Cub cadet Lawn Mower Troubleshooting. There are a few basic things you should check if your Cub Cadet mower is experiencing issues running or mowing as expected.
While there are many different reasons why this can happen, the most common problems start with a lack of spark from the plugs or the lack of fuel in the engine.
Determining which of these issues pertain to your mower and how to solve them may involve some methodical work, but you may be able to solve the problem yourself if you don’t mind getting dirty.
Cub Cadet Lawn Mower Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting minor issues that have affected my lawnmower doesn’t intimidate me as much as it probably should because I know exactly what I need to check and I know that even small problems can be solved by me.
Having trouble starting the Cub Cadet lawnmower
Inspect the spark plug for signs of wear or damage. Repair or replace the spark plug if it shows any signs of damage, such as a chipped porcelain insulator, cracked or broken ceramic shell on the body of the spark plug, burned electrodes, or a buildup at the end cleaned with fine sandpaper.
To determine if the engine is receiving enough fuel to start, build up pressure in the fuel pump by pulling off and cleaning out debris inside it.
If there is a leak in one of the shutoffs within this line, examine them using soapy water to check for leaks and make repairs accordingly. Consult your manual for instructions on specific instructions to troubleshoot your Cub Cadet lawn mower electrical issues.
The lawnmower battery keeps dying
The battery is likely defective, and this indicates that the battery needs to be replaced. However, we are not sure if the charger itself is defective as well.
Since you can’t find out otherwise, a simple way to check would be if you charge the battery on another charger (in case it may be the one and not just the battery).
Also, test if there’s anything wrong with the electrical outlet you were using (it might have tripped a breaker) and make sure all the devices in your house aren’t using too much power in general.
The lawnmower runs rough
The carburetor might be clogged. This usually happens when fuel remains inside the lawnmower for a very long time.
Almost as if it had been there just waiting for its moment to shine, you get some thick sticky substance that clogs up the carburetor. The engine begins to run roughly and not properly because of this.
In order to solve this issue, you should use some carburetor cleaner which is specifically made for cleaning lawnmowers’ carburetors out during the process of maintenance.
If this does not work, don’t worry. There is an alternative way where you can either rebuild or replace the entire system.
Lawnmower blades will not engage
Power is provided to the PTO clutch by the PTO switch. In the event it is defective, no power will be transferred to the PTO clutch, resulting in the mower blades not moving.
By using a voltmeter, you can test the switch for voltage to see if it’s sending power through by testing for continuity. If not, then you’ll need to replace the faulty switch with a new one in order for your mower blades to rotate again.
Cub Cadet lawnmower is smoking
When a lawnmower engine produces black smoke, too much fuel is being injected into the carburetor. Carburetor floats that are stuck open will allow too much fuel to enter the engine.
In a similar manner, if the carburetor choke is stuck closed, the lawnmower engine will be unable to draw in enough air to mix the air and fuel properly.
The lawnmower does not self-propel
The drive pulley fits into a single groove on the engine’s crankshaft. This helps transfer power from the engine to the pull-start mechanism.
Inspect the drive pulley regularly for cracks, which can cause it to wear out quickly and create excessive rattle noise. If you notice any damage, it’s advised to replace the pulley right away.
The V-belt drives two smaller pulleys with groves that fit into it and propel power towards them from the engine, through those output shafts and eventually reaching both sets of rear wheels.
Inspect this belt regularly for damage as well since just like its larger counterpart failure may lead directly to mower inoperability.
Gas leaking from Cub Cadet lawn mower
When the gas tank is full but your gas lawnmower does not start, the gasket in between the bowl and the bottom of your carburetor may be dried out or missing.
If you suspect that this is why it’s not starting, try replacing this gasket with a new one.
If fuel leaking from the bottom of your carburetor appears to be preventing the engine from starting then you might need to replace this gasket.
Cub cadet Lawn Mower Troubleshooting
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