A John Deere L130 is a popular choice if you’re looking to buy a quality lawn mower. Its powerful engine and hydrostatic transmission make it a farmer’s dream. But problems do occur.
If you are part of that 1% that is having a John Deere L130 problem, start by using this guide to help you diagnose and solve some of these problems for good.
From electrical issues to mechanical faults, in this article, we will try and help you solve some of the most common John Deere L130 problems out there.
Problems in the John Deere L130
John Deere L130 Lawn Mower is a great machine that has come to the market. With the passage of time and with increase in technology, there have also been some problems with it. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the common problems that one may come across while using this machine.
In order to avoid John Deere L130 Lawn Mower transmission issues, always check for debris and clean out the area around the axle where it connects to the transmission.
Make sure the area is clear from any possible debris that can cause damage to the mower. When you are cutting grass, make sure you give the mower plenty of room to maneuver.
This will help prevent damage to both the lawn mower and the grass. Make sure that you check your belts on a regular basis, especially if you have a lot of hills in your yard.
The belt could be slipping or need tightening so that you are not putting too much pressure on the engine. The steering needs to be checked before each use of the lawn mower.
First, make sure that it is properly aligned and then make sure there are no loose bolts or screws in the steering system. If you find any loose bolts or screws, tighten them immediately.
Loose bolts can cause major damage while you are using your John Deere L130 Lawn Mower. To keep your carburetor running properly, it is important to keep up with maintenance on a regular basis.
This includes checking for small stones or debris in the fuel tank, and cleaning out any leaves or dirt from inside.
Transmission Problems
Some John Deere tractors in the market have a transmission issue. These models include L120, L130, and L140. The problem is that these tractors are equipped with a hydrostatic transmission.
The transmission is an enclosed unit sealed with no access to the internal parts of the transmission, which means that you have to work hard to replace any of the worn-out parts.
You should check if the drive belt is okay or broken. It feels like a transmission problem. While servicing your tractor, make sure you check the fluid levels and replace any worn-out parts like filters, hoses, belts, etc.
The Rear End Problem
When you own a John Deere L130, then you also have to face the problem of John Deere L130 mower. One very common problem is the rear end problems. This is very common if you use your tractor for heavy-duty work.
The transaxle located at the rear end is made up of some moving parts and a transmission, which is getting weak due to the use of the machine or sometimes dirt and debris might build up.
In fact, it is also called a transaxle because it is an integrated mechanical system which includes a transmission and a differential in one single mechanism. The transmission is getting weak and when this happens.
So, you should look at some initial reasons that can cause the problem:
- Any stick or debris that’s stuck with the transaxle.
- The loss of drive is sudden.
- Drive pulley is broken on the transmission input shaft.
Look at these initial reasons that can cause the problem, especially if you are new in this field or just came from another user who had similar problems before.
If there are no signs of any stuck object, then it means that you need to perform maintenance and check everything if there are any damages on your machine.
There are two possible scenarios here for you: send the transaxle for warranty or reassemble the hydrostatic transaxle. Reassembling them correctly can help you save money as well as get rid of the problem soon.
Troubleshooting for this issue can be difficult because you have to patiently take apart your entire machine to get to the problem area. If you don’t find anything immediately it’s advisable to replace some parts and reassemble to see if you still have issues.
PTO Clutch Problem
Fixing the wire and changing the switch should solve the problem. Upon finishing, please give it a good test run and repeatedly turn the switch off to make sure it’s functioning correctly.
John Deere is a very popular and reliable brand of lawn mower, it is used in farming to till the land, planting and harvesting crops. John Deere mowers are well-favored among farmers in America.
One of the parts that are prone to failure is the John Deere L130 PTO Clutch. The PTO clutch is used to transmit the power from the engine to other devices on the tractor.
The way it works is very simple, when you engage the PTO clutch and start driving, this engages everything else on your tractor.
The problem with this part is that it wears out over time, especially if you have a lot of other pieces attached to your PTO clutch. It might get dirt and debris in its body too.
