Well, I won't be able to check this until the weekend, but, I did have the carb off the machine twice during my trouble shooting a couple of weeks ago - perhaps I goofed when re attaching it. OTOH, it's probably been years since I started that mower using just the choke. I always attributed the problem to old gas in the fuel line. Now, I'm thinking that some little thing may have gone bad over the years that, with correction, will solve this problem. It's not a biggie to me, but, now that I have her running so well, I'd like to cure this if possible. Thanks for the replies. Caruso

I know - its the kind of thing I like to do too. Sounds like the deck is okay. I would keep on using it. CD pack failures are irritating, but when you consider that most people have to buy a new mower long before 9 years, it seems very cheap to operate. Even if you have put new wheels and axles on at about the same frequency as the CD packs, you really are not spending any money on it. And, you can still find the rear-bagging kits and deck plates (blank for discharging, blocked for mulching). Other things you may encounter after such long service are crankshaft end seals popping out or just leaking, the need to rebuild the carb and carbon build-up in the exhaust ports and muffler. I always recommend adding Marvel Mystery oil to the gas in addition to your regular oil mix as well as the use of a fuel stabilizer. If you use Ethanol-blended fuel, get the Stabil Marine for Ethanol Fuels. All engines like MMO, in particular the 2-cycles.

Does your Kubota have glow plugs or an intake air preheater cold starting system? If you have the Owner's Manual, what does it say abouta cold temperature starting procedure? Some brands of Diesel engines use glow plugs or a preheater unit in the intake air pipe to warm the inducted air enough for the heat of compression reach ignition temperature. Some engines having either of these cold start aids are equipped with a "starter inhibitor" control that locks out the starter until the glow plugs or preheater have been energized long enough to heat up to the temperature that will support combustion. The rationale behind this is: There is no point in engaging the starter motor if the air is too cold for it to start. To do so will only run the battery down. Check your owner's manual for a cold start procedure.

OK I'm not that gullable. So what your saying is the japaneeze engine is better than you JD which is probably is beings JD don't make it. By the why does JD make any engines anymore?? OK I frogot the plant in china! Please, all engines have carb problems eventually, even the infamous Kaw's especially if you don't do pre-ventive maintenance. If it an't getting gas it's not going to fire, that's why the starting fluid fires it off, if it had igintion weak enough not to fire off gas I dought it would fire off starting fluid and keep running. Most ingition parts get weak as they warm up or fail all at once. I suspose you JD never needed a battery either cuz it had JD on it. Yep, I sure would spend big bucks ignition parts before I made sure it not a carb. problem!