Engine for JD 111 Riding Mower

16 years ago

The engine on my JD 111 is about to expire. Does one of the major engine manufacturers have a replacement engine that will retro onto this lawn mower? How would I cross reference an engine model #?

Thanks

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Comments (12)

sergeant
16 years ago
If you have a JD dealer or any lawn and garden dealer near buy ask to see there Mid-West small engine book Mid-west engines are a distrubutor for briggs engine's and many others which I belive is what is in your JD111. Take you engine model and spec & type number's in with you when you go to ask.
bill_kapaun
16 years ago
The link list's some info

Here is a link that might be useful: Link
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tps, have you run the engine with "a load on it" yet. If you are only running at high curb idle, you can expect the governor to "hunt" fruitlessly for the sweet spot. These engines are meant to "work" and so everything about "normal operation" means it should be "doing something aerobic". The governor is designed to open or close the throttle plate in an attempt to keep the engine near the manual setting you select with the "throttle cable or linkage". Because simply operating the engine is not much of a load, the carburetor is greatly oversized for that task. If you open it up completely with no load, the engine will try its darndest to spin at 30,000 RPM because the carb can deliver way more fuel than is required to spin up with no load. Because the engine is able to spin up so quickly when unloaded, it will rev beyond the setting of the governor faster than the governor can react. When the governor finally intervenes and pulls the throttle plate toward the closed position, the RPM is already higher than the governor can allow, so now the governor tries its best to shut the throttle plate altogether. Now, because the engine has been deprived of fuel (throttle plate closed, no venturi action, no fuel drawn from main jet) the engine loses RPM so quickly that it is drops BELOW the RPM setting of the governor. Guess what the governor tries to do next. The governor now senses that the engine needs more fuel, so it opens the throttle plate, venturi action is immediately restored and fuel is drawn out of the main jet. RPM jumps up again and exceeds the HIGH setting of the governor and so the idle goes up and down and up and down and up and (well, you started it). Some governors feature a "buffer spring" to "somewhat discourage" hunting under no load conditions. The fact that the engine is able to react quick enough to cause the governor to hunt is an indicator that this engine "is no loafer". Put that thing to work under a load and report back (with a grin, I hope).
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Just remember, you pay for what you get. If you opt to pay less, you will get less in quality. I went through this in 2006 when my wife & I bought our first home. granted, I have more to mow, and have some hills, but from what I understood, entry level John Deere lawn tractors are just that...entry level. You'll be getting an entry level product, with an entry level cut, and an entry level engine. It is not a tractor that will last a lifetime. I got the inside scoop because I live in Mayville, WI, which is the town right next to Horicon, WI, where the John Deere plant is. My neighbor has been working there for decades, and builds them. He basically told me that if I bought a higher series, in the X300's, that'd I'd be mowing with that tractor when I retire, which is nice because I was 26 at the time. I had a sales rep come and scope out my yard, to point me in the direction of the tractor that would suit my yard best. He recommended the X300, so I followed my "always go a step higher then designed" and got the X320. Sure, I payed more, but it was worth every penny, because I have a solid, high quality machine meant to last. With that said, I agree with Wrager, you're better off with a used, high quality tractor, then a new, low quality one. Joe
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That is good news.
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In addition to tomplums great advice I would also remove the gas tank and clean it out if you machine is a few years old. You maybe susprised whats laying at the bottom where the fuel pick up is. And if this machine is over 7 years old I would personnal change the fuel lines. That way I will not have to worry about a fuel contamination problem for quite awhile unless something unusual happens like fueling it with contaminated gas or letting it set for a long period of time with todays gas in it.
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butchs_hobby
16 years ago
Small engine warehouse or Jimsrepairjimstractors.com will have what you need.
marineguy
16 years ago
You won't find a new engine that fits the 111. Briggs doesn't make L-head engines anymore, and an OHV engine won't fit unless you do some serious modifications. I had a small engine shop down the road tell me he could put in a Briggs Intek for $700. But after talking to Briggs, they said it absolutely wouldn't fit.
Your best bet is to buy a 12.5 hp Kawasaki FB460V engine replacement. This engine was used on the 112L (exact same as 111H, except for the motor), and also with the 165, which was the later version of the 111H with the same transmission and frame (but a different hood).
I picked up a 111H for my father in law in good shape, and running, but not well. It starts right up but knocks and smokes a bit. The Briggs is wore out. I found a 165 in good shape with a strong Kawasaki motor but a bad transmission. Right now I'm trying to decide which tractor should be the donor and which should be the fixer-upper. They're both in similar condition, it's just a question which is more work to swap, the engine or transmission. Before I found the 165 I was going to buy a Kawasaki engine from a guy on eBay. I spoke to him on the phone. Seemed like a nice guy. He is liquidating the inventory of a relative's Deere dealership, which includes a bunch of these no-longer-made engines. If you really want to keep that 111, this would be absolutely the best option. They are much higher quality engines than the Briggs, and he'll work with you on the price. The Kawi has cast iron cylinder liners and a full-pressure lube system. Most didn't come with an oil filter, but you can buy a retrofit kit which will add one. If you give him a call and deal directly with him (saving him the listing fees), he can save you a few bucks. His name is Mike, 402-813-2307. He'll probably sell you one of the engines for $400+ shipping. I think they cost something like $800 new from JD when they were available.
Let me know how it goes!
-Chris

Here is a link that might be useful: FB460V on eBay
bushleague
16 years ago
You may find the Kawasaki FB420V more common. This engine is 14 hp and OHV. The 460's develop valve problems and the 420 is more quiet.
marineguy
16 years ago
The briggs rep I spoke to was pretty certain an OHV engine would not fit without some kind of custom exhaust setup. Of course anything's possible.
dirtmecnanic
16 years ago
I had a spare 13 hp Kohler and bolted it right into an MTD that had a 12hp Briggs. The bolt pattern is the same. The crankshaft pulley end was the same as well. I've had experience with Tulsa Engine Warehouse. Have a look and don't despair ------ it's only money!!
bushleague
16 years ago
I forgot a bout the Kohler, good point. I grabbed one of off Craigslist and bolted right in for $75.
deeredoctor
16 years ago
Any OHV engine is not just gonna bolt right in on a 111 or 111H or 112L. The muffler is very small as well as the hole it drops down into between the frame and hood hinge. The ole Briggs and the Kawi engines both had left side of block exhaust ports. The Kohler Command has bottom of head exh port and the OHV Briggs is the upper RH side of block exh port. You will have to design a muffler pipe to adapt to the original muffler.

The orign muffler also mounted to the flat cyl heads of the Briggs and Kawi. The Koh Command and OHV Briggs are also longer due to the overhead design/location of the valves and have no conveniant place to add a bracket at the same location as the orig engines. I think the clearance from rocker cover to hood will have interference with each other.

The only real disadvantage of retro the Kawi FB engine is you will have to wire in a seperate voltage regulator and buy another muffler pipe from deere. Deere did make a retro fit kit for the 111 series to install the 112L Kawi engine to the older frames. I don't think its offered any longer.
shelbyscott
16 years ago
put a 12.5 hp briggs on it that is what i did all you have to do is knotch the frame abit for the oil drain tube awesome motor you might not be able to find a new motor but there are thousands of those l heads still around
deeredoctor
16 years ago
Hey,
Found a new engine that will work. You will need to convert it to a fuel pump setup. Every things else looks good to go.

Here is a link that might be useful: New Briggs Eng
shelbyscott
16 years ago
that is the exact engine i put on my 111

Engine for JD 111 Riding Mower

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