Kawasaki Mower Engine help

Carolinatlc

Carolinatlc

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I recently bought a used John Deere Commercial mower off facebook marketplace for a good deal. It's in great shape with low hours and has run great with no real issues since purchase. Last weekend I got home late and decided to cut grass quickly before dark. Mower was almost empty so I added what I thought was regular ethanol free gas. After cutting my front yard and the widow lady across the street, I shut the mower off and it backfired loudly. Come to find out my son had filled the container with 93 octane for one of his Polaris RZR turbos. I didn't think it was a big deal but went ahead and siphoned the gas and filled with ethanol free the next day and cut the backyard.

When I was finished and parked it, I could smell burning oil. After looking around, there was oil coating the outside engine and on the mower frame. I checked the oil level and it was a little low. I went ahead and degreased it and washed it down to help check for leaks.

Today I used it to cut grass again. Mower still runs great. I added a little oil before cutting. I stopped halfway to check oil level and could see oil was leaking. Went ahead and finished up cutting grass and parked it to cool down. I'm guessing it leaked 1/4 quart of oil in the hour or so of mowing. Oil is everywhere so at this point I'm thinking crankshaft seal and the air cooled fan is blower it all over the engine. I pulled covers and degreased everything again tonight.

Any ideas what happened or where to start diagnosing the oil leak? I called the local small engine shop who is also a Kawasaki dealer and they said it would be 6-8 weeks before they could repair it. Anyone around Charlotte that can repair a Kawasaki engine sooner?

Current plan is to run it checking oil regularly until later in the summer when hopefully the shop slows down some.
 
LeeMajors said:
I doubt 93 octane had anything to do with what you are describing. I used 93 non ethanol in the mower I just sold for many a year and not one issue.
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That was my thought as well. If a backfire caused damage, I would think it meant rings were shot and over pressured the crankcase or something. It is just weird the oil leak happened right after the backfire.
 
Carolinatlc said:
That was my thought as well. If a backfire caused damage, I would think it meant rings were shot and over pressured the crankcase or something. It is just weird the oil leak happened right after the backfire.
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The backfire was more than likely the automatic fuel shutoff on the bottom of the carb didn't close properly.

The only oil leaks I've ever seen on the bigger kawasaki would be the valve covers.
 
is it just leaking? any smoke on startup or while running? any idea where it’s leaking from?

pull the park plug(s) and see if they’re coated in oil. if not it may just be a simple gasket like a valve cover gasket. they do go bad.

you could go as far as a leak down test but i don’t think it’s necessary.

but really it sounds like a valve cover gasket especially if it’s a vertical shaft engine. before i replaced my vertical shaft engine due to blowing up, the valve cover gaskets were going bad and leaked oil.

using the 2 different gases wouldn’t/shouldn’t cause any issues.
 
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Check with Oakboro Tractor, they work on Kawasaki motors, and try to fix issues instead of just replacing parts. I've been pleased with the work they have done for me.

Service Department | Oakboro Tractor & Equipment North Carolina

Oakboro Tractor & Equipment is an agricultural dealership located in Oakboro, NC. We sell new and pre-owned Tractors, Trailers, Mowers and Outdoor Power Equipment from Bobcat, Husqvarna, Stihl and Echo with excellent financing and pricing options. Oakboro Tractor & Equipment offers service and...
www.oakborotractor.com www.oakborotractor.com

You can schedule a service appointment on line or call and discuss it with their service manager.
 
I pulled the plastic covers today near the fan and sprayed everything down good with degreaser. I'll crank it tomorrow and see if I can find a leak. Hopefully just valve cover gaskets.

Thanks for all the advice so far.
 
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If it's backfiring are you sure both cylinders are firing? Start it up and pull one of the plugs. If there is no change you have a dead plug / cylinder. If it cuts off the other one may be dead.
 
93 octane would have not caused the issue , backfires are more common now
The vertical shaft engines are good but can be prone to leak oil from valve cover and engine base gasket
 
Carolinatic i have jd with Kawasaki 27 hp horizontal shaft engine. Not sure what engine you have or exact mower but - i had exact problem. It backfires when shutting off all the time. I just knew it blew a crankshaft seal and flywheel fan was blowing the oil everywhere. Removed engine and seals were fine. Problem was - when you change oil and remove filter there’s a block of aluminum with fins and with a large nut that keeps it tight against block - also has a large O ring on back side between aluminum block and engine block. The filter butts up against said aluminum block and the nut got loose when turning filter off. That was my leak. Replaced O ring and tightened nut down and have been gtg since. Hope this is your problem because it was easy fix. Again not sure if you have zero turn with horizontal shaft but if engine has same filter setup then i could see this happening. Hope this was helpful
 
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I'm so glad y'all had all these problems, so I know what to look for with my Kaw Powered Hustler! Thanks! :p

@Carolinatlc, I hope you find the problem easily. The fact that it has compression and runs well while leaking oil favors a simple fix.
 
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Smgchandler said:
Carolinatic i have jd with Kawasaki 27 hp horizontal shaft engine. Not sure what engine you have or exact mower but - i had exact problem. It backfires when shutting off all the time. I just knew it blew a crankshaft seal and flywheel fan was blowing the oil everywhere. Removed engine and seals were fine. Problem was - when you change oil and remove filter there’s a block of aluminum with fins and with a large nut that keeps it tight against block - also has a large O ring on back side between aluminum block and engine block. The filter butts up against said aluminum block and the nut got loose when turning filter off. That was my leak. Replaced O ring and tightened nut down and have been gtg since. Hope this is your problem because it was easy fix. Again not sure if you have zero turn with horizontal shaft but if engine has same filter setup then i could see this happening. Hope this was helpful
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Mines a 23hp. I'll definitely take a look where you mention today. Hopefully that is all it is.
 
Smgchandler said:
You have to post your findings ! Can’t keep us wondering 😳
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Mine doesn't have the bolt on oil cooler like yours does so it isn't that. I didn't have much time this weekend to look at it so still have no idea what is going on. I'm off Friday afternoon so hope to pull the plastics covering the fan and get a better look.
 
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