The four Most Common Problems with John Deere 185 Hydro (Causes & Solutions)

Everyone enjoys a small tractor to be used in the garden, which despite its small size will get the job of cutting and mowing the land done just in time and per the requirements of the users. For this, your go-to product should be the John Deere 185 Hydro. 

With the exceptional specs that the 185 Hydro tractor has to offer, it has become one of the most frequently bought and the most favorite machines for users. 

Usually, every customer who has ever owned or currently owns the John Deere 185 hydro tractor has repeatedly reported that the machine has an efficient functioning with convenient operation and for them, the key to the tractor’s sustainability has always been maintenance.  

Without maintaining a machine, especially one that has moving parts and is to be continuously utilized regularly, you cannot possibly go without ensuring that all the parts are in a healthy condition.

On the contrary, when you fail to do so then you are faced with the four typical John Deere 185 Hydro problems!

Causes & Solutions Of John Deere 185 Hydro Problems 

John Deere 185 Hydro tractor successfully delivers an output of 17HP via its operation dependent on the single installed gas cylinder for power.

With the powerful engine being sourced through gas, the tractor makes sure for the user always achieves a productive outcome. 

But this is no guarantee for the tractor user to never face John Deere 185 hydro problems. In fact, if we consider the problems from a bird’s eye view then they are largely concerned with the electrical issues that materialize such as recurrent choking of the fuel filter that results often in stalling and in other instances in the engine stopping. 

Additionally, the cutting deck of the tractor gets clogged and subsequently leaves the grass unleveled and unmowed. In this section, we will be delving deeper into discussing these John Deere 185 Hydro Problems in more detail. 

Problem: Engine Does Not Start 

Out of all the problems a user can face with their machine, undoubtedly, the most chaotic and inconvenient one is to have a problem with the engine.

Usually, Issues with engine are regarding the engine either not starting at all or after several efforts, the engine finally starting only to lapse mid-operation. 

Supposedly, you too are facing this issue with the engine of your John Deere 185 hydro not starting then this is an evident indicator that there is a problem within the system of fuel. 

Although the fuel problem is the most habitual one, there could be other reasons too such as that the carburetor or the air filter has grown filthy due to being clogged with dirt, or that the battery has died out, or maybe even that the safety switch in the hydro 185 has broken down immediately. 

Whatever the original cause of this problem may be, they all will result in the engine not starting for your 185 hydro tractor. 

Convenient Solution 

First thing that you should instantly do upon encountering an issue with the engine is to check the fuel tank. The shelf life that gas is of thirty days, and the manufacturer never recommends that their users make use of the hydro 185 when the gas in the tank has exceeded the span of its shelf life. 

This is because during the time that the tractor was out of use, and the gas remained inside it, the fuel went bad or got contaminated and now when you are attempting to start your 185, the bad gas is not constructively powering the engine. 

So next time you plan to keep your John Deere 185 hydro away for some time make use of a stabilizer in the gas, or just drain the tank and when using the tractor again, your first move should be to add new fuel. 

If the fuel has not gone bad then before proceeding to examine other parts of the tractor just to be on the safe side take a look at the vacuum of the fuel pump. Check to see if there are any cracks on the pump which might be causing the gas to escape, and leaving behind an inadequate amount of fuel to power the engine.

In the situation where you realize that fuel is not troubling the engine then you should proceed to check all the other components of the 185 hydro tractor that are responsible for regulating the engine. 

Such as checking whether the spark plug has corroded with filth or not and if it has then replace it per the requirements of the 185. Or maybe the carburetor has been clogged with a buildup of dirt and demands a deep cleanse. You can cleanse the carburetor using an appropriate cleaner and a small brush. 

Problem: Overheating Engine 

Malfunctioning of your John Deere 185 hydro tractor will never reap a fruitful outcome. If the engine starts to overheat then the grass that will be mowed through your tractor will significantly reduce in amount as the engine is losing out on a massive chunk of its efficiency. 

However, you cannot directly identify that the engine of your 185 hydro tractor is overheating so for that you will have to be a bit more vigilant.

A prominent symptom of an overheating engine is that the tractor loses out on its power- you can feel this when driving the machine as it will now need more effort to be driven. 

Overheating often occurs because the quantity of the engine oil has lessened, the cooling fins and the air filters have been blocked, or simply because the workload for the machine is exceeded. As soon as you feel this happening, instantly stop the engine of your hydro tractor and proceed to implement the convenient fix that we have proposed for it. 

Convenient Solution 

Start off by reducing the workload for your 185 hydro tractor. You can undertake this by stopping the tractor for short intervals while working to ensure that the engine does not overheat due to the consistent running of the machine.

Next up, and if the prior solution is not effective in remedying the overheating then you must clean any components within the tractor that you suspect might have been clogged and is resulting in overheating. 

For instance, the air filter that was previously directing the air out of the hydro 185 tractor maintaining an equilibrium between the air entering and leaving the engine has now been clogged due to which the air is not being released, and this buildup is overheating the engine. 

Similarly, you can check the levels of the engine oil too. When the levels fall too low for the oil the lubrication in the engine starts to minimize whereas the produced friction increases and so does the generated heat. Another reason why the engine of your John Deere 185 hydro tractor overheats. 

Problem: Engine Misfiring 

Whenever the engine of your John Deere 185 hydro starts to misfire the reason for it can be traced back to only one component of the tractor and that is the installed spark plug. 

Spark plug connection or the spark plug in your hydro 185 when defective or unclean potentially fouls out and causes the engine to start misfiring. 

In most cases where the spark plug is defective, this tends to happen because of excessive buildup of carbon and debris, and these residuals should be removed before they cause any further damage than the one at hand.

Convenient Solution 

For a convenient fix you must always begin by getting rid of the residuals that have built up in the spark plug. The quickest way to do so is to detach the spark plug from within the hydro tractor and then clean it using a compatible cleaner that will work towards removing every inch of dirt from the nooks and crannies. 

If the build-up is to an extent where you think cleaning it will not make the spark plug serve its purpose again, then replace it. While replacement keep in mind two things: first get a spark plug that is appropriate with your hydro 185 tractor and second while undertaking replacement adjust the spark plug accurately. 

Problem: Hydro 185 Vibrating 

Has it ever happened that while you are out in the fields mowing your lawn with your John Deere 185 Hydro, the tractor starts to vibrate? Initially, the vibrations are slow but as you progress with mowing the vibrations start to intensify.

Sure this is a cause for concern because such vibrations can cause the user off-guard and can risk their safety, therefore, making them more vulnerable to the chances of sustaining an injury at the cost of these vibrations. 

Such vibrations only materialize when the belts in the 185 hydro tractors are worn out. These belts essentially serve the purpose of transmitting power at a consistent rate from the engine to the wheels of the tractor so they can move smoothly. 

Vibrations can also come about because of the clutch getting defective or the mower blades have been imbalanced or the drive sheaves broken. 

Convenient Solution 

The instance you see the vibrations appearing when operating the hydro 185 tractor, take a look at the belts in the machine. See if they are worn out by analyzing them, aiming to come across cracks on the exterior surface. If you spot any such cracks on any of the belts- replace that particular belt. 

Balance of the blades in the case where they have been imbalanced can be checked through the utilization of a blade balancer. In the situation where you are unable to identify the balancing of the blades, take the mower to a professional and seek their help. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) 

Conclusion 

In this article we have specified four typical John Deere 185 hydro problems quite in detail and have simultaneously also proposed convenient solutions for them. So the next time you see an issue that we have discussed in our write-up, do not forget to take steps to follow the troubleshooting measures we have stated!