The engine on the walk-behind tractor runs intermittently

Why does the walk-behind tractor stall under load?

A fairly common problem is that the equipment stalls after 5 minutes of operation. Often the reason is a fuel supply failure and ignition problems. If the equipment stalls during operation, you need to check how well the fuel is supplied:

The candle is taken out and examined. It is overdried - this indicates a lack of fuel;
There must be enough fuel in the gas tank for the normal functioning of the machine;
The condition of the fuel valve is inspected. It may simply be blocked. Sometimes it is enough to open it for further use of the unit.

The walk-behind tractor starts and stalls if there is a problem with the ignition. First you need to check the spark plugs. Wet elements indicate breakdown. It is necessary to re-adjust the ignition system of the equipment.

Resetting is done as follows:

The cover is removed, which protects the parts of the ignition system;
The engine flywheel rotates until the contacts in the magneto open;
A special feeler gauge measures the gap from the “anvil” to the “hammer”;
The flywheel rotates until the piston is compressed. The latter must reach its peak;
The flywheel turns again until a characteristic knocking sound is heard, which will indicate the operation of the overrunning clutch;
The flywheel turns in the other direction until the mark of this element coincides with the mark on the body of the unit;
The gap from the interrupting contact to the cam is set to 0.3 millimeters;
The cam is fixed with a screw, which is located above the element, and a protective cover is installed in the equipment body.

If the above steps are performed correctly, the walk-behind tractor will not stall under load. When tilted, equipment may stall if there is not enough fuel in the gas tank. The unit must be installed straight and the starter cable removed. If the engine starts, you need to fill the tank with fuel.

Why does the walk-behind tractor work intermittently?

There are other faults that are worth considering:

The walk-behind tractor engine is running backwards. The reason is often the use of bad fuel. It will not be enough to replace the fuel. The pump and fuel supply hoses are washed;
The equipment works in jerks. The engine does not warm up completely. You need to turn off the engine and wait for it to cool completely. Then restart it and warm it up for at least ten minutes;
The engine does not pull, therefore the engine power decreases. The filter system is checked and cleaned. The problem can be caused by wear of the ignition magneto. In this case, the part is replaced.

Owners of both gasoline and diesel vehicles may encounter such problems. Regardless of the specifics of the breakdown, you must urgently stop using the unit and start fixing the problem.

Why does the walk-behind tractor shoot into the muffler?

Sometimes the operation of equipment is accompanied by unusual sounds from the muffler.
The walk-behind tractor smokes and stalls. To eliminate such a malfunction, it is necessary to first determine what caused it. Such problems may occur in the following cases:

Excess motor oil in fuel. The remaining fuel is drained, the fuel pump and hose system are washed, and new fuel is added;
Incorrectly set ignition. It is necessary to check how correctly the gap between the electrodes is set;
The fuel in the engine cylinder does not burn completely. In this case, it is necessary to disassemble the piston system, thoroughly wash and dry the cylinder, and adjust the carburetor.

In the above cases, it is not difficult to repair walk-behind tractors yourself. It is important to strictly adhere to the algorithm of actions.

Why does the walk-behind tractor start and stall?

If the equipment starts and immediately stalls, this may indicate the following problems:

There may be a large distance between the electrodes, problems with contacts in the electronics, or the spark plug may be dirty. First, the candle is cleaned. Then the integrity of the wires is checked. The normal distance between the electrodes is set;
The carburetor may become dirty, too little fuel is supplied. Sometimes it is necessary to change the fuel and reduce the amount of oil. The carburetor is dismantled, disassembled and thoroughly cleaned;
If the unit does not pick up speed, this indicates a lack of fuel. Gasoline may simply spill. The defect must be eliminated or the fuel tank replaced;
The walk-behind tractor does not develop speed when the gearbox breaks down. This is indicated by the presence of extraneous sound from the gearbox. The malfunction can be eliminated by replacing the oil that lubricates the components.

