Garden tractor acquisition

Mower trouble? Are 2-cycle engines the bane of your existence?
kevm14
Posts: 15201
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

I also tried the Engine Restore in my Simplicity.

Sort of warm but not hot compression check results:

Left cyl, maybe a tad under 100 psi.
20200809_145804.jpg

Right cyl, call it 110 psi.
20200809_145958.jpg

Didn't change the oil, just added ~5 oz. It may be overfilled now so maybe I should have drained some out. Ran it at maybe 2800 rpm for 30 minutes or so. Checked compression again, hot this time.

Left cyl, call it a tad over 100 psi, maybe a gain of 5 psi?
20200809_154136.jpg

Right cyl, call it maybe 112 for a gain of 2 psi or so. This one is probably already closer to spec anyway.
20200809_154321.jpg

Probably needs more run time. I'll check the oil and maybe drain out 6-8 oz before I run it again. I could even add ~1 oz of the Restore back to get the concentration to where it was but maybe that's splitting hairs...

Other than looking at the compression there isn't much I need here other than a science experiment. It stopped using oil completely when I switched back to the Delo 400 SAE30...

To be continued.
kevm14
Posts: 15201
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

No crank no start again. It's not the solenoid. I kinda figured....now I have a spare for the Deutz though it'll probably never fail.

I believe it is the transmission shifter interlock switch. It must be in neutral (and that switch closed) to allow cranking. It is still intermittent though, not a hard failure. Maybe I can take it off and shoot some DeOxit in it or something. Or electrical contact cleaner. Let me check price/availability.

It is a 1686951SM. None found on eBay.

Well, I can try to clean it or just bypass it entirely. For safety. Next time it happens I guess I'll try either jumping it out or get my test light on it. I figured out the pin closer to the front of the machine should go to ground when it's working. So put the alligator clip on positive and touch that pin with the test light during crank. If it doesn't light, it's a switch problem. If it lights, it's still something else.
kevm14
Posts: 15201
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

One headlight on my Simplicity burned out. I really rarely need lights but I can't have a burned out light. How embarrassing.

So I ordered two of these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XW ... UTF8&psc=1

I got the 120 degree spec in 3000K. Only 9W each (compared to 35W) and significantly brighter. I will try them out on my Simplicity and if they seem good I'll order another two for my Deutz. This will be good on the Deutz when I eventually switch over to the 18HP twin with the regulated charging system. That will free up power for....other lighting options. Doesn't matter in the Simplicity with the original dual circuit AC lighting system.
kevm14
Posts: 15201
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

I think 120 degree is too much of a flood. I ordered a pair of 30 degree ones that seem closer to what the 4411 reflector was doing. I will try these in the dark but I think the flood is more suitable for a rear mount, but these require a housing so I would get something different for the rear of the Deutz. I will probably return the 120 degree ones, unless my dark trial reveals something. Right now I have one 35W incandescent and one of the new LEDs.

The LED bulb seems to handle the AC input pretty well. It actually stays on until the RPM is cut way down which is pretty cool. It goes off at a full idle but the incandescents are unusably dim at idle so same difference.
kevm14
Posts: 15201
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Did a quick test at dusk. The 35W incandescent gives a focused beam like a car headlight, shining where you are heading when driving. The 120 degree LED bulb just shines everywhere so no single area is that well lit. Not what I wanted. I guess they will go back. Hopefully the 30 degree ones are about the same as the 4411s.
kevm14
Posts: 15201
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Held the exposure constant and took pics with one, the other and then both. You can see the differences. I almost wonder if one of each is best... obviously I'm getting carried away but I like lighting comparisons.

LED flood
20200817_201048.jpg
4411 incandescent
20200817_201134.jpg
Both
20200817_201218.jpg
Again the incandescent requires full engine rpm for max brightness while the LED stays bright through a much wider range. So that is nice. Obviously on the Deutz the lights will be battery powered with the regulated charging system so that is less of a concern.
kevm14
Posts: 15201
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Quick basement test last night suggests the 30 degree ones will be good. I kept the old UPS batteries from my two UPSs and it's handy to have a 12V power source.
kevm14
Posts: 15201
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Here is the flood vs the 30 degree beam on the bench. Flood on the left, 30 degree on the right. Funny thing is the flood lens looks very much like the 4411 but the beam is obviously completely different.
20200820_191555_HDR.jpg
20200820_191600_HDR (2).jpg

The following comparison was at a manual ISO and shutter speed so the exposure should be consistent for all of the next shots.

4411 only
20200820_200632.jpg

30 degree LED only
20200820_200729.jpg

LED and 4411 at the same time.
20200820_200549.jpg

And finally, both new 30 degree LED bulbs.
20200820_201809.jpg

Yes! That is what I wanted. Very cool. And again they stay bright to a much lower RPM so this is basically better all around. And it works with the AC electrical system with no diodes or other BS. Just a drop in replacement. I will be returning the floods. I think I would want these 30 degree ones on my Deutz for the winter, also.
kevm14
Posts: 15201
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

In other news I solved the no crank. I tested the trans neutral switch. Of course it was fine. I put my test light across the battery cables when trying to crank and it got dim. Now that is a clue. DVM revealed 12.5V open circuit but less than 5V while attempting to crank. Battery? Starter? Wait I had a theory.

Connected the test light to the battery itself not the cable lugs. Light much brighter and stayed bright while attempting to crank. Ah ha! Just a bad cable connection. Cleaned up the positive terminal on the battery and cable (it was actually pretty crappy), reinstalled, cranks great again.

I have to check the simple stuff!! I threw a starter solenoid at it for NO reason. Should have been a $0 fix. Ah well like I said now I have a spare...and at least I didn't throw a new battery and starter at it.
kevm14
Posts: 15201
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Did the lawn this weekend. The Simplicity cranked and started great. Sigh. No, I didn't mow at night...though I do see doing leaves past sunset in late fall so there is that.
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