop. If the result is the same as described, the fuel valve is working properly.
Video (click to play).
- The fuel level in the float chamber is regulated by the float tongue, the normal fuel level should be 30-35mm.
- After all actions with the carburetor and installing it back, the carburetor should be adjusted.
- It so happens that the engine does not start from excess fuel, this is evidenced by a wet plug. Dry the cylinder and “bleed” the engine with the plug turned out, before that, turn off the fuel supply.
- If the plug is dirty with deposits, clean it and check the gap between the electrodes, usually the correct gap is 0.8mm. Next, you should check for the presence of a spark, if there is no spark, then there may be a malfunction in the electrical circuit or a large gap between the ignition coil and the magnetic circuit.
If the engine starts, but does not develop the required power, runs intermittently, stalls, etc., the reasons for this may be the following malfunctions:
- The air filter is dirty, as a result of which the air in the carburetor is insufficiently supplied.
- Defective ignition system. You should check it, as well as check the candle, the gaps between the electrodes, etc.
- Clogged muffler with combustion products. The muffler should be disassembled for cleaning.
- Dirty carburetor and incorrect setting.
- Low power may be due to wear of the cylinder-piston group. The compression should be 8 atm. Compression can be checked by attaching a compression gauge to the spark plug hole, turning the engine shaft with a starter.
Read also, information on how to make a trailer for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands.
If the engine of the walk-behind tractor does not turn off, first of all it is necessary to pay attention to the operation of the shutdown button. It is necessary to disassemble, check and, if necessary, replace or clean the contacts.
Some of the information that may come in handy when repairing a walk-behind tractor, see the article Device of a walk-behind tractor.
Engine won't start... If we are talking about a gasoline engine, when troubleshooting, it is necessary to consistently check all possible causes of malfunctions, namely:
Switching on the ignition.
Fuel in the tank.
Opening the fuel cock.
The state of the carburetor air damper (when starting a cold engine, it must be closed).
Fuel flow to the carburetor. To do this, you need to fill the float chamber by drowning the float button (fuel should start pouring out of the hole in the float chamber cover), or disconnect the fuel hose from the carburetor and check if the gasoline runs freely. If the fuel runs too thin or does not run at all, this may indicate a dirty fuel filter in the tank or a clogged fuel tank cap air valve. Repair of the walk-behind tractor in this case will be reduced to cleaning the filter or valve.
The state of the spark plug may indicate the flow of fuel into the engine cylinder, which in any case must be checked when troubleshooting the ignition system. The candle is unscrewed from the cylinder cover, having previously disconnected the wire, and inspected. If it is dry, it means that the fuel mixture is not being supplied to the cylinder. And if before that it was established that gasoline enters the carburetor, it means that the reason for not starting the engine may be in the carburetor - contamination of its filter mesh, clogging of the jet or some other malfunction. Whatever it is, the carburetor needs to be removed, disassembled and cleaned, however, this device is very complex and before repairing it, you should at least look at the diagram of the carburetor.
A wet candle indicates that fuel is entering the cylinder. Sometimes the walk-behind tractor does not start from an excess of fuel mixture, so if there is too much gasoline on the plug, you need to dry the cylinder by thoroughly “pumping” the engine with a hand starter with the plug turned out. Before that, you need to shut off the fuel supply.
If the plug is dirty with carbon deposits, it should be cleaned with gasoline and fine sandpaper. It is also necessary to check the size of the gap between the electrodes and, if necessary, adjust it in accordance with the requirements of the operating manual. Usually the gap should be about 0.8 mm.
After that, you need to check for the presence of a spark - connect a wire to the candle, press its metal part to the cylinder cover and simulate the engine start with a starter. If the spark plug is intact, a spark will appear between the electrodes. Sometimes it happens that a spark occurs, but it is so weak that it is not enough to ignite the fuel. If in doubt about the strength of the spark, you need to check the operation of the engine with a new spark plug.
The absence of a spark can mean a malfunction of the spark plug, lack of contact in the electrical circuit, violation of the gap between the ignition coil and the magnetic circuit, malfunction of the electronic ignition coil. All of these elements must be checked. Defective spark plug and ignition coil must be replaced.
