Craftsman 21 Hp 42" Deck, Ys 4500 Lawn Tractor - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

Make sure the end of the hose is fully pushed onto the tyre valve.

Assuming this is a Craftsman, there is an adjustment for height, but mainly just for leveling purposes. There is a nut on each side in the center of the hanger and unless these are all the way to the bottom end, it's not going to raise the deck that high. I would look carefully at the deck hanger mechanism on each side. Something is obviously not right. Has it always been like this, or did you just get the mower? You can go to.. http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/index.action Then enter the model number that's under the seat, hit search, then scroll down to Lift Assembly for a look at how it is set up. I have seen broken hanger rods as well as a broken weld on the lift handle where it's attached to the cross shaft. Hope this helps..

very first thing to check is pressure switches most have 3 one on the brake one on the seat and one on the blade engage lever onor more of these may be bad ParysTreeRepairClinic may have a video on how to check these

sounds like you need to go to parts direct.com inter your make model and what you need they will help you can talk to a expert

Hi, Have you tried to turn the blades by hand ( WITH THE MOTOR OFF ) I suspect there may be some transit packing that you may have missed. The blades should turn freely with the motor off and the blade engaged. There is a blade brake which stops the blades turning when the drive is disengaged which might need adjusting . Hope this helps.

Do the blades need sharpening? Check the belts for tightness and the spring that holds the tension. what stops? The blades stop, but the belt is still turning? Check to also make sure the blades turn freely with the belt disengaged. you may have a spindle problem too.

Take the spark plug out and see if it is wet with gas. Could be bad cable, bad plug, leak in carburetor gasket

The way that this engine is turned off is to ground the wire to the ignition module. This is located under the flywheel shroud bolted next to the flywheel, as the flywheel spins this module makes electricity and stores it till the magnet on the flywheels trips it and it dumps its electricity out the spark plug wire. It is everything that has anything to do with spark. that little ground wire on it is what shuts it off. this ground wire is ran in series through many safety switches including seat, blades,transmission,brake and also the Key switch.If everything is right this will allow the little wire to be ungrounded and it will have spark.I feel to make this story complete ,when the key is on there is also electricity through the key switch from the battery feeding the fuel solenoid on the bottom of the carburetor which will also shut of the engine from the lack of fuel but has nothing to do with spark but one more pain in the safety nightmare.Short of throwing money at this mower you need to know if it is one of the safety or key switch or if it is the ignition module. Remove the flywheel shroud, unplug the little wire , it should be a flat spade , turn it over with the key and see if you have spark. If you do then it is the tractor safety's or key switch . Let us know at the end of your test. Briggs and Stratton Modules

.004 to .006 on both intake and exhaust. Keep in mind it has a compression release on the cam shaft exhaust valve side so if it is to tight it will not allow the exhaust valve to shut and will burn out with time as well as power reduction. Too loose will make it hard to turn the engine over,sounds like a low battery. I have had two of the Intec engines that the stud that the rocker arm pivots on pulled out of the engine head a little at a time and drove me crazy until it finally pulled all the way out. I would adjust on Mon, Wen, Fri .

Lean mixture or the fuel shut off solenoid has lost power.

Any good 30 SAE weight is recommended for grass mowers..if used with a snow blower use a good multi viscosity 10-30 or 5-30 ould be fine..good luck..

Check the oil is it low...some engines have a low oil shut down...and will not start or run when too low Good luck

take out the spark plug then plug it up and hold it agains the frame or somthing metal and crank it over if it sparks your getting fire

sounds like you need valves adjusted. either google your engine model number and "valve adjustment", or let me know what the # is and i can try to find a link.

Your spark plugs are on the end of wires, typically near the top of the engine. You likely have more than one.

May be the drive belt is slipping. When did you last change or check it? Is the belt shiny and showing small cracks ?

they should not be able to hit each other. remove them and make sure they are not bent.

http://www.manualslib.com/manual/497849/Craftsman-917-276181.html?page=22#manual

Your owner's manual tells you.

use the blades for leverage when loosening the bolts. when putting new blades on, hold the blade in the star center hub install washer and bolt. use blade for leverage when tightening.