1976 Lo-boy 185 no power

[Spike83]

For everyone that has offered help and suggestions I just wanted to let you know what the cause of the loss of power was. Previous owner put new wires and plugs. He got the firing order wrong on the cap....2 and 3 were reversed. I'm amazed that it ran so well with that like that. Anyway.....got it put back the way it is supposed to be and I'm mowing. Things aren't quite right yet with getting the throttle lever to control the engine speed seems it does nothing at the moment, just have a high idle situation. I keep messing with the length of throttle through upper control arm of the governor but I end up with the same situation.

[mozer71]

Glad you found the main issue but consider what was done to make it run at all. I suspect timing was changed, carb tweaked. Getting it to run, also meant the throttle linkage to the magneto wasn't working normal. In fact, that puddle of fuel speaks of a situation which could have been deadly. So right there, you fixed it and your compression numbers look fine. - to me also
I can't help with Zenith carbs. My 154 is bone simple but it gets in a groove. Difficult to explain but I'll try. When dormant, Its always going to leak out the carb if the filter bowl lever isn't tight. When the engine is running, it pulls the drips to supply the carb. It is all very old tech but works . They can all change with time, timing, adjusting on the fly. When one thing radically changes, it upsets all the minimal adjustments which were required.

[Spike83]

Sonny....PM sent.

[Spike83]

Mozer71, you are absolutely right with all the necessary adjustments that had to be made. The floats were so out of "normal" it again was amazing, but that is probably what was needed to make it run. Governor turnbuckle was out of spec too once cylinders 2 and 3 were put to normal. I have been
tinkering now for days looking for that "groove" that you are talking about. My Cub Cadets are no different. Can run great for 2 seasons and then all of a sudden I'm back at dialing it all in again. It is somewhat enjoyable until you just can't find that one worn part that is causing the problem. We must like it, most here have multiples.

[Eugene]

The shafts where they enter the governor get gummed up. Soak the shafts where they enter the governor with solvent. Spray a couple times a day. Then slowly move the throttle lever back and forth. Start engine and again move the throttle lever back and forth.

May take a couple of days to get the shafts freed up.

[gitractorman]

When "tweaking" the governor and throttle, make sure to check that the linkage between the governor arm and the carburetor is not touching the engine block. This is a really common problem, and it causes just enough friction to prevent the governor from adjusting the carburetor properly. You really have to look close to see if it's an issue. A lot of times that little linkage gets bent, or dirt/crud builds up between it and the block, and it will still move, but there's enough friction that the governor won't work properly. Again, I've run into this on many Cub engines and it's a quick fix, just clean it up and/or straighten out the linkage.

[SONNY]

Enjoy your "new" mower deck! LOL!!! ---It needs a good cleaning and some different paint put on it but the bearings are good ,--blades good but need sharpening, belts need replaced. --- I showed your driver how to adjust the new belts and the tightner is not factory, so remove it or leave it as you wish. ---should make you a good deck for your tractor.