The Solution to 13 Problems That Cause Your Kubota Lawn Mower to Lose Power!
You are the most familiar with your mower, and you start to notice that the engine is beginning to bog down and is not providing you with the usual amount of power. When you have this issue with your zero-turn or riding mower, I have included a list of things for you to check as part of your troubleshooting process.
When the engine of a Kubota lawn mower isn’t receiving the appropriate amount of air or fuel, the mower will become less powerful.
This might be the consequence of a low amount of engine oil, blocked air passages, a plugged air filter, a filthy carburetor, or limited fuel components. Alternatively, this could be the result of restricted fuel components.
When the engine of a Kubota mower is under stress, for example because the mower deck is clogged with debris or because the ground speed is too high for the circumstances in which it is being used, the mower may start to lose power. Continue reading for further information.
The following might be causing your Kubota lawn mower to lose power:
- Obstructed air filtering system
- Old fuel
- Blocked fuel filter
- Clogged gasoline lines
- An unclean carburetor
- Defective spark plug
- Low engine oil level
- An excessive amount of motor oil
- Cooling fins that are cracked or plugged, as well as a filthy cooling system
- There is an excessively rapid ground speed.
- Cutting wet or thick grass with a mower.
- Plugged mower deck
- Dull mower blades
Table of Contents
14 Causes for the Declining Performance of Your Kubota Lawnmower
1. Obstructed air filtering system Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
It may be anything as simple as a clogged air filter that is causing your Kubota mower to operate slowly and inefficiently when you experience a lack of power.
It is possible for the air filter to get clogged with grass clippings and dirt while you are mowing since it is a dusty task and your mower kicks up these substances.
It is essential that the air filter be maintained on a regular basis by either being changed or cleaned so that air can flow freely through it. In the event that this does not occur, the filter has the potential to get clogged, preventing the engine from receiving the air that it needs to function at its peak.
It is a good habit to change out your old air filter for a brand-new one once a year. After that, clean it many times before, during, and after the mowing season. If you are mowing in particularly dusty circumstances, you may need to clean or replace your filter more regularly.
How to Maintain and Clean the Air Filter on Your Kubota Lawn Mower
Here are the directions for cleaning an air filter that has a paper-style media. Instructions for cleaning various kinds of filters may be found on this page.
- Take off the cover that was on the housing for the air filter. Clips, knobs, or wing nuts are often used to secure this in place.
- Remove the air filter with caution so that you don’t let any dirt into the air intake.
- With a clean, dry cloth, remove any remaining dirt that may be found in the housing of the air filter.
- Tap your air filter on a hard surface to loosen as much dirt as possible and get it out of the filter.
- Display your filter by holding it up to a light. You may safely reuse the filter if you can see light shining through the paper when you hold it up to the light. If you are unable to do so, or if the filter is broken or soiled with oil, you should replace it with a new one.
- Replace the air filter cover when you have finished installing the filter.
2. Old Fuel Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
If the gasoline in your Kubota mower is old or spoiled, you may notice that it begins to operate more slowly. Over a period of thirty days, gasoline starts to deteriorate and loses some of its power.
In addition to decomposing, the presence of ethanol and moisture in the gasoline may result in the formation of sticky deposits that inhibit the flow of fuel. When the engine does not get an enough amount of gasoline, it will suffer a loss of power.
If you notice that the fuel in your Kubota mower has gone bad, you should flush the tank with water and refill it with new gasoline. The vast majority of gas-powered Kubota mowers call for unleaded gasoline with an octane value of at least 87 and an ethanol percentage of no more than 10%.
In order to maintain the gas’s stability, cut down on the amount of moisture that is present in the fuel, and maintain a clean fuel system, you should use a fuel additive such as Sea Foam Motor Treatment.
Due to the rapid rate at which gasoline deteriorates, it is recommended that fuel be used within thirty days after purchase. Add a gasoline additive if you won’t be able to use it up within the allotted amount of time. Every time I fill up the tank, I put some Sea Foam in it.
You can find out more about why I enjoy Sea Foam and the impact that ethanol has on your lawn mower by reading this guide. You can also learn more about the effects that ethanol has on your grass.
3. Blocked fuel filter Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
A fuel filter filters the gasoline as it is pulled from the fuel tank. This prevents impurities such as dirt and debris from entering the fuel system. If the filter is not regularly updated, it will ultimately get clogged, which will prevent gasoline from flowing through the filter. This situation can only be avoided by replacing the filter on a regular basis.
It is advised that you change the fuel filter on your Kubota mower once a year as part of the preventive maintenance that you do on your mower. This is the best practice. This filter is a fairly inexpensive component that, if it fails to strain dirt effectively, may prevent difficulties with the supply of gasoline as well as significant damage to the engine. This might be the case if the filter fails to properly strain dirt.
Turning off the flow of gasoline is the first step in changing the filter on your lawnmower. You may do this by shutting the fuel shut-off valve on the mower or by using fuel pinch pliers if your mower does not have a fuel shut-off valve. After removing the previous filter from the gasoline lines, the next step is to install a new filter in its place.
It is very crucial that you pay close attention to the arrow that can be seen on the side of your filter. While you are putting the filter in place, you need to make sure that the arrow is pointing in the direction that fuel will go through it. It is essential to check that the arrow is pointing in the direction of the carburetor and not the direction of the fuel tank.
4. Clogged gasoline lines Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
Using an old tank of gas may result in the formation of sticky deposits, which, if allowed to accumulate, have the potential to block the fuel lines.
Put a stop to the flow of gasoline going to your Kubota mower, take the tip off of a section of the fuel pipe, and put it in a container. Then, using the same technique, examine the lawnmower to see whether or not it has a clog. Start the fuel flow so you can check that there is sufficient flow coming out of the fuel line after you have already established that there is sufficient flow.
When you find that a fuel line is clogged, the first thing you need to do is halt the flow of gasoline, and then you need to detach the section of the line that is connected to the Kubota mower.
In order to keep the carburetor clean, the line should be sprayed with cleaner. This is done with the intention of facilitating the release of the obstructions. You will need to blast compressed air through the line in order to clear the obstruction that has been caused.
If you are unable to remove the blockage or find that your line is dry and cracked, you will need to replace it with a new gasoline line that has the same length and diameter as the previous one. This will be necessary only if you are unable to remove the obstruction.
5. An unclean carburetor Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
The carburetor that is attached to your mower is an essential component. It ensures that the cylinder has the appropriate quantity of fuel and air for the combustion process to take place.
The residues that are produced while burning old gasoline might build in your carburetor, preventing it from delivering the fuel that is required for the engine to function properly. If this occurs, the soiled carburetor on your Kubota mower may result in a reduction in the machine’s power.
You will need to clean the carburetor if it is preventing gasoline from reaching the cylinder. Remove the air filter from your carburetor and then spray some carburetor cleaner into the air intake before you begin disassembling your carburetor.
Start your vehicle’s engine to find out whether it will really work. If it starts, but then immediately stops again, you need to clean the carburetor on your engine. For detailed instructions on how to clean your carburetor, please refer to the aforementioned page.
6. Defective spark plug Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
A fouled spark plug might result in an intermittent spark, which can lead to a loss of power in the vehicle. Check the tip of your spark plug for any traces of carbon, dirt, or oil that may have accumulated there.
If you locate a spark plug that is filthy or broken, it is best to replace it with a new one so that you can be confident that the mower is always using a good plug.
Instead, you may try to clean it with a wire brush and reuse it if it is just filthy and not a very dark color. This is an option if it is only dirty and not very dark in color.
7. Low Engine Oil Level Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
You will notice a decrease in power if the amount of engine oil in the crankcase of your Kubota mower falls below the recommended level. It’s possible that you don’t have enough oil because the previous time you changed the oil, you didn’t put enough oil into the crankcase.
It is also possible that this is the consequence of an oil leak in the engine or the burning of oil as a result of operating the vehicle with the incorrect oil viscosity.
While using a Kubota mower, the engine oil level should never be allowed to go too low. If you do, and the problem is not discovered in a timely manner, you might do serious damage to the engine, which would result in an expensive repair bill or perhaps the need to replace the engine.
Oil for the engine is essential for maintaining the lubrication of the moving components within the engine. When there is insufficient lubrication, there is increased friction between the moving components, which results in a significant increase in temperature.
Because of this, your Kubota mower may get very hot, produce smoke from the burning oil, and even melt some of its components.
As a safety measure, you should make it a habit to check the amount of motor oil in your Kubota mower before each usage. It is an additional step in your busy schedule, which I am aware is inconvenient for you, but it does not take very long, and it may help you detect oil leaks and engine problems before they become more serious issues.
To determine whether or not your vehicle’s engine has sufficient oil, remove the dipstick and wipe the stick with a cloth that has been well cleaned. First, the dipstick should be replaced, and then it should be removed. Make sure the oil level is correct. It is necessary for the oil to reach the maximum level shown on the dipstick.
In the event that it is not, add more engine oil until it is completely filled. If you overfill it, you’ll create additional issues for yourself in the long term.
If you continue to suffer issues with your engine even after you have filled it up to the maximum level, you should have an expert small engine technician examine it so they can make an accurate diagnosis.
There is a possibility that a low level of engine oil produced internal damage that cannot be repaired by adding a tiny bit of new oil.
8. An excessive amount of motor oil Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
If you put too much engine oil in the crankcase, it can cause your vehicle’s engine to smoke. Since there is an excessive amount of engine oil, there is an increase in pressure, which might cause oil to be forced into the cylinder via the valve train.
When this occurs, the smoke that is produced as the oil burns in the cylinder has a bluish-white tint to it.
This dense column of smoke has the potential to clog your air filter, which will make it difficult for your engine to acquire the clean air it needs to function properly. Do a check on both the air filter and the spark plug, and if necessary, either clean or replace them.
If you continue to run your Kubota mower with an excessive amount of oil, you may end up damaging the seals, hydrolocking the engine, and bending the piston rod.
To fix an engine that has excessive oil, remove some of the oil from the engine. You may accomplish this goal with the assistance of a drain stopper, an oil evacuator, or even a turkey baster.
Take Out Some of the Engine Oil Here and There
You may remove the oil from the engine by first releasing the drain plug, then swiftly re-tightening it so that just a little amount of oil can escape from the engine. A turkey baster or an oil evacuator may also be used in order to extract oil from the region of the oil filter as well as the oil fill area.
9. Cooling fins that are cracked or plugged, as well as a filthy cooling system Cause a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
It is vital to have cooling fins in order to circulate air around the engine in order to keep it cool.
It is possible for the fins to get clogged with dirt and grass clippings, which will reduce the quantity of air that can be pushed to the engine.
To ensure that your cooling system is operating as it should, remove any debris that has accumulated around the fins and replace any that are damaged. Repair any fins that have been damaged.
Check the region surrounding the engine after first ensuring that the cooling fins have been cleaned and are in excellent shape. If there is a significant amount of dirt and debris around the engine, the circulating air will be unable to maintain the engine block and cylinders at a cool temperature.
It is important to clear the area surrounding the engine and the engine shroud of any grass clippings, dirt, and other debris. Check to ensure that the heat shield is fastened in place firmly.
10. There is an excessively rapid ground speed Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
It may seem like a good idea to try to finish your mowing duty as quickly as possible so that you can go on to rest for the day, but doing so may be the reason why your Kubota mower is losing some of its power. However, it may seem like a good idea to try to finish your mowing duty as quickly as possible so that you can go on to rest for the day.
While mowing your lawn, if the grass is very thick, wet, or tall, or if you are mowing it at a quick speed, you may put more weight on your mower.
If you want to put less strain on the mower, you should run your Kubota mower at a slower speed to account for the conditions in which you are cutting the grass. This will allow you to reduce the amount of stress that is imposed on the mower. This includes slowing down when mowing uphill at high rates, since the slope’s inclination also affects the amount of engine power that is required to complete the task.
11. Cutting wet or thick grass Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
You should avoid mowing the grass while it is wet or moist. Your car’s engine has to work harder since the grass is wet. It is more prone to clumping together and clinging to the bottom of the mower deck than other types of grass.
When the grass on your lawn is dry, you will get the cleanest cut possible with your mower.
It is recommended that you trim your lawn on a consistent basis in order to maintain it at a length that is easily controllable. In the event that your grass grows to be an excessively tall height, the mower can get stuck while trying to trim it.
Even if you do all in your power to keep the grass cut short, there will always be occasions when it grows too long.
If you want the finest results while mowing tall grass, you should make two or even three passes over your lawn with the mower. To do this, set the cutting height on the mower deck to its maximum position before making the first cut, and then reduce it before making the subsequent cut.
12. Plugged Mower Deck Causes a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
To prevent the engine from being overworked and suffering a loss of power, the space below the mower deck has to be maintained clean and clear of any debris at all times. As the blades of the Kubota mower are spinning beneath the mower deck, they should have room to move freely.
When the mower deck is full, more pressure is placed on the engine because it must work harder to move the blades through the debris. This results in the engine wearing down more quickly. To keep the deck of your mower clean, you should scrape it on a regular basis to eliminate debris.
Not only is this beneficial for your engine, but it will also improve the cut quality of your Kubota mower.
13. Dull Mower Blades Cause a Kubota Mower to Lose Power
When the deck of a Kubota mower is filled with debris, it causes a loss of power that is exacerbated by the dullness of the lawn mower blades, which is another element that adds to the power loss. If the deck of the mower is clogged, a higher amount of engine power is needed; however, if the mower blades are dull, the situation becomes even more serious.
Carry out a thorough inspection of your blades, and if required, either sharpen or replace them. You may find further information on how to inspect your Kubota blades and the process of sharpening them here, as well as other useful information.
Are you still having issues with the Kubota Lawn Mower you purchased?
If you have a lawn mower for a long period of time, you may eventually have problems with it, such as it failing to start, not continuing to run, smoking, leaking gas, providing an uneven cut, vibrating, or another problem.
I have developed a guide for you that will aid you in diagnosing and addressing any difficulties that may emerge with the Kubota mower that you own. I did this in an attempt to save you both time and money, which is why I chose to do it.
If you are unsure how to properly perform diagnostics and repairs on your Kubota lawn mower, it is best to have a professional make the repairs rather than attempting to do them yourself. If you are unsure how to properly perform diagnostics and repairs on your Kubota lawn mower, it is best to have a professional make them.
You will decrease the likelihood of harming yourself or causing more damage to the mower if you take these precautions. Your local Kubota dealership or lawn mower repair shop will be able to aid you in locating a solution to the problem that you are now experiencing and finding a way to fix it.