The problem with John Deere L130 was that the wire connecting it with the fuse was not good enough anymore and would tend to wear out faster than expected. The wire wears out by the motion and shorts on the tractor’s body and causes the problem.
Fixing a problem with the PTO clutch in a John Deere L130 lawn mower is not hard. The only real difficulty is knowing exactly what to do and then doing it correctly.
The first step in fixing this problem is disconnecting the PTO clutch wire. Pull the wires straight off the unit and unplug them from the wires. If you are unable to remove the wire from the plug, use a pair of pliers to cut through the plastic casing and remove it.
This will make your repairs easier. Next, remove the guard that covers the PTO clutch unit. This guard is attached with screws, so unscrew them and pull it off of the mower deck. Once this is removed, you can see and access the PTO clutch unit itself.
The next step is to clean any dirt or debris out of this area so that you can clearly see any problems with it. Once this area has been cleaned, you can begin working on repairing any damage done to wiring or other parts of this mechanism.
If necessary, you will need to replace any wires that have been damaged or broken by replacing them completely with new ones.
Steering Problem
It is a common thing among the John Deere lawn mower owners that the steering of their lawn mower becomes loose or stiff. But it is not so easy to recognize the cause of this problem.
Let’s discuss how to check the steering of your John Deere lawn mower and how to fix it.
When you are pushing your lawn mower, if you find that you have to push hard on its handle or pull hard with its handlebar to steer it, then it means that its steering wheel is loose or too stiff.
After checking for damage to the wheel and gears you may find that there is still an issue with your mower’s steering. Then it may be time to check for damage to the steering sector plate and/or pinion gear located inside of the wheel hub assembly.
These parts will need replacing if they show any signs of wear or damage.
Finally, if everything looks fine with regard to these parts, then it might be time to check for excessive play in the steering sector shaft. This part can oftentimes become worn out due to overuse or wear.
Carburetor Problem
The John Deere L130 lawn mower carburetor problems can be a scary thing to deal with. It may cause the mower not to turn forward or backward. Luckily, if you follow the below steps, you will be able to deal with it in no time at all.
The first thing that you will need to do is make sure that the engine is off and cool. Then, you will need to remove the screws that hold the cover on.
Make sure that you take your time with this step so that you don’t strip them out. Once the cover is removed, there will be a plastic piece and a metal piece.
Take out the metal part and then disconnect the small plastic hose from it. Next, you might need to remove the old fuel filter (this would be located under the plastic piece. If it is not dirty, then leave it alone). It’s great to clean this item.
Now unscrew the bolts holding your carburetor down and pull up on it gently. Remove any dirt or gunk that might be on or around it using an appropriate carburetor cleaner.
Now blow air through your carburetor to get rid of any excess moisture and replace your fuel filter if needed (if you need one).
Starting Problem
A John Deere L130 lawn mower is a complicated machine that needs all its parts to function correctly in order to start and work. There could be several reasons why your lawn mower is not starting properly.
Some of the causes are simple and easy to fix, and others can be more complicated. The following are some of the most common problems associated with a John Deere L130 lawn mower starting problems:
Battery Issue
Check out if the battery is in the proper condition delivering enough juice to run the machine. If this is not the problem, replace it with a new one.
After that, check out the power cables connecting to different parts of the machine like the starter and spark plug. They might need fixing or replacing.
Cylinder issue
Next, check the cylinders on your mower. No oil spilling out the spark plug is disconnected, the cylinders may dry. If they are clogged with debris of any kind, then this could be causing an issue with how much power is getting when you try to start the mower.
Be sure that there are no large pieces of debris or dirt in the spark plug. Use appropriate cleaner to clean the carburetor if need be.
Conclusion
The John Deere L130 Lawn Tractor is a heavy-duty mower, built to last and provide you with years of reliable use. However, problems may still occur due to a variety of reasons which we’ve discussed the most.
If your mower is having issues, follow our guide and apply the fixes that we recommend. If they prove ineffective, follow the manual to maintain your mower so that none of its parts will be subject to unnecessary wear and tear.
While replacing some items in the mower may seem like an expensive option, it is better than replacing your mower completely when it could easily have been fixed for much less money.