In the event that the walk-behind tractor is equipped with an electric starter, the engine may not start due to a discharge of the battery, a blown fuse, or a malfunction of the starter. Check the battery charge, replace the fuse, repair or replace the starter.
The engine does not develop power... If the engine of the walk-behind tractor starts, but does not develop power (it works intermittently, stalls or does not pick up speed under load), the following malfunctions may be possible causes of unsatisfactory operation.
The air filter is dirty, as a result of which insufficient air enters the carburetor, and the fuel mixture is re-enriched.Correct maintenance of the walk-behind tractor involves periodic cleaning of the air filter, however, in very dusty work, more frequent cleaning may be required. It is necessary to check the condition of the air filter and, depending on its material, clean it using one of the appropriate methods. The paper filter is cleaned by lightly tapping on something solid and blowing it with a vacuum cleaner, the foam filter is washed in water with detergent and dried, the mesh filter is blown out with a vacuum cleaner, etc. At the end of their service life, filters must be changed.
Poor fuel quality. Bad fuel must be replaced with the one recommended by the manufacturer.
Defective ignition system. You need to check it as described above. Clean the spark plug and adjust the gap between its electrodes, check that there is no damage in the electrical circuit and the gap between the coil and the magnetic circuit (if this is provided for by the walk-behind tractor repair manual).
Sometimes the engine cannot develop power due to clogging of the muffler with combustion products. In this case, you need to disassemble the muffler and check its condition, if necessary, rinse it in gasoline and clean it with a carbon sink using detergents. The non-dismountable muffler is dried with a hairdryer after washing. Remember that carbon deposits contain substances that are carcinogenic and should not be dry cleaned that could cause them to inhale. When removing the muffler, plug the engine outlet with a clean cloth.
Dirt or improper adjustment of the carburetor of the walk-behind tractor. It is necessary to remove and clean the carburetor, and then adjust it, if provided for by the instructions for the walk-behind tractor.
A drop in engine power can be caused by a decrease in compression due to wear of the cylinder-piston group, the formation of scoring and scratches on the cylinder and piston, "sinking" in the grooves or broken piston rings. In this case, check the compression by connecting a compressor to the spark plug hole and turning the engine shaft with a starter. Normal compression is characterized by a value of at least 8 atm (normal compression can be indicated in the engine specifications). When measuring it, it must be taken into account that the presence of a decompressor in the engine may affect the readings of the compressor. The compression value in this case is about 5 atm. will not mean a low degree of wear of the cylinder-piston group, but the actuation of the decompression valve.
Diesel engine won't start... For most users, repairing and setting up a walk-behind tractor with a diesel engine is a more difficult task than repairing a walk-behind tractor with a gasoline engine. Not so much, perhaps, because of the structural complexity of the diesel engine, but because of the lack of experience, since household appliances are usually equipped with gasoline engines.
The most common faults or conditions that can cause diesel engines to not start are outlined in the following table. A detailed list of diesel malfunctions and ways to eliminate them are set out in the operating instructions for specific diesel motoblocks.
Cylinder head nuts not tightened or cylinder head gasket damaged.
Worn piston, cylinder liner or piston rings.
Piston rings seized or broken.
The correct valve clearance has been violated.
The valve stem is jammed in the guide.
Tighten the cylinder head nuts evenly in a diagonal sequence. Replace the cylinder head gasket.
Replace worn parts.
Check piston rings, flush or replace them.
Adjust clearance.
Remove the valve, flush it and the guide with fuel.
Faults in the clutch itself depend on its type.If the walk-behind tractor has a belt drive that acts as a clutch, slippage can occur if there is oil contamination on the drive belt or pulley, the belt is not tensioned or is too worn out. The remedies for these problems are obvious - clean the transmission elements from dirt, tighten or replace the belt.
In a dry disc clutch, slippage can be caused by oil contamination on the driven and driven discs. It should be removed by rinsing the discs with gasoline and drying.
Regardless of the type of clutch (dry or oil), slippage can lead to wear of the friction layer of the discs, weakening of the compression spring, lack of a gap between the pressure element and the release bearing. The remedy depends on the nature of the problem. Worn discs and springs change, if the gaps in the clutch are violated, the clutch of the walk-behind tractor is adjusted accordingly.
