Kawasaki - Kawa engine in John Deere Lawn Tractor
I bought a used John Deere with a miss-firing Kawa FH601V (DS15 R). With 180 hours on the motor it can't be resolved.
Countless attempts to resolve fuel, timing, spark plugs, valve lash air filters and fuel filters etc, etc, etc. Quick fix, buy another $1700.00 motor. Problem is that they are outlawed now by the EPA. 2nd try, use a Briggs-Stratton.
Problem, neither John Deere or Kawasaki can tell be what the shaft size is.
(Just pull the motor out and measure it.) Don't buy anything with Kawapower, they have ZERO CUSTOMER SUPPORT. John Deere contracted for this motor so normal Kawa sites don't even show it as a model number.
Monetary Loss: $1700.
Location: Minnesota City, Minnesota
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CHANGE BOTH IGNITION COILS AND SPARK PLUGS... This fixed mine...
John Deere makes their suppliers sign an agreement giving them exclusive rights to their engines. Kawasaki couldn't have given you any information without getting sued and losing their biggest customer.
I purcahsed a Hustler 36" zero turn mower with a 17hp kawasaki engine on it. The mower will be 4 years old in April.
It has 440 hours on the engine. The motor stopped working on 12-13-13. The dealer says that Kawasaki won't cover it under warranty since it is 40 hours over the 400 hour limit even though the dealer says it is a motor defect. I've spoken to mechanics at a local city maintenance garage who work on the city equipment.
They say that 400 hours isn't high hours. It's sad that Kawasaki wants to lose a customer over 40 hours of use.