JD GT245 - only starts with ether

Caitedid · #1 07/06/09, 10:44 PM

Hey, hoping someone on here can help me make a decision or narrow down a problem... I have been offered a JD GT245 in exchange for help building a chicken coop for one of my friends. He got this a few years ago and it runs well, but he says it will only start with ether. Any ideas what the problem might be? This is a much nicer tractor that the pos that we have now, but I don't really want to sink a massive amount of cash in to something that isn't worth it. Caite

agmantoo · #2 07/06/09, 11:14 PM

If the rings on the piston are worn excessively the engine will not create enough vacuum to pull gas into the combustion chamber. The shot of either could overcome this problem and cause the engine to start. Once it is running the engine speed is much faster than cranking speed and creates enough vacuum to then feed the engine gas from the carb.

Caitedid · #3 07/06/09, 11:29 PM

How bad would it be to replace the rings? Having read the Consumer Affairs on this I have only found 2 complaints, both having more to do with service than the mower. At the cost of a few hours work could I have a decently serviceable tractor?

plowjockey · #4 07/07/09, 08:42 PM

Worn piston rings would likely cause the engine to blow smoke, as the OP stated the tractor ran well, it was only hard to start.

Does it have a manual choke, or perhaps an malfunctioning auto choke?

I'd trade some labor, for a running JD lawn tractor, any day.

**clovis** · #5 07/07/09, 09:47 PM

It could be something as simple as a fuel supply line that costs less than $2.

Will it stay running once you have started it with ether?

I am not sure of the age of this tractor. Does it have a fuel filter or a screen in the carb or fuel supply?

Does it have good fresh gas in the tank?

Sounds like a good trade to me. Lots of parts are available on ebay from folks parting out running tractors.

Caitedid · #6 07/08/09, 09:51 AM

So it sounds like whatever is wrong with it is probably something relatively minor and easy to fix, am I reading that correctly? I guess I figure that if all I'm paying to get it is my labor, then even if it's something bigger I'm still coming out ahead as I can always part it out. Caite

**clovis** · #7 07/08/09, 10:36 AM

If that tractor is in good shape, with low hours, it could easily be worth $2000 to $2500 per completed sales on ebay.

What is a day or two of your labor worth?

Then again, I know a guy that gave a pile of money for a new JD GT245, and it has never spent the first night inside the barn. It has been left outside, where ever he quit mowing in the fall, to see the elements of the winter. I have seen the mower with 2 feet of snow on it. When it needed a new battery, instead of getting a wrench to remove the battery cables, he used bolt cutters to disconnect the old cables, and used a pocket knife to skin new contacts. He never mows around stumps, bricks, or trash, just over them. He bush hogged with the 245 for the first 3 years.

That is a tractor that I wouldn't haul off for scrap value.

As for what is wrong with the tractor is awful hard for any of us to fix 1000 miles away.

Does the tractor stay running after it is started off of ether? Will it hold an idle? If so, will the engine rev when you increase the throttle, like it normaly should?

Sammy · #8 07/23/09, 05:56 AM

Maybe rebuild the carb.

Windy in Kansas · #9 07/23/09, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caitedid

I guess I figure that if all I'm paying to get it is my labor, then even if it's something bigger I'm still coming out ahead as I can always part it out.

I'd rather buy a case of ether than part out something like that.

I'd sure swap some labor to a friend for such a unit, but then again I would help the friend without expecting anything in return.