Main malfunctions of outgoing units

Diesel and gasoline engines have different engine life. For the first, the normal value is 4000 m/h, but the second can only provide 1,500 m/h. Despite this, diesel models of walk-behind tractors are not in great demand. After all, they are much more expensive when purchased and during operation. Therefore, most likely, you are working with a walk-behind tractor equipped with a gasoline (carburetor) engine.

All breakdowns that may occur during the operation of mini-agricultural equipment can be divided into two categories:

Engine faults:

Problems at startup;
Malfunctions.

Malfunctions of other components and mechanisms:

Clutch malfunction;
Gearbox failures;
Chassis problems;
Control and automation failures;
Malfunctions of walk-behind tractor systems (cooling, lubrication, etc.).

In many ways, the success of repairing a suddenly broken car depends on the correct diagnosis. As far as maintenance is concerned, it is carried out to identify minor faults that later lead to major faults.

Why does a walk-behind tractor engine have difficulty starting when hot?

The equipment may stall when heated.
This problem can be resolved relatively easily. This is often caused by excess air being supplied to the carburetor. It is mixed with gasoline and motor oil and acts as a carburetor coolant. So the temperature of the latter is much lower than the temperature of the walk-behind tractor engine. To fix the problem, you need to follow a certain algorithm. It is important to start the engine. To do this, perform the following steps:

When starting the engine, the throttle trigger is squeezed halfway;
You should not regularly press the gas trigger, as this may cause the engine to flood;
After starting the engine with the throttle trigger pressed halfway, you need to throttle it thoroughly. Afterwards you can continue working.

Simple actions will prevent an increase in the load on a heated engine; the main elements and systems are not subject to increased wear. The listed methods will allow you to eliminate any malfunctions with the unit. They are equally effective for owners of the following brands: Agro, Honda, Neva, Cascade.

The walk-behind tractor starts and stalls: causes of malfunction and mechanisms for eliminating them

Owners of either brand new or used motor cultivators are not insured against a situation where the walk-behind tractor starts but immediately stalls at idle.

It can be caused by a number of factors:

problems in the ignition system:

loose or broken electrical contacts;
spark plug malfunction. They can be installed only after unscrewing and external inspection. If the candle:

dry - the cause of the malfunction lies in the carburetor, where gasoline is not supplied. It may occur due to clogging of its filter or a separate jet;
wet - the engine does not develop speed due to an excess of fuel;
covered with soot - the fact of its failure, which may result in the failure of an ignition spark to form. Testing with electrodes will help you finally verify this;

after replacing or cleaning the spark plug, the electronics are examined - the integrity of the connections and the wires themselves, which may need repair due to strong vibration;

shortage or poor quality of fuel . Often the engine does not gain speed due to an incorrectly prepared fuel mixture or debris in the carburetor. In this case, the repair begins with removing it from the walk-behind tractor body and cleaning it from dirt particles. At the same time, they change the fuel, after draining the old one and washing the fuel tank and supply hoses.
Another reason that the walk-behind tractor starts up and immediately stalls, related to gasoline, may be depressurization of the gas tank itself. Very often this is observed after a long period of inactivity (for example, after winter), when the walk-behind tractor has not been used for a long time and has been stored with gross violations. After repairing or replacing the entire fuel tank, the functionality of the device is usually restored;
cool weather, which often causes diesel equipment to stall. Therefore, in early spring, experts advise turning on the walk-behind tractor only after pouring hot water into the radiator;
gearbox malfunction. The fact that the cultivator does not develop speed and stalls at idle is indicated by a characteristic knocking noise from the gearbox, which occurs against the background of a lack of lubricant.

Why does the walk-behind tractor work intermittently?

Despite the wear resistance of the motor part, it is not protected from malfunctions. The appearance of extraneous noises, jerks, and pauses in its operation are the main evidence that it needs urgent diagnosis and repair.

If the cultivator periodically stalls and does not develop speed, this may be due to:

insufficient heating of the motor unit, which operates jerkily. A diesel cultivator, like a gasoline cultivator, requires at least 10 minutes to warm up;
a broken starter cable, which is replaced with a new one instead of repair;
loosening the screw ties between the starter and the motor;
malfunctions of the ratchet, which prevents the normal operation of the starting unit;
failure of the cylinder and pistons;
low-quality gasoline, which is why the engine does not develop speed, does not develop speed and backfires. The situation can be corrected without repairs: after washing the fuel tank and hoses, they simply switch to new fuel.

It also happens that the engine “does not pull”, which can be seen in the overall productivity of the device.

This can be caused by:

clogging of filtration components;
ignition magneto failure.

Common problems

Strong vibrations of the device during use may indicate poor-quality adjustment of the fasteners of the attached parts. If this problem occurs, you should immediately stop the cultivator and adjust the trailed parts. In the event that the fasteners are deformed

b or worn out, they need to be replaced with new ones.

An uneven ride indicates problems with the wheels. Adjust the pressure in them to get rid of the problem.

Do-it-yourself walk-behind tractor repair

For some information that may be useful when repairing a motor block, see the Motoblock article.

Why does the walk-behind tractor stall under load?

The problem when the walk-behind tractor operates with periodic stalls and does not develop speed is perhaps the most common among gasoline and diesel units. If the walk-behind tractor starts and stalls, the main reasons for this phenomenon should be sought in the fuel supply and ignition systems, malfunctions of which may appear after 5 minutes of operation.

If the walk-behind tractor does not develop speed and stalls spontaneously, you need to check:

aerofilter - if it becomes clogged, its surface is cleaned, washed or blown with a vacuum cleaner.
quality of refueled fuel;
ignition system - its diagnosis begins with a spark plug, the external condition of which is used to judge the functionality of the ignition.

In addition to the spark plug, other ignition failures of the walk-behind tractor are:

incorrect gap between electrodes;
mechanical damage to the electrical circuit;
unadjusted angle between the magnetic part and the coil.

Repairing them yourself is allowed if this is provided for in the user manual for a specific walk-behind tractor model;

muffler - the engine stalls during operation and does not develop speed due to a clogged muffler. To free it from combustion products, it is soaked in water with detergents and, after washing, dried;
carburetor, the settings of which may be incorrect;
cylinder-piston parts, due to which the engine does not develop speed under load. This can only be checked with a compression gauge.

It also happens that the cultivator suddenly stalls when tilted in both directions or only to the left or right. Most often this occurs due to insufficient oil level. At the moment of tilt, the lubricant remaining sensor in the crankcase may be triggered, which automatically blocks the motor.

The starter squeals, the cord comes out

– It may squeal if there is a lot of grease on the balls. You need to clean the balls and the places in the ratchet where they are inserted.

The cultivator made several pops, the speed began to “float”

– Most likely, the power system is not coping, or the fuel level in the tank is low, the float axis may be skewed and debris may have gotten under the needle valve, you need to remove everything and check the air filter and jets.

The material will be updated, we are waiting for comments with questions, stories about identifying a particular malfunction and ways to eliminate it. Also, see the answers to questions about a particular walk-behind tractor model on its description page.

Why does the walk-behind tractor shoot into the muffler?

Often, if the engine system malfunctions, the walk-behind tractor not only does not develop speed, but also produces obvious, ear-piercing sounds emanating from the muffler. After this, it smokes and stalls, which clearly causes concern to users.

The cause of this problem may be:

excessive intake of oil into gasoline or diesel, due to which its combustion is accompanied by the release of unnaturally acrid smoke. In this case, the repair consists only of cleaning the fuel system and refueling with high-quality fuel;
failure to adjust the ignition or failure of its components - first of all, pay attention to the gap between the electrodes and, if necessary, set it in accordance with the operating instructions;
incomplete combustion of fuel in the engine cylinder. In this case, repair of the walk-behind tractor engine begins with disassembling the entire cylinder-piston group, which is cleaned and checked for defects. It must be remembered that after such manipulations it will not be superfluous to reconfigure the carburetor.

Doesn't develop speed

If the engine is in good working order, but the walk-behind tractor does not develop speed, then it is possible:

the air filter is clogged. As a result, not all the air enters the carburetor, and the fuel becomes oversaturated;
low quality fuel fluid;
parts of the ignition system have failed. As mentioned earlier, it is necessary to check the spark plug, correct the gap between the electrodes, and pay attention to the mechanical integrity of the electrical circuit;
if necessary, clean the carburetor and adjust it correctly;
the operation of pistons and cylinders is interconnected with engine power.

Therefore, pay attention to the condition of the pistons and cylinders. Their external damage can significantly reduce the compression value.

For example, cleaning the carburetor may solve the problem

What to do if the walk-behind tractor engine does not start well when hot?

If the walk-behind tractor does not develop speed when hot, fault diagnosis is carried out in the following sequence:

after several unsuccessful startup attempts, the spark plug is examined as described above. If possible, it is better to immediately replace it with a new one in order to completely eliminate questions on this point;
check the compression and vacuum level in the gas tank;
in a dark room, see if the wiring is sparking;
make sure that when heated, a spark is definitely formed. In addition to the spark plug, a faulty ignition coil can also prevent sparking.

Other causes of malfunction include:

lack or incorrect filling of oil, due to which the triggered oil level sensor blocks the operation of the engine part;
failure of the valve in the fuel tank, which is supposed to maintain gasoline pressure. As a result, its liquid contents do not flow into the carburetor.

Repairing walk-behind tractors, and especially their power plant, is a responsible matter that requires literacy and good dexterity. This applies not only to domestic favorites - the Neva, Cascade, Agro walk-behind tractors, but also imported ones, for example, Honda. But this does not mean that repairing them yourself is impossible. Having a minimum amount of knowledge and following our recommendations above, you can eliminate any malfunctions at home.

Work specifics

The operation of the described device occurs due to the forces of the engine, due to which the walk-behind tractor begins to move and transfers energy to the remaining elements installed on it. The main structural component of a walk-behind tractor is considered to be a rototiller, intended for eliminating weeds, plowing and equipping the land with fertilizers. Often, the repair of a walk-behind tractor occurs in this particular part of it due to the fact that the greatest load is placed on the rototiller during operation.

More complex variations of the walk-behind tractor

Sometimes they have attachments in their design, which significantly expands the functionality of the device.

In addition to the rototiller, the walk-behind tractor can have the following components: cultivator, plow, mower, hiller, etc.

Repair: why the walk-behind tractor stalls under load, shoots into the muffler, works intermittently, and more

A walk-behind tractor is one of the most useful household units. Even a simple and not particularly powerful machine can make caring for your garden and surrounding area much easier. At the same time, a walk-behind tractor is a piece of equipment that tends to break down. Let's look at the most common breakdowns of an agricultural unit, their causes and methods of eliminating them on our own.

Like any equipment, the walk-behind tractor requires timely maintenance and repair. And it is advisable to entrust them to specialists who have the necessary tools and equipment and know their job well. However, if you are also familiar with the design of internal combustion engines and understand the subjects of mechanical engineering, then you can do many things that are necessary to restore the functionality of the car.

Why does the walk-behind tractor stall under load?

Almost every owner of a walk-behind tractor, regardless of the brand and model of the agricultural machine, has encountered a problem in which the walk-behind tractor starts and stalls after 5 minutes of operation. The main reasons for this breakdown lie in problems with the fuel supply and breakdown of the car’s ignition system.

As practice shows, if a walk-behind tractor stalls during operation, its owner should immediately inspect the parts of the fuel supply system. First of all, unscrew and look at the spark plug - if it is completely dry, this indicates that fuel is not getting into the engine cylinder. After this, you need to make sure that there is a sufficient amount of fuel in the fuel tank. If there is gasoline and there is enough of it for work, inspect the fuel valve - it is quite possible that it is in the closed position. To start the walk-behind tractor, just open the fuel tap and continue working with the unit.

Another reason why the walk-behind tractor starts up and then stalls after 5 minutes of operation is a breakdown of the ignition system. It is quite simple to determine that the unit is faulty for this very reason - look at the spark plugs - if they are wet, it means that the fault has appeared in the ignition system of the walk-behind tractor. The best way out of this situation is to re-adjust the unit’s ignition system. All actions must be performed in this order:

Remove the cover that protects the elements of the ignition system;
Turn the motor flywheel until the contacts in the magneto open;
Using a special feeler gauge, measure the gap between the “anvil” and the “hammer” of the walk-behind tractor’s ignition system;
After this, turn the flywheel until the piston of the walk-behind tractor compresses. In this case, the latter must reach its highest point;
Turn the flywheel again until you hear a characteristic knock - this means that the overrunning clutch has engaged;
Then turn the flywheel in the opposite direction so that the mark on it coincides with the mark on the walk-behind tractor body;
Set the gap between the interrupting contact and the cam - it should be 0.3 mm;
At the end, fix the cam with a screw located on top of the part and install the protective cover back into the walk-behind tractor body.

After the above steps, the walk-behind tractor will no longer stall under load. The main thing when similar problems arise in the future is to try to fix the breakdown as quickly as possible, so as not to subject the main mechanisms of the walk-behind tractor to increased wear.

Also, the utility unit often stalls when tilted. This indicates an insufficient amount of fuel in the fuel tank. If you put the unit in a horizontal position, pull out the starter cable, and the engine starts, it means that you will need to add gasoline to the tank.

Fuel emissions

If an attempt to start the walk-behind tractor fails, this means that there is a malfunction in the engine or starting system. To determine the source of the problem, first check the spark plugs.

If the spark plugs are dry, this means that the fuel mixture is not entering the engine cylinders. There may be several reasons:

There is no fuel in the tank;
The fuel supply valve is closed;
The hole in the gas tank plug is clogged;
Foreign objects enter the fuel supply system.

To eliminate problems with fuel supply, you must:

Fill the walk-behind tractor tank.
Open the fuel valve.
Clean the drain hole in the gas tank plug.
Remove the fuel valve, drain the gasoline from the tank and rinse it with clean gasoline. Then remove the connecting hose located on the carburetor side and blow it out along with the carburetor nozzles without disassembling the latter using the fuel pump.

Why does the walk-behind tractor work intermittently?

Among other typical malfunctions of a walk-behind tractor, a number of such breakdowns can also be identified:

The engine of the unit backfires - this indicates the use of low-quality fuel to refuel the unit. In this case, you will have to not only replace the fuel, but also thoroughly rinse the fuel pump and fuel supply hoses;
The walk-behind tractor operates jerkily - the reason for this lies in insufficient warming up of the engine. Be sure to turn off the engine, wait for it to cool completely, and start the engine again, giving it at least 10 minutes to warm up completely;
The motor of the walk-behind tractor does not noticeably pull, the engine power has decreased - in this case, you need to check and, if necessary, clean the air and fuel filters. Another reason for this breakdown lies in the wear of the magneto of the ignition system. It is best to replace the part immediately without attempting to restore it.

Why does the walk-behind tractor shoot into the muffler?

Often, when working with an agricultural implement, loud, uncharacteristic sounds are clearly audible from its muffler. At the same time, the walk-behind tractor also smokes heavily and stalls. To be able to fix a problem with your own hands, you first need to determine its essence.

Most often, a walk-behind tractor shoots into the muffler due to a number of the following problems:

There is an excess of engine oil in the fuel mixture - in this case, you need to drain the remaining fuel, wash the fuel pump and hoses, and fill in new fuel with less oil;
Incorrectly set ignition - if the mechanism works late, this leads to the appearance of atypical shots, which are clearly audible in the muffler area. In such a situation, you should immediately set the correct gap between the electrodes of the walk-behind tractor's ignition system;
Incomplete combustion of fuel in the engine cylinder. Repairing a walk-behind tractor engine in this case involves disassembling the piston group, thoroughly washing and drying the engine cylinder, as well as adjusting the walk-behind tractor carburetor.

Repairing all of the above breakdowns does not require special skills or extensive experience. The most important thing is to act strictly according to the operating instructions for the agricultural unit.

