I have an 8 year old Craftsman tractor with 46" deck and 20hp Kohler
engine.

Last summer it started bogging on and off when the cutter was
engaged. This year it can't seem to keep the rpm up at all. I'm not
talking about excessively long or wet grass. It used to cut this
grass just fine.

The engine runs fine when either the cutter is not engaged or it is
engaged and not cutting through any significant amount of grass.

The deck of the mower spins free and smooth (bearing and pullies are
fine) and the blades are sharp.

I've recently replaced the plugs, air filter, oil, oil filter, and a
new fuel filter is on the way.

I'm considering getting a carb rebuild kit but not sure if this will
help condisering the engine runs fine when not cutting.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Deja,

How tall is the grass? How often do you mow? In tall grass how fast do
you mow? There's nothing in your post that suggests a carb or a mower
problem.

Dave M.

deja wrote:

I have an 8 year old Craftsman tractor with 46" deck and 20hp Kohler
engine.

Last summer it started bogging on and off when the cutter was engaged.
This year it can't seem to keep the rpm up at all. I'm not talking
about excessively long or wet grass. It used to cut this grass just
fine.

Check the compression.

--
Tony Sivori

In article ,
(Tony Sivori) says...

Check the compression.

Yeah, it may need a valve job.

--
For email, replace firstnamelastinitial
with my first name and last initial.

wrote:
I have an 8 year old Craftsman tractor with 46" deck and 20hp Kohler
engine.

Last summer it started bogging on and off when the cutter was
engaged. This year it can't seem to keep the rpm up at all. I'm not
talking about excessively long or wet grass. It used to cut this
grass just fine.

The engine runs fine when either the cutter is not engaged or it is
engaged and not cutting through any significant amount of grass.

The deck of the mower spins free and smooth (bearing and pullies are
fine) and the blades are sharp.

I've recently replaced the plugs, air filter, oil, oil filter, and a
new fuel filter is on the way.

I'm considering getting a carb rebuild kit but not sure if this will
help condisering the engine runs fine when not cutting.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I did not see any mention of sharpening those blades? You may need a
compression test to determine what condition the motor is in. I would not
be too hopeful about a car rebuild, but I sure can't say it could not work.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

I would also check and possibly adjust the governor




wrote in message
oups.com...
I have an 8 year old Craftsman tractor with 46" deck and 20hp Kohler
engine.

Last summer it started bogging on and off when the cutter was
engaged. This year it can't seem to keep the rpm up at all. I'm not
talking about excessively long or wet grass. It used to cut this
grass just fine.

The engine runs fine when either the cutter is not engaged or it is
engaged and not cutting through any significant amount of grass.

The deck of the mower spins free and smooth (bearing and pullies are
fine) and the blades are sharp.

I've recently replaced the plugs, air filter, oil, oil filter, and a
new fuel filter is on the way.

I'm considering getting a carb rebuild kit but not sure if this will
help condisering the engine runs fine when not cutting.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

In all ACTUALITY, it sounds like the carb is lean. Try adjusting the main
jet a quarter turn to the rich. (counterclockwise). If it's got a
convention ignition (points, condenser, coil) you may need a points
adjustment.

--
Steve Barker





wrote in message
oups.com...
I have an 8 year old Craftsman tractor with 46" deck and 20hp Kohler
engine.

Last summer it started bogging on and off when the cutter was
engaged. This year it can't seem to keep the rpm up at all. I'm not
talking about excessively long or wet grass. It used to cut this
grass just fine.

The engine runs fine when either the cutter is not engaged or it is
engaged and not cutting through any significant amount of grass.

The deck of the mower spins free and smooth (bearing and pullies are
fine) and the blades are sharp.

I've recently replaced the plugs, air filter, oil, oil filter, and a
new fuel filter is on the way.

I'm considering getting a carb rebuild kit but not sure if this will
help condisering the engine runs fine when not cutting.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

On Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:09:31 -0700, wrote:

I have an 8 year old Craftsman tractor with 46" deck and 20hp Kohler
engine.

Last summer it started bogging on and off when the cutter was
engaged. This year it can't seem to keep the rpm up at all. I'm not
talking about excessively long or wet grass. It used to cut this
grass just fine.

The engine runs fine when either the cutter is not engaged or it is
engaged and not cutting through any significant amount of grass.

Does it act this way if you loosen the gas cap a bit?

I had a 18 HP Craftsman and it would *bog down* going up the steep
slope in the front yard. Unscrewed the cap a little and it stopped.
Cleared the cap vent.

YMMV.



The deck of the mower spins free and smooth (bearing and pullies are
fine) and the blades are sharp.

I've recently replaced the plugs, air filter, oil, oil filter, and a
new fuel filter is on the way.

I'm considering getting a carb rebuild kit but not sure if this will
help condisering the engine runs fine when not cutting.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
--
Oren

...through the use of electrical or duct tape, achieve the configuration in the photo..

Thanks for the replies guys. I got a leakdown tester. As I pulled
the plug to test the second head I saw what the problem was. That
plug still looked brand new. I pulled the cover off the engine and
there was a dead mouse and a chewed wire. I was running on 1
cylinder. I just ordered a new ignition moduled and I assume all will
be well once again :-)

Thanks again.

On Jun 3, 12:09 pm, wrote:
I have an 8 year old Craftsman tractor with 46" deck and 20hp Kohler
engine.

Last summer it started bogging on and off when the cutter was
engaged. This year it can't seem to keep the rpm up at all. I'm not
talking about excessively long or wet grass. It used to cut this
grass just fine.

The engine runs fine when either the cutter is not engaged or it is
engaged and not cutting through any significant amount of grass.

The deck of the mower spins free and smooth (bearing and pullies are
fine) and the blades are sharp.

I've recently replaced the plugs, air filter, oil, oil filter, and a
new fuel filter is on the way.

I'm considering getting a carb rebuild kit but not sure if this will
help condisering the engine runs fine when not cutting.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

wrote:
Thanks for the replies guys. I got a leakdown tester. As I pulled
the plug to test the second head I saw what the problem was. That
plug still looked brand new. I pulled the cover off the engine and
there was a dead mouse and a chewed wire. I was running on 1
cylinder. I just ordered a new ignition moduled and I assume all will
be well once again :-)

Thanks again.

On Jun 3, 12:09 pm, wrote:
I have an 8 year old Craftsman tractor with 46" deck and 20hp Kohler
engine.

Last summer it started bogging on and off when the cutter was
engaged. This year it can't seem to keep the rpm up at all. I'm not
talking about excessively long or wet grass. It used to cut this
grass just fine.

The engine runs fine when either the cutter is not engaged or it is
engaged and not cutting through any significant amount of grass.

The deck of the mower spins free and smooth (bearing and pullies are
fine) and the blades are sharp.

I've recently replaced the plugs, air filter, oil, oil filter, and a
new fuel filter is on the way.

I'm considering getting a carb rebuild kit but not sure if this will
help condisering the engine runs fine when not cutting.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Put a cat in your storage shed.