whizkidkyus
Member
- Location
- South Central , Ky.
I just bought a John Deere 212 riding mower with the side shaft Kohler 12 hp K301 AQS engine with an extra deck ( minus a bearing
assembly . blade , but with both belts ) all complete for $50.00 non running , but I heard it running last year . Bottom screw was missing
on points cover and there was a cobweb mess on the contact parts of points . Another mower mechanic friend of mine who knows more about
points system as hes older than me ( 72 ) set the points closer and filed them and we got it running run for a few and then quit and
wouldn't start back . I fount that the little ground arm on spark plug was bent up until it was barely touching the tip of plug . Put in
new plug and some new gas with old and it hit a second or two and quit again and wouldn't start . Checked firing with neon tester , no
spark . 12 vdc on hot wire on coil on the side of engine . I also put in a new battery . The wiring has been butchered some as in it has a
off / on toggle switch that you have to push up to one for it to start and down to kill . It also has a push button start switch and
another toggle switch on top of dash for the lights . Push up for lights to come on and down for off . Lights are seperate from the other
off / on switch ! The guy that I got it from said that was the way he got it . Guy also said that he mowed with it for two years until it
stared missing / cutting out at full throttle ( don't know if it only did it while cold or hot or both ) He took it to another small
engine shop who said that the engine was wore out . It has been sitting since the last time he got it out and started it to show me about a
year ago . And it sat for some time before that . The points and condenser are both shiny like they are brand new even though the mower was
sitting under a three sided shed with the hood off and the engine facing out . Any ideas on how to check / diagonose the firing problem ?
Points was before I started working on small engines ! lights pretty much work now and the guy that I got it fro also said that the guy he
got it from had just put in a new heavy duty clutch on mower ( not deck ) ! What are your thoughts ? Did I do good for $50.00 / Mower looks
pretty good . Not sure of year of mfg , but serial number is on plate on the dash under the steering column along with model number ! Any
thoughts on this or comments ? Anything that I should check or be aware of ? Thanks for any and all help !
Whizkid