Susan has already been mowing this evening with our Grasshopper. I think we got lucky fixing this. It would have cost us a pretty penny to have it trucked to the shop for diagnosis and repair.
Good troubleshoot and a good fix. I looked at 12v fuel solenoids on Amazon, and you might be able to put an aftermarket fuel cutoff solenoid valve in the fuel supply line at far less cost than the replacement part. And maybe with far less effort.
It works with your modification, why replace the solenoid? Add a fuel cut off valve after the filter.
I have a 2005 John Deere lawnmower that came with a number of extra electrical circuits in the name of safety. The biggest problem is that JD used cheaply made switches and solenoids that they mark up 100% over the same manufacturer part number. I have re-engineered the brake circuit to by-pass the requirement of the brake to be engaged when starting. The same goes for the circuit that requires the PTO to be disengaged. The $40 PTO switch will burn its points every 3 or 4 years. The $37 brake switch has a flimsy mount that will brake off every couple of years. The cheap $18 chinease starter solenoid has a lifespan of 2 to 3 years but I have not found a better substitute.
Now that the Grasshopper is running again, we see why there is a fuel shutoff. After mowing we stop the deck and go back to the garage at a fast idle, let it cool for about a minute, then turn the key to off. As the engine stops spinning, it backfires through the muffler. We are going to try a longer cool down idle. It's not a real problem, but I see why the Kawasaki engineers don't want it going POW! every time the customer shuts down.
Good troubleshoot and a good fix.
ReplyDeleteI looked at 12v fuel solenoids on Amazon, and you might be able to put an aftermarket fuel cutoff solenoid valve in the fuel supply line at far less cost than the replacement part.
And maybe with far less effort.
It works with your modification, why replace the solenoid? Add a fuel cut off valve after the filter.
ReplyDeleteI have a 2005 John Deere lawnmower that came with a number of extra electrical circuits in the name of safety. The biggest problem is that JD used cheaply made switches and solenoids that they mark up 100% over the same manufacturer part number. I have re-engineered the brake circuit to by-pass the requirement of the brake to be engaged when starting. The same goes for the circuit that requires the PTO to be disengaged. The $40 PTO switch will burn its points every 3 or 4 years. The $37 brake switch has a flimsy mount that will brake off every couple of years. The cheap $18 chinease starter solenoid has a lifespan of 2 to 3 years but I have not found a better substitute.
Now that the Grasshopper is running again, we see why there is a fuel shutoff. After mowing we stop the deck and go back to the garage at a fast idle, let it cool for about a minute, then turn the key to off. As the engine stops spinning, it backfires through the muffler. We are going to try a longer cool down idle. It's not a real problem, but I see why the Kawasaki engineers don't want it going POW! every time the customer shuts down.
ReplyDelete