Old garden tractors and the heat

[Chaser]

Is it common for these old tractors to not run well in the heat, or do I have an issue? I've been mowing with the JD 210 this summer, and it's been running great. However the last 2 times I've mowed it's been about 90 degrees and the stinking thing runs like crap. Spitting, sputtering and stalling. Every time the governor calls for more power/fuel it sputters and or stalls. Is this common to this type of heat, or is there something wrong with my tractor?

 

[chieffan]

With heat comes humidity. Humidity mean moisture and moisture mean water - in the fuel would be my first guess. Keep the fuel tank full so there is not room for moisture.

 

[jabelman]

when it's above 90 and humid in nj, my 854 runs like crap with k181. I don't push the old ones too hard I got beater riders to use and abuse, like the jd depot special

 

[Kster526]

Try a little sea foam in the fuel your next few fill ups

 

[olcowhand]

Could be a bit of vapor lock going on as well. Any GT with a pretty enclosed engine bay will get the fuel hotter faster, as even the fuel tank gets super heated by all the engine heat that gets trapped under all the hood & shields.

 

[MM Mark]

Have you tried a carburetor adjustment?

 

[Jazz]

Easier solution is don’t mow when it’s stinking hot

 

[poncho62]

Have you tried a carburetor adjustment?

Carburetors are pretty heat sensitive. An adjustment might help.
That said, these engines are air cooled, 90 degree air is not going to cool as well as 70 degree air. I don't work so good in the heat either

 

[holdenboy1960 (Shane )]

if it is points and condenser , 1st check the spark plug not breaking down , then check the condenser as they can break down under heat ,and fuel load (extra fuel on spark )some times they can leak around the solder wire connection on the condenser

Shane

 

[Toomanytoys84]

Had a coil that hated heat. New coil and fixed up.

 

[FixItCharlie]

When was the last time the metal on the engine housing was removed to make sure the cooling fins are clear of debris. I have seen a few engines that were so back with grass it was lucky it did not catch on fire. On tractors that do not have a fuel pump there is a fuel filter made for these & it cured the problem I had with mine.
Charlie

 

[Chaser]

it's a brand new carb, and I have tried adjusting it with no change. The sheet metal shields for the engine have been removed. It's got an electric fuel pump with inline filter. The points, condenser, and coil are all about a year old. I think it just doesn't like the heat.

 

[Jazz]

it's a brand new carb, and I have tried adjusting it with no change. The sheet metal shields for the engine have been removed. It's got an electric fuel pump with inline filter. The points, condenser, and coil are all about a year old. I think it just doesn't like the heat.

My SS16 was behaving somewhat like that early in season,,would start to run like crap after 20 minutes, changed the plugs at wifes insistence. Cured although I think only one plug was bad as one was fouled when I checked.

 

[holdenboy1960 (Shane )]

3 main factors to engine problems
Fuel ( you said fuel is sorted so it only leaves 2 things
Spark-timing
Compression

Shane

 

[DennyIN]

This probably isn't it, but once worked on a JD 112 that ran fine cold but the longer it ran the power would fall off until it would quit. Let it cool off and it ran fine until it got hot again and quit. The wire from the points to the coil was defective and when it got hot it would quit running. Replaced that wire and it was fixed.

 

[chieffan]

Try replacing the capacitor at the points. Have a 10HP B&S cast iron on a wood spliter that did the same thing. Would start and run good for about 20 min then start to fall on it s face, missing and finally die. Burnt points. Replaced the points and the same thing. Replaced the capacitor and problem solved.

 

[Chaser]

I think it just doesn't like the hot weather. It will run like a champ all day when it's 75 out, but up around 90 not so much.

 

[UncleWillie]

Pull the tins off and check for mouse nests.

 

[Greasy6020]

Pull the tins off and check for mouse nests.

I second the motion

BBQ’d 3 mice some time earlier this summer, ejected a solid handful of insulation from under engine tins on the roper rt16