Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): John Deere RX 73 Engine revs up and Down, air filter assembly, hill man


Question
QUESTION: I just bought a John Deere RX 73. It works great except it revs up and down. If i out the lever to slow it quits. It cuts great goes through the gears nicely. It starts easy on full throttle,but quits on slow.Any ideas why this happening??
Thanks
Ray
ANSWER: Of course I know, I am "The Truthmeister. My question is who cares. This engine has a tendancy to run hot and must be ran WFO (wide freakin open) all the time from start up to finish.
To get rid of the surge you need to clean the carb. You have a partially clogged emulsion tube. Thats a fancy name for a jet going up the center body of the carb.
As carbs go this one is fairly easy.

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QUESTION: All knowing......Something more for to ponder.....Ok I'll try cleaning. If I move the throttle (not the one attached to the throttle cable the do hickey behind it...I think it's connected to the governor) it will increase revs and sound real strong with no up and down in the revs.(lots of RPM's)
Does this change your original answer??? So just to clarify it needs to be ran in WFO. And I should not expect it to idle in slow?? Or will fixing the carb cleaning fix the non idling problem???
Thanks for your help..
ANSWER: When you hold the carb throttle it doesn't throb because you are controlling the load not the govenor. Cleaning the carb will fix the surge even at idle.

Just think. These other experts think they are experts. Maybe they are but they are boring as hell. WFO buddy, Thaqt's the way your mower wants to run. THAT'S THE WAY I LIVE, WFO!!!!!

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QUESTION: Paul,
I followed your direction and cleaned the carb, the problem is still there. I have notice with the air filter assembly off the engine does not surge up and down. I have a new problem too. When I'm going up or downhill in 1 2 or 3rd gear no problem, once I hit the 6th and 7 th gear the engine bogs down and stall...but only if I going up hill.  Man I sure hope you can help. Do u think the governor spring is stretched...Why does it die in 6th and 7th gear..it did not do this before the carb clean...
I anxiously await a response.
Thanks in advance.
Ray
P.S when cleaning the carb the gasket from the air filter assembly to carb was broken so I used Permatex No 2 to fix..
ANSWER: If it runs good with the air filter off you still have a little chunk of something in the carb or an air leak between the carb and the head. Try the carb clean again. Even a pro sometimes has to repeat a carb clean. you have to clean the tank and replace the lines and fuel filter to correctly clean the carb.

The reason it can't mow in 6or7 going up hill is because this mower only has a 7 HP engine. Hello!!! A modern 21" walkbehind mower has atleast 6HP if not more.

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QUESTION: Paul,
Thanks...When I first took the carb off there was no gasket at the head and carb, I thought this was usually but proceeded to remove. I discovered the carb to air intake assemble had a gasket but it was impeding the movement of the choke. I think this is the gasket that should be at the head. I have placed an order for new gaskets. Now all that's left is the idle. It does not idle, should I turn the idle screw up and try make some adjustments with the fuel/air mixer screw? Oh and this is a HP Kawasaki Motor. And it was going up hills before.....
Thanks for all the help....
ANSWER: FYI... all RX73 mowers have Kawasaki engines.

Yes, use the idle stop screw if you have to, that's why it is there. The idle/air adjustment screw probably won't make much difference.  

But.... like I said in my first response, WHO CARES IF IT IDLES. Idling this engine does nothing except make it run hot. WFO all the time. I can't emphasize this enough. WFO.

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QUESTION: Paul.,
Thank for your insights...Ok so I remove the crabs and cleaned them again I'm picking up the new gaskets tomorrow. I hope this resolve my issue with the surging. When I removed the idle/air adjustment was turned out only a 1/4.

Before taking the carb down again I started and drove around. When I shift from 1 to 4 th gear the speed does not change on the the 6th and 7th gear speed increase slightly.On 7th gear the it sounds as if it was choking and then I have to ease back to stop from stalling. It did not do this before my first carb job.

Any clue you could send my way.
Thanks in advance.
Ray


Answer
Your mower doesn't really have gears. It has a variable speed transmission. The variator belts require occasional adjustment.  

Here is what you need to do.  I'm going to apologize in advance for my lack of clarity.  

If you flip up the seat and look in the battery area, on the left(drivers side) you will see a black shaft that runs all the way across the battery compartment.  It will have a bolt/nut and bushing that it pivots on.  Did you find it?

Drive the tractor forward in 7 position and push in on the clutch, not the brake, just the clutch.  When the mower stops moving, with your foot still on the clutch, shut off the engine.  After the engine completely stops you can let off the clutch. Put the shifter into the neutral slot. Now, loosen the nut on the pivot you found under the seat.  When the bolt is loose the bushing assembly will move considerably. Where ever it lands retighten it.