The John Deere GT225 died

[cjet69]

About a week ago Dad was mowing with the GT225 and just as he was parking it it started missing, popping, and backfired a couple times. When I went to use it 3-4 days later it wouldn't start. I pulled the plug wire to check for spark and got nothing for 4-5 seconds and then it started sparking again. Put the plug wire on and mowed a small area with no problem. Then yesterday I mowed long enough to fill the bagger and it started running bad again, coughed, backfired, and died. No spark at all now no matter how long I crank it. I'm pretty sure the coil went, but I should test it first. The tractor is up on the farm in the orchard, so I need to get a trailer and bring it to the shop.

 

[MNGB]

So what engine does a 225 have? and yea sounds like the coil took retirement

 

[cjet69]

So what engine does a 225 have? and yea sounds like the coil took retirement

It has a kohler CV15s.

 

[cjet69]

Brought the GT225 home with the Gator. I pulled the Kill wire and still no spark. I need to find the test procedures for these coils. I think I have a manual on the old computer so I will start there.

 

[KennyP]

This SM is for the horizontal shaft, should be the same for the vertical ignition.

 

[cjet69]

Thanks, Kenny. I found my manual on the old computer, and they show the same procedure and ohm values. I checked the ohms on my coil and got 13.8k for a reading. The manual says between 7,900 to 18,400 ohms is good. So, by this test I should be good but still no spark.

 

[Toomanytoys84]

I ran into a problem on a kt17. Ran fine and had spark for an hour then it lost spark. Coil tested good cold. Bad hot.

 

[KennyP]

Just a while back I was chasing a no spark issue. Turned out the engine to tractor connector had too much oily dirt in it and was shorting things out.

 

[cjet69]

I have another GT225 that had a very similar problem to this one. It would run fine for a while and quit. After sitting for a bit it would fire back up and run fine. Finally I changed the coil and its run fine ever since. When you have an intermittent problem you never know if your testing a working or non-working coil. I think I will try a different coil and see what happens.

 

[Toomanytoys84]

Hard problem to trouble shoot. Only way I found out was testing the coil as soon as it quit running. I chased fuel issues and everything else

 

[cjet69]

Put a new coil on the GT225 and it fired right up. I guess the problem is solved.

 

[Sawdust]

Glad you got it fixed. Nice looking tractor. Don’t you just love retrieving these things when they are far away. It’s good to have a little trailer like you got for towing.

 

[MNGB]

Amazing what good spark will do

 

[cjet69]

Glad you got it fixed. Nice looking tractor. Don’t you just love retrieving these things when they are far away. It’s good to have a little trailer like you got for towing.

It wasn't too far to go, just back thru the woodlot where our orchard is located. Shot a short time lapse driving the Gator back. The trailer was built for hauling the hay tedder, but also works for GT transport.