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Weak 1450 -- Help

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:11 pm
by Bill Hudson
Folks,

I've got a '79 model 1450 that has just run out of power and seems to be lugging all the time. Everything is free and moves easily with no binding but when you put the mower in gear and move the hydrostatic lever it starts to lug down. RPMs are lower than just last week. I don't know if I have been loosing power over time and it is just now evident to me or it has happened in just the last week. This CC has provided very reliable service and I will do what it takes to get it right and it will be going strong long after I'm gone. I was going to go through the engine this winter after I was through mowing.

What do think I'm looking at? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Bill

Re: Weak 1450 -- Help

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:27 pm
by john nussbaum
bill is this a single cylinder kholer? had one that had bad carbon on the exhaust valve . some used to act like they were vapor locked,give it some choke and it would run better. my exhaust valve stuck and got bent. just a thought.

Re: Weak 1450 -- Help

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 6:20 am
by Gary Dotson
Check the compression on it, Bill, valve issues sound very likely to me.

Re: Weak 1450 -- Help

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:19 am
by Eugene
Compression test - OK.

Before removing the head, check the condition of the condensor. Remove ignition points cover, start or crank over engine with ignition switch on. Check for spark arcing points. Small blue spark = ok. Nice yellow spark = time for new points and condensor.

Re: Weak 1450 -- Help

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:59 pm
by Paul B
If you have a service manual, make sure the arm on the governor shaft is adjusted correctly. This is the arm the linkage from the carburetor connects to. It is not uncommon for that arm to loosen up on the shaft and it will keep the governor from operating correctly, and the engine will loose power and or RPM (the engine can also run wide open until it self destructs if not corrected).

To adjust that arm, open the throttle about half way, loosen the 1/4" nut/bolt that holds the arm on the shaft that goes thru the side of the engine, turn the shaft counter clockwise as far as it will go (don't force it) and hold it in that position and move the arm to the left (CCW) as far as it will go, and then (using your third or fourth hand) tighten the bolt/nut to secure the arm to the shaft.

Re: Weak 1450 -- Help

Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 7:29 pm
by Bill Hudson
Folks,

Thanks for all the helpful information. I pulled the head and cleaned up copious quantities of carbon, using Groove Critter's die grinder. (Boy those puppies really work nice. Gotta get me one.) The CC runs like a new one, what a difference! Thanks again for all the advice and the loaned die grinder.

Bill