QuestionHi John,
my L110 john deere has 180 hours on it. IT has the Kohler 17.5 hp engine. I recently changed the oil after winter and added too much oil by mistake. The tractor ran about 2 weeks ago and black smoke was coming out of the muffler in the front. It ran very poorly and I cut the whole lawn and it wouldnt start again.
Today I let out some of the oil and got it down to the correct level. It cranks but wont start. I replaced the gas filter, spark plug which was very dirty, and the battery. It cranks but continually spews gas and oil out of the front muffler. There appears to be gas dripping down in the front by the muffler also. It cranks but wont stop and makes a grinding noise. Did I blow the head gasket? Any suggestions? I really cant afford to take it to a service center right now - Thanks!
AnswerThe grinding may have been the starter, struggling, because it cannot compress fuel.
Your carb is flooding badly, and fuel may have fouled your engine oil
and raised the oil level too.
Check the oil for fuel, and drain your fuel tank, remove the
plugs and try cranking.
If there is gas in the oil, you need to change it again.
Then if it cranks OK with the plugs out, you need to remove, disassemble the carb, and find out why it is flooding. It could be
that the old fuel just varnished up the float, and it is stuck open.
