QuestionQUESTION: Hi John, I have a Massey Furguson 212GTX lawn tractor. The M.S.N.is 5897 and the serial no.is S09010.After about 75 trouble free hours of mowing this summer, the tractor started to loose power and eventually quit running. I changed the fuel filter and the next day it started and run fine for two weeks and lost power and quit again. Now it will idle roughly but will not accelerate and backfires. I have cleaned and lapped the valves, new spark plug, two fuel filters, and cleaned the carburetor. I have good spark and the fuel pump is pumping, but maybe not enough,I don't how much is enough. The engine nos. are as follows, model M12AQS, spec. 471514, serial 2102805803.I don't know what year this tractor is. The engine has an aluminum flat head and solid state ignition,no points, condenser, or coil. Thanks, Frank
ANSWER: Hello Frank:
Usually what you Described is Caused by the Carburetor, Solid State Ignition, Bad Rings, Muffler or the Flywheel Key. From your Description, it Sounds like the Solid State Ignition/Magneto is Breaking Down. Check the Flywheel Key First, then the Solid State Ignition/Magneto. To Check the Solid State Ignition, Operate the Engine Until it Quits, then Check for Fire at the Plug Then. Of No Fire at the Plug, then Disconnect the Shut Off Wire from the Solid State Ignition/Magneto and Check for Fire. If Still No Fire, then the Solid State Ignition/Magneto is Bad. Did you Soak the Carburetor Overnight in Carburetor Cleaner? If No, then the Carburetor is Still Dirty. Make Sure the Muffler is Clear of Carbon Deposits. If the Muffler is Slightly Stopped Up, then the Engine Runs Hotter than Normal and Cause the Block to Expand Too Much and the Engine Slowly Loses Compression. If All the Above have No Effect on the Engine, then Check the Compression Cold and Operate the Engine Until it Quits and Check the Compression Hot. If the Compression Decreased, then the Rings are Bad if the Muffler and Flywheel Key are Good. I Do Not Think the Rings because the Engine Runs at Idle. Massy is Manufactured by AGCO and Some Simplicity Parts will Interchange. The Engine is a 1991 Year Engine if that Helps. You can Most Likely Purchase Parts for the Mower Itself from this Site Addy; http://www.agcopartsfair.com/heritagehome.aspx and the Engine Parts, Belts and Blades are at your Local Small Engine Service Center or Online @ Outdoor Distributors; 1-877-797-2787. Hope this Helps. I am Here if You Require More Assistance. Let me Know What Happens, Please. Thanks.
Good Luck
Respectfully
John
PS: I am Allowed to Answer 10 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 9pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Thanks.
Respectfully
John
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi John, I am sorry for the delay in my response. I soaked the carburetor over night,I have good compression cold and hot,I have good spark before starting and after the engine stalls out,the muffler is clear,and I also tried three different fuel pumps. The engine still idles fine for a few minutes and stalls out. I tried spraying gas directly into the carburetor but it still stalled and sometimes backfires. I pulled the engine to check the flywheel key. The key is fine and the flywheel was tight. I removed the flywheel to double check the key but everything was fine. The only thing I didn't like was everything was caked with dirt, dust, and grass residue. The backside of the flywheel was really bad. There are six pieces of material on the back of the flywheel that rotate around 25 small pieces with windings on the back of the engine. this whole area was really caked with debris. I have never had a engine like this apart before so I don't know what this mechanism is for. I think I will install a new solid state ignition/magneto while the engine is out just to be sure. This tractor had 523 hrs. on it when I got it and after normal maintenance it has run fine to now. (603 hrs.) The previous owner must have used it in very dusty and dirty areas. That's all I have John, if you have any more advice please let me know. Thanks, Frank
AnswerHello Again Frank:
The Components are the Charging System (Stator/Alternator). I was Refering to our Correspondence and Noticed I Failed to Mention the Valve Clearance May Require Resetting. The Intake is Set at .004in - .006in and the Exhaust is Set at .008in - .010in. If you Hit a Snag or this Does Not Correct the Problem, then I am Here if You Require More Assistance. Hope this Helps. Let me Know What Happens, Please. Thanks.
Good Luck
Respectfully
John
PS: I am Allowed to Answer 10 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 9pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Thanks.
Respectfully
John
