When your lawn tractor engine makes a squeaking noise and suddenly stops running, you might find a sinking feeling in your belly simply expecting the costly repair bill you could face. Before you fear, however, make time to replenish your yard tractor and reach the base of the problem. Whether the issue is a significant one or a minor one is something that you won’t understand until you dig deeper.
Lack of Lubrication
A lawn tractor engine without proper lubrication may suddenly protest having a squeak until it dies. Check the engine oil level to be certain that the reservoir hasn’t run deep and caused the motor to lock up. If the engine is low on oil, fill the reservoir to the fill line, never over, and attempt to start the engine. You might have gotten lucky and captured the scenario in time or you might have caused significant harm to the engine by running it without oil. The transmission is just another tractor component that requires fluid. While some versions come with sealed distributions, others need you add to fluid periodically. Consult your owner’s manual and then check and refill the transmission fluid if necessary.
Baffling Belts
When the belt that forces the yard tractor gets stuck, damaged or loose, it might cause a squeaking or screeching noise and consequently cause the engine to stall. Remove the mower deck to access the drive belt and then analyze it completely. If the belt is worn, frayed or broken, replace it to reestablish the mower to operating order. Inspect the course of the belt to ascertain whether there is a debris stuck in the belt’s course that may be impeding its progress.
Pulley Issues
Since the yard tractor’s drive belt is guided by a set of pulleys and guides, issues can arise if any one of these pieces are loose, damaged or lost. The pulleys and guides make sure that the belt outlines the prescribed path and isn’t too loose or too tight to properly power the engine. A belt that’s off track will often squeal or screech as it rubs against components with which it should not come in touch. Consult your owner’s manual for a diagram that shows the course of the belt and analyze each component and also the way to make sure they’re in place and working properly. Tighten or replace any of those components as required.
Fuel and Air Flow Failures
While it can appear to be a no-brainer, check the fuel level once the lawn tractor squeals in protest and also stops running. If you’ve run out of fuel, the engine may make a funny noise as it employs the last drop of gasoline. Another problem may be contaminated or old fuel. Many producers warn homeowners to avoid storing fuel for over 30 days to be used in their yard tractors. Avoid using fuel additives unless specifically instructed to do this in the operator’s manual or from the producer. A lawn tractor that’s deprived of adequate air circulation cannot function and it should and might even gasp and squeak until it dies from lack of oxygen. Check the air filter, an often-ignored care requirement, to make sure it hasn’t become so polluted and dirty that atmosphere just can not flow through. Clean grass, debris and dirt from the vented slots in the casing that surrounds the air filter as well. Consider starting the mower as soon as you’ve cleared a path for decent air to enter the engine.