Riding mower sudden loud grinding noise
#1
09-27-15, 06:57 PM
Riding mower sudden loud grinding noise
I have a John Deere L120 riding lawn mower. While cutting grass a sudden LOUD metal grinding noise started from under the hood. I immediately shut it off and checked the oil. It was low so filled it to the line. Retried one time and same sound.
It is a briggs and stratton i believe. It normally releases a small cloud of smoke from the front of the hood when i start it. Really worried my engine and lawn mower are done. Thoughts? Thank you.
It is a briggs and stratton i believe. It normally releases a small cloud of smoke from the front of the hood when i start it. Really worried my engine and lawn mower are done. Thoughts? Thank you.
#2
09-27-15, 09:13 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
Doesn't sound good. It's hard to know without hearing it or knowing more detail. What if you turn the engine by hand, do you hear it still? How low was the oil? What engine is on it? Is the screen secure on top of the engine?
#3
09-28-15, 07:26 PM
The engine is a Briggs and Stratton 40. It is 22 HP. The oil seemed pretty low relative to where it should have been on the dipstick. I would say it was about 25%. I know....major problem and my fault.
Not sure how to turn the engine by hand. Limited experience working with mowers. In a worse case scenario, what am i looking at. The mower has 400 hours on it. Before this happened i was hoping to sell and use monet toward a new one
Thank you.
Not sure how to turn the engine by hand. Limited experience working with mowers. In a worse case scenario, what am i looking at. The mower has 400 hours on it. Before this happened i was hoping to sell and use monet toward a new one
Thank you.
#4
09-28-15, 11:25 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
Worst case scenario? That would be a new engine... maybe $800 and up. Best case, some piece of something got caught in the fan and is making noise.
#5
10-01-15, 01:40 PM
I attached 3 pictures of the underside of the Rider. When it is turning over there is no problem with the sound. When it does start the vibration is unbelievable. it sounds like it is coming from center section right below where your feet rest when sitting on the mower (No clue on the technical terms). It looks like there is a wiring issue underneath and a black metal piece looks broken off from something.
Hopefully the pictures help. If the engine was blown or about to, would that lead to all of the intense vibration? Your technical advice is appreciated.
Thanks.
Hopefully the pictures help. If the engine was blown or about to, would that lead to all of the intense vibration? Your technical advice is appreciated.
Thanks.
#6
10-01-15, 02:26 PM
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Kinda hard to tell from the pics, but one thing looks out of place to me right off...
Looks like you have an electric PTO?
In the first pic, there is a notch in the PTO clutch, and a bracket that extends down, I think that bracket should be set in that notch to keep the clutch secure in both directions.
I also just noticed in the second pic, the yellow wire that has likely been broken from the plug for the PTO.
Reset the clutch in the notch and splice the wire back.
Looks like you have an electric PTO?
In the first pic, there is a notch in the PTO clutch, and a bracket that extends down, I think that bracket should be set in that notch to keep the clutch secure in both directions.
I also just noticed in the second pic, the yellow wire that has likely been broken from the plug for the PTO.
Reset the clutch in the notch and splice the wire back.
#7
10-01-15, 04:48 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
Azis is correct, the PTO clutch came off of the ratainer rod. Get the notch in the clutch back on the arm that holds it and repair the wires and you should be good. The engine should be fine.
#9
10-02-15, 06:04 PM
Went out and bought a new bracket that holds the PTO. I installed it and started the engine. The noise and vibration was gone! I sensed the bibration starting so turned it off. The new bracket slipped off/came off the notch on the PTO.
It seems pretty idiot proof. Thoughts why It slipped off? Thanks
It seems pretty idiot proof. Thoughts why It slipped off? Thanks
#10
10-02-15, 08:37 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
If the bearing in the top portion of the PTO clutch is going bad, it will try to spin that part really hard, possibly bending the bracket out of the way.
