Lawn mower suddenly stops and begins smoking

[Nick]

Hey guys, trying to troubleshoot my riding mower, a Cub Cadet LT1050 I bought in 2006.

Been working fine for a while, starting about a month ago, it would very occasionally (and interestingly, always in the same spot) suddenly stop moving forward, the belt for the mower deck would stop, and then it would begin smoking (can't tell from where). Shutting off the engine, and restarting it, everything worked fine again.

Until today, where it started doing it in my backyard and every time I restarted it and moved forward it would shut down again. Interestingly, I can drive in reverse just fine. It's almost like when I'm going forward somehow something just disengages. I'm lost on where to start troubleshooting this.

On a side note, I did recently replace deck pulleys that were frozen in place, but I dont see any reason why this would be related. Oil levels are fine and clean and so is the air filter. No noticeable misfires or anything from the engine either.

any ideas?

 

[Hawkshot99]

Does it have a Hydro Tranny or gear Drive?

If Hydro, is the smoke from the front of the mower(engine) or back of mower under the driver(transmission)?

 

[wa-loaf]

I don't have an answer, but my buddy has one of those. Every time I'm over to his house the thing is busted somehow and his brother-in-law (who's good at this kind of thing) is there trying to fix it.

 

[JimG.]

My John Deere just recently did the same thing. The mower deck needs both cylinders to mow correctly. If one isn't engaged when you try to mow, the mower bogs down and stalls. Sometimes mice build nests in bad places and chew stuff to pieces. A mouse may have chewed through one of the wires that tells the deck both cylinders are engaged. Is it smoking through the exhaust?

 

[ScottySkis]

My John Deere just recently did the same thing. The mower deck needs both cylinders to mow correctly. If one isn't engaged when you try to mow, the mower bogs down and stalls. Sometimes mice build nests in bad places and chew stuff to pieces. A mouse may have chewed through one of the wires that tells the deck both cylinders, are engaged. Is it smoking through the exhaust?

My cousin / roommate just bought One warranty is awesome how u like yours Jim?

 

[JimG.]

Mine is 10 years old. Still runs well and has needed only normal maintenance. 42" deck gets my 2 acre lawn done in about an hour and a half.

 

[o3jeff]

Sounds like and electrical problem. Check for shorts and loose wires.

 

[Nick]

I'm pretty sure it's a gear drive (not hydro).

The smoking looks almost like a belt but nothing at the time is spinning, at least not the PTO.

It's just bizarre. I wish I could let it smoke and then inspect it but the second it starts smoking i turn off the engine. restarting and it works fine, until I move forward, then it suddenly stops and starts smoking again. It certainly has the smell of a belt.

Ugh! Goign to try and look at it some more today.

 

[Geoff]

Lawn mower suddenly stops and begins smoking

You sure you don't have the "Scotty Edition" that quits at 4:20 to fire up a bone?

 

[Nick]

Zing!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using AlpineZone mobile app

 

[ScottySkis]

Lawn mower suddenly stops and begins smoking

You sure you don't have the "Scotty Edition" that quits at 4:20 to fire up a bone?

That the best time if the day.

 

[bvibert]

I'm pretty sure it's a gear drive (not hydro).

The smoking looks almost like a belt but nothing at the time is spinning, at least not the PTO.

It's just bizarre. I wish I could let it smoke and then inspect it but the second it starts smoking i turn off the engine. restarting and it works fine, until I move forward, then it suddenly stops and starts smoking again. It certainly has the smell of a belt.

Ugh! Goign to try and look at it some more today.

Obvious solution, don't turn off the engine as soon as it starts smoking... You gotta figure out where it's coming from. It sure sounds like a belt to me though...

 

[wa-loaf]

Obvious solution, don't turn off the engine as soon as it starts smoking... You gotta figure out where it's coming from. It sure sounds like a belt to me though...

And if the whole thing does burst into flames take pictures and post them here!

 

[bvibert]

And if the whole thing does burst into flames take pictures and post them here!

Yes, that too!

 

[o3jeff]

Maybe it's suppose to do that.

 

[Hawkshot99]

There is a belt that runs the deck and is connected to a pulley on the bottom of the engine. My guess is that something is jaming the deck/deck belt and the pulley on the engine is then spinning on one spot on the belt causing smoke.

 

[drjeff]

And if the whole thing does burst into flames take pictures and post them here!

Just make sure that you're wearing your GoPro when you perform this "experiment"!

 

[spring_mountain_high]

same thing happened to my troy bilt...turns out i had overfilled the oil...i'm guessing the pressure was too high and it was leaking out of the gasket and burning on the hot block...i looked up the specs, emptied the oil pan and refilled it, carefully measuring to mfr's spec...problem solved

 

[JimG.]

Maybe it's suppose to do that.

I was expecting Scotty to chime in that maybe it needed to smoke more.

 

[ScottySkis]

I was expecting Scotty to chime in that maybe it needed to smoke more.

Oh just did oh ya I love Mary Jane and THC.:beer::beer::beer: