Hey all, I have a john deere 212 that starts up and runs fine but after about 10-15 minutes of mowing it will backfire and die. When I go to restart it, it sounds like there is no fuel in the cylinder. I have replaced the points, coil, condenser and fuel line and cleaned the tank. If anyone might have something else I should try I would greatly appreciate it
John Deere 212
- Thread starter 1996Brand
- Start date
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Sean McGillicuddy
Minister of Fire
Check to make sure your fuel cap is venting. When it dies, open your gas cap and if there is a whooshing sound, its not venting.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Ditto duramaxman05. When a stock engine dies after several minutes of running fine, it's nearly always either a bad coil or a clogged fuel vent.
I believe the 212 has a kohler k series engine with splash lube. I don't think they have a low oil sensor because the were known to sling a rod through the block if mowing on steep hills to long.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Only engine I ever toasted in my entire life was a Kohler K301. The thing ate oil, that much I knew, but apparently my assumption of consumption was a tad lower than reality. Broke the connecting rod at the crank end connection, when she ran dry.
Very common. I had. Case 220 with a k241 kohler with a broke rod. My fiend had either a 316 or 317 and it slung a rod out the side. That was interesting. Lol
highanddryinco
Burning Hunk
Check the valve adjustment. If there's not enough clearance, it may run when it's cold but when the valve stem gets hot, it lengthens, clearance goes away, valve won't seat, engine may back fire and not run until cool again.
Thanks for the help guys. I tried seafoam and a new gas cap with no results. So today I re adjusted the carb and also adjusted the valves also with no results. I don't know if it's possible I got a bad coil when I bought it or if there are other things I should look for
Sean McGillicuddy
Minister of Fire
You could ask on this site
https://www.mytractorforum.com/
They have a John Deere section.
Very knowledgeable people there. .that live and breath JD
https://www.mytractorforum.com/
They have a John Deere section.
Very knowledgeable people there. .that live and breath JD
Sean McGillicuddy
Minister of Fire
I had a similar experience last fall on a usually very reliable Honda GX200, engine would fire once after a couple of pulls on choke but never keep running. Replaced the carb and had an older head that was fine but still no luck. Then I saw a mention about coils that could be finicky so since I had replaced all the other components I got a new coil, voila, everything ran like a dream from then on. One would figure that since it would fire a couple of times under choke that it was getting proper spark but apparently that's not always the case.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Yep. Suggested it in post #5, as I've had that experience. But Op has already tried two coils, meaning they'd have some pretty uniquely bad luck, for that to be a cause of their troubles.
1996Brand, you didn't go back to the old coil, did you? You should stay on the new one, at least until you find the source of trouble.
1996Brand, you didn't go back to the old coil, did you? You should stay on the new one, at least until you find the source of trouble.
SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
I did not put the old coil back on. Everything I've change I have not put the old part back on
I haven't had much time to work on it the past few days unfortunately
Yes the motor will turn over freely with the starter but it sounds like it is spinning over with no fuel in the cylinder
highanddryinco
Burning Hunk
Ok, following down @Jags path. When you say turns over freely after it dies, does it feel like it still has compression at that point? Or does it truly spin over super easy like there's no compression? (You may have to recreate the hot stop scenario, and then spin it over by hand to determine.)
highanddryinco
Burning Hunk
I'm still leaning toward that intake valve sticking open when it gets hot. You mentioned the valve lash is good which rules out my first suspicion. But that valve stem could be ever so slightly bent, the valve guide/stem could be all gunked up from long term storage, or the use of bad fuel over the years has caused some scoring.
