With the holiday season coming up, now is a great time to treat yourself to a new lawnmower. This one investment will help keep your lawn neat and tidy without having to spend hundreds of dollars hiring professional help.
And whenever you are planning to buy a new mower for yourself, there’s one brand that you just can’t ignore – John Deere. The reputation of the brand speaks for itself.
They have been in business for over a hundred years now, and the design of their products has only gotten better. These days, a John Deere lawnmower is considered the best investment you can make, regardless of whether you are a professional or a casual user.
The John Deere X390 is considered a commercial mower that is perfect for use in a residential setting. You can use it professionally, sure, but the machine truly shines at the hands of a homeowner looking to keep his front lawn in shape. Its simple, user-friendly design and excellent cutting performance make it a solid choice.
Then again, casual users typically mess up in one sector – maintenance. And if you don’t take care of this lawnmower regularly, a lot of weird issues will start popping up. Before you know it, you will have to deal with different engine issues, transmission inconsistencies, and electrical malfunctions.
Thankfully these issues are fixable if you have the right know-how. In this article, I will talk about the different problems that can come up in your John Deere X390 and help you understand what you can do to fix them. So, without further delay, let’s get started.
Common Issues with the John Deere X390 and How to Fix Them
The John Deere X390 is one of the most popular models in their X300 series of lawnmowers. As long as you take good care of it, it is known for its superior cutting performance, smooth transmission, and powerful engine.
However, improper maintenance leads to several issues that can ruin your entire experience. Here are a couple of common issues you will notice in your lawnmower if you don’t take care of it.
1. Issues with the Engine
Here are a couple of engine issues that are common in the John Deere X390.
Engine Not Starting
If the engine refuses to start at all, there can be a couple of reasons behind it. The first thing to check is the condition of the fuel. If the fuel is old or stale, drain the tank and refuel. You should also remove any blockages in the air and fuel filter to make sure the engine gets enough air and fuel flow.
You also need to check the spark plugs and the safety switch. If they are damaged, replace them. Carburetor maladjustment can also cause this issue. So adjust the choke in the carburetor. Finally, test the fuel pump and repair or replace it if needed.
Engine Starts Hard
If you need to crank the engine more than normal to start it up, then there’s a problem that you need to fix. The most likely culprit here is a worn spark plug. You need to test it and see if it is working properly. Blockages in the fuel line can also lead to this issue, so clean out the filters.
Also, inspect the internal wirings and make sure the connections are secured. Replace the choke cable if it seems damaged. Finally, drain old or incorrect fuel and pour in a fresh batch.
Engine Stalling Under Load
Engine stalling when put under stress typically means the fuel filters are clogged. Clogged filters can disrupt the fuel flow, and when the engine doesn’t get enough fuel when it’s under load, it shuts down. So, cleaning up the filters should be your first priority here.
You should also check the ignition adjustment and throttle cable and ensure they are working as they should. Also, check the air cleaner element if you notice engine heat rising when it shuts down. Replace the air filter if needed.
2. Issues With The Electrical System
The John Deere X390 comes with an electric starter along with batteries and headlights. Sometimes, poor maintenance can cause issues in those sections too. Here are three common issues that you may face in the electrical system of your lawnmower.
Starter Won’t Work
In most cases, a faulty starter can be traced back to a blown fuse. If the fuse is blown, replacing it should allow you to start up your lawnmower. However, a damaged switch will not go away on its own.
Sometimes the only way to fix this issue is to replace the starter switch. You need to make sure the brake pedal is depressed properly when you switch on the starter.
Battery Drains Fast Or Not Charging
If the battery in your lawnmower can’t hold a charge, then there’s a good chance that your battery is dying. Of course, this can also mean the charger is damaged, so I would recommend trying to charge it with a different charger.
Also, check the wiring around the battery and make sure the connections are secure. However, if that doesn’t fix your problem, then you will need to replace the battery in your lawnmower.
Lights Do Not Work
If the headlamps in your vehicle stopped working suddenly, the most likely reason is the wiring. There’s a chance that the light plug got disconnected during operation and reconnecting it should fix it.
However, if there’s a short circuit in the wires, you will need to take it to an expert. If that fails, then you need to replace the lamps.
3. Transmission Problems
As I said before, transmission problems in the John Deere X390 can come up if you don’t take care of it. I’ll discuss two of the common issues that you might need to deal with in this lawnmower.
The Mower Does Not Move
Sometimes you might notice that the lawnmower’s engine is running properly, yet for some reason, you are unable to move the lawnmower. The controls are not responding to your command. There can be a couple of reasons behind it. The first thing to do is check and make sure the parking brake is not locked.
You then need to check the level of hydraulic oil. If the fluid level is too low, it explains why the mower will not move when the engine is running. In that case, you need to bring the oil amount up to the optimal level. Also, check the free-wheeling lever and make sure it is disengaged.
Excessive Vibration
The John Deere X390 is a pretty comfortable riding lawnmower. But sometimes you might notice that the vehicle vibrates excessively and makes loud annoying noises when you are using it. This can make it distracting to use your lawnmower.
To fix this, check the attachment and traction drive belts. There’s a good chance that the belts are damaged or slipped off. You can simply reseat it and tighten the tension if it just slipped off. However, if the belts are damaged, then you need to replace them.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are looking for a new lawnmower and found a John Deere X390 for sale, it’s natural to wonder if it will be a good fit. You might be having second thoughts about this investment too, which is completely fine. To help sort out this dilemma, let me address some questions that people have asked me about it in the past.
1. What are the main features of the John Deere X390 lawnmower?
The John Deere X390 comes with a 22 hp Kawasaki engine with the Hydro-Gear hydrostatic transmission system. It has a fuel capacity of 3.3 liters and features a displacement capacity of 726 ccs.
2. What’s the cutting width of the John Deere X390?
It depends on the model you go with. The base John Deere X390 features a 48-inch cutting deck which should be fine for most people.
It’s pretty wide and should help you get through the chore quite quickly. Alternatively, you can spend around 300 dollars more and go with the wider 54-inch cutting deck if you want.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are a professional contractor or a homeowner, the John Deere X390 can be a solid investment on your part. While it is amazing for a residential setting, its commercial applications are not bad either.
It’s an impressive machine that will serve you well as long as you take care of it. Now, this is not a cheap lawnmower at all. With an MSRP of around 6000 dollars, you would have to spend quite a bit of money if you want to get it.
And if you fail to maintain it from time to time, you will essentially be throwing your money in the water. I hope my article on common John Deere X390 problems could help you identify and fix any troubles you might be having with your lawnmower. Good luck!
