How to Troubleshoot a Cub Cadet 106

No Go

• 1

  Park the tractor on flat and stable ground and turn it off. Pop the hood and prop it open and use a battery tester to determine if the battery needs replacing. If so, buy a new one based on the specs of the existing one. If the battery seems to be juiced, look at the terminals on the existing battery: if there’s corrosion present, you’ll need to brush away the residue in order for the battery to spark correctly.

• 2

  Use an adjustable wrench to unscrew the battery connectors on the terminals. Encrusted corrosion – a possibility if your tractor is parked outside and is exposed to the elements year round – blocks electrical current. If there’s corrosion present, use a wire brush to wear down the unsightly masses into dust that you can sweep away.

• 3

  Replace the starter if you find that the tractor’s electrical components like the headlamps and sparkplugs are in working order. A sure sign that the starter’s the culprit behind the engine not turning over is a familiar “chugging” sound from the engine. Check the model number on the starter and order a replacement from a lawn equipment retailer if you’re hearing the sound.

White Smoke

• 4

  Check the tractor’s oil levels by checking where the oil beads on the dipstick: if oil levels are very low – below the Low indicator – chances are the tractor is burning oil. Fill the tractor with oil, which is usually 5W-30, but check the label on the oil cap, to the Full line. Conversely, if the tractor is overfilled, oil leaks out onto the filter and creates white smoke when hot. If the oil is over Full on the dipstick, bleed some oil from the engine into a drip pan.

• 5

  Check the fuel filter on the tractor if oil levels are okay. If there’s any damage from wear and tear to the filter, oil will still manage to leak out. Replace the filter, and this is a good idea to do every time you change the oil every season, to alleviate the problem.

• 6

  Use a push mower when mowing incline and embankments if everything else checks out but white smoke still manages shoot out. This is a simple approach, as oil will leak when the machine is off-kilter. Another approach is to purchase a new oil cap that has a newer rubber seal and thus holds the oil in the engine better.