The clutch does not disengage completely... In this case, you should also start by checking the tension in the cable from the control handle to the clutch.
Incomplete clutch disengagement can also be caused by deformation of the friction discs, sticking them on the splines, non-compliance with the required parameters of the characteristics of the oil poured into the clutch housing. The latter applies to oil bath couplings. It is necessary to replace the deformed discs, eliminate the causes of their jamming on the splines, change the oil.
Increased noise in the gearbox (gearbox)... Noises in the gearbox may occur due to a lack of oil in it or a mismatch in its quality with the required parameters - in terms of brand and purity. It is necessary to add oil to the gearbox of the walk-behind tractor or replace it.
Transmission units can make noise due to the banal non-tightening of fasteners. You need to review and tighten them.
Most often, noise occurs due to worn gears and bearings. In this case, they are harbingers of more serious breakdowns. Timely repair of the walk-behind tractor gearbox, which consists in replacing worn parts, will help to avoid them.
Failure to turn on, spontaneous shutdown, or difficulty changing gears... These faults can occur for a number of reasons:
Due to the deterioration of the parts involved in gear shifting. Usually, wear (rolling) of the ends of the engaging gears occurs, which leads to incomplete engagement and self-deactivation of the speeds. In this case, it is necessary to disassemble the walk-behind tractor gearbox and dress the gear teeth by grinding or, if the wear is too great, replace them.
Due to abrasion of the shaft splines, as well as axial displacement of the shafts due to wear on bearings and circlips. The axial position of the shafts can be adjusted by installing additional circlips. Excessively worn bearings and rings must be replaced.
Due to improper adjustment of the clutch, which can lead to difficult gear shifting. The clutch is not squeezed out (disengaged) to the end. The inexperience of the operator releasing the clutch lever too early when shifting gears can also lead to this. You need to adjust the clutch and learn how to shift gears correctly.
The gearbox is a rather complex unit. If the work and device of the walk-behind tractor is a complete secret for the user, you should not start repairing it yourself. It is better to entrust this work to those for whom maintenance and repair of machines is a professional matter.
Transmission units are warming up... Among the main reasons for this malfunction are the worn out bearings, insufficient level of transmission oil in the crankcases, and the inadequacy of its condition to the required parameters. Corrective measures: replace bearings, top up or replace oil.
Oil leaks from the gearbox (gearbox)... This occurs when worn or improperly installed oil seals of bearing assemblies, not tightened caps or damaged gaskets under them, clogging of the air valve (breather) of the oil fill cap, filling oil into the crankcase above normal. The leak is eliminated, respectively, by replacing and correctly installing the oil seals, replacing the gaskets and tightening the cap fastening bolts, cleaning the breather, bringing the oil level to normal.
Instability of the walk-behind tractor while driving (yaw)... Different pressure in the right and left wheels, uneven wear of the tire tread, improper adjustment of trailers, in particular, the plow, leads to this type of movement of the walk-behind tractor. In this case, the adjustment of the walk-behind tractor should be reduced to equalizing the pressure in the wheels and adjusting the trailers. It is also necessary to use tires of the same degree of wear.
Increased vibration of the walk-behind tractor... Increased vibration usually occurs when incorrect adjustment or loosening of attachments (cutters, rotary mowers, etc.). If vibrations occur, immediately stop the walk-behind tractor and put the towing devices in order - fix the cutters or cutting segments of the rotary mower, replace them if they are worn out or broken.
The article lists only the most common malfunctions. The practice of operating motoblocks is replete with a much wider list of malfunctions - both atypical, which are sometimes very difficult to diagnose, and those whose nature and place is beyond doubt.
If it is not possible to eliminate the malfunctions of the walk-behind tractor on your own, the only option remains is to contact the service center for the maintenance and repair of walk-behind tractors.
We'll see Oleg (Serwacy) in the fall, I think they should reset him.
alexander (Haiba) Yes, Ole checks everything.
Tags: Do-it-yourself centaur walk-behind tractor engine repair video