The walk-behind tractor starts and stalls - causes and repairs

Repairing walk-behind tractors if they start and, after a few seconds, stall, must begin by searching for the main causes of this malfunction. To do this you need to inspect:

Plugs, wires and electrodes - in most cases, the unit starts and immediately stalls due to too large a gap between the electrodes of the ignition system, poor contact between the wires, and a dirty spark plug. Repairs should begin by cleaning the spark plug. If this does not help, then you need to check the integrity of the wires. If this does not bring the desired result, then you will need to re-adjust the gap between the electrodes of the ignition system;
Carburetor for contamination and sufficient fuel supply - if you used low-quality gasoline and added too much motor oil to it, you will need to replace the fuel and reduce the amount of oil. In addition, you need to dismantle, disassemble, and thoroughly clean the carburetor;
The presence of gasoline in the fuel tank - if the walk-behind tractor does not gain speed, this often indicates a lack of fuel necessary for the proper operation of the engine. Very often, owners of walk-behind tractors are faced with a problem in which gasoline spills through a small hole or crack in the fuel tank of the machine. In this case, you need to try to repair the defect, and if this fails, you will need to completely replace the walk-behind tractor tank.

Another less common cause of a breakdown, in which the walk-behind tractor does not develop speed, is a malfunction of the gearbox, which is indicated by an extraneous sound from the gearbox. To fix the breakdown, you need to replace the oil that you use to lubricate the unit.

Starting system malfunctions

If during inspection the spark plugs turn out to be wet, but the engine does not start, then detecting the malfunction will be much more difficult:

the ignition system may fail;
due to depressurization of connections, air leaks may occur;
the air damper in the carburetor may not be closed enough;
carburetor failure.

A failure of the ignition system is an unpleasant moment, but you should not panic and immediately call a specialist. First, remove and inspect the spark plug. If you find carbon deposits on it, clean it with sandpaper, rinse it with gasoline and let it dry completely. Very often, after such a procedure, the engine begins to work normally.

If the engine still won't start and you feel competent, check the gap between the electrodes. The required value is indicated in the manufacturer's instructions, but due to constant vibration during operation, it may change, and the walk-behind tractor may stall while driving. Adjust the gap to the desired value by bending the side electrode.

It will not be possible to deal with other problems of the ignition system right away. If the insulators of spark plugs or electrical wiring are burnt out, they need to be replaced. You can also short the “STOP” button to ground, and until the short circuit is eliminated, the engine will not start. Also, the reason that the engine does not start may be a violation of the contacts in the spark plug brackets or a violation of the gap between the magnetic shoe and the starter. Finally, the starter itself may be damaged and will need to be replaced.

Another common reason why a walk-behind tractor engine “chokes” or stalls under load is air leaks. If this occurs due to depressurization of the carburetor connections, then you must first tighten the spark plugs and tighten the mounting bolts, and then check and, if necessary, replace the gaskets. The engine will “choke” even when the carburetor air damper is open. To fix the problem, it needs to be adjusted, making sure that it moves freely without distortions or jamming.

If the walk-behind tractor does not gain power normally, it is worth checking its muffler. Over time, fuel combustion products clog the muffler, forming a thick layer of soot on its walls, so it needs to be cleaned periodically. To do this, the muffler must be removed, plugging the outlet hole with a clean rag, washed first in gasoline, then cleaned of carbon deposits by washing with detergents, and finally dried with a hairdryer.

Sometimes the walk-behind tractor stalls during operation due to simple overheating. If, with the throttle fully open, you press the throttle, and the engine, instead of accelerating, loses speed, then this is a clear sign of overheating. The walk-behind tractor must be stopped and allowed to cool completely, and then started again.

This is not the entire list of reasons why your recently perfectly serviceable walk-behind tractor may stall even under light load. Almost all components of the walk-behind tractor are subject to significant loads during operation, so minor malfunctions and breakdowns are not uncommon. Therefore, if you discover that there is something wrong with the walk-behind tractor: extraneous noise, twitching, strong vibration, etc. - Turn off the engine immediately. And only after the engine has cooled down can you begin troubleshooting. But this is a topic for another conversation.

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