Why Your Cub Cadet Lawn Mower is Smoking

When your Cub Cadet lawn mower starts to smoke, you should be concerned. As a result, you assume the unthinkable and plan a very costly repair. It is possible to prevent your lawn mower engine from smoking with routine maintenance. You may not need to worry as much as you think. A simple solution might be available Why Your Cub Cadet Lawn Mower is Smoking.

White smoke is most often caused by a tipping mower. It is usually the customer who turns over the mower to clean the deck or unclog the chute. This allows oil to enter the cylinder, causing it to burn when restarted, turning your lawn into a disco. Also, sometimes the muffler leaks oil.

Why Your Cub Cadet Lawn Mower is Smoking

Several factors can cause your lawn mower to emit smoke-many of which don’t require expert assistance. When a lawn mower is smoking, a homeowner can usually identify the cause from the color of the smoke coming around it. Then, he can fix it to prevent lasting damage from occurring. Despite the fact that all mowers with internal combustion engines contain the same basic parts, the configuration varies widely depending on the model and manufacturer. For instructions on accessing specific parts of your lawn mower’s engine, consult your owner’s manual.

fast.    Air Filter System is Plugged into Your Cub Cadet

So if my Cub Cadet engine was smoking the first thing I would do is check the air filter system. This is the easiest thing to check so why not start there?

• First, remove the air filter cover. The cover is always located above the carburetor so that it can pull in clean air. Depending on the type of mower you have, the cover usually has a single screw or two knobs holding it down. Some air filters will be along the side of the engine next to the carburetor.
  
  
• Remove the air filter. Be very careful to prevent dirt from dropping into the air intake. Wipe out any remaining loose dirt with a clean dry cloth.
• Take a look at your filter. If your air filter is plugged with grass and dirt, the engine will not be able to breathe. This can cause your engine to overheat. Your engine will be searching for air wherever it can find it. If it can’t get clean air through the air filter, it may begin to pull air and oil out of the crankcase.
  
  Your Cub Cadet will begin to smoke because of the oil that is burning off.
• Replace your air filter if it looks bad. Otherwise, knock the loose dirt out of the filter and place it back in the air filter housing. A good way to verify whether your filter can continue to be used is by holding the filter up to the light and checking to see if you can see light through the paper filter. If you can’t see the light or the filter is damaged you need to replace it.

The second. Your Cub Cadet engine doesn’t have enough oil

Smoking can be caused by low engine oil levels in your Cub Cadet lawn mower. Many lawn mower owners realize their engine oil shouldn’t be too low, but they don’t realize too much oil in the crankcase can also damage the engine.

Oil levels must be maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

An oil level below normal
Oil leaks are common causes of mowers running low on oil, as is engine failure. Increasing friction in an engine can cause extreme heat conditions when there is not enough lubrication. Parts of these machines may melt and fail.

To resolve this issue, add additional oil to your mower to increase its oil level. It is often impossible to solve the problem of engine damage caused by poor lubrication by adding more oil if the engine is extremely hot. You should take your mower to a small engine mechanic to determine the extent of the damage.

The oil level is high
When there is too much oil in the crankcase, it can cause too much pressure in the engine. A pressure increase can cause oil to move into the cylinder and air intake. In a full-throttle engine, the oil in the cylinder burns off and produces smoke.

This issue can be resolved by draining some oil from the engine.

Find out how much oil damages your Cub Cadet, as well as how to drain it out with “This is What Happens If You Put Too Much Oil in a Cub Cadet.”

Why Your Cub Cadet Lawn Mower is Smoking”.

The third. There is a problem with the valve train on the Cub Cadet

There are times when having a valve train problem is not as serious as it seems. If detectable, the cylinder head needs to be removed or a leak-down test performed. In this case, a small engine mechanic should take care of it.

Valve train problems result from valves being damaged by being overheated. When the valve gets hot, the edges begin to fall apart. What we often refer to as a burnt valve is this.

Mufflers can also glow red from heat when there is a burnt valve or timing problem. As a result, you will need to replace the valve and grind the seat. It is the seat that makes contact with the engine block to complete the combustion chamber.

A correct valve seat requires that both the valve and the seat be cut at certain angles.

Problems with the piston ring of the Cub Cadet

As you move into more challenging troubleshooting areas, you will find the cause of your Cub Cadet smoking. The spark plug needs to be checked for oil. There is usually a more serious problem with the engine when there is oil on the spark plug.

You can remove the spark plug using a socket. In order to unplug the plug, you might need a 3/4″ or 5/8″ socket. Ensure the spark plug is not clogged with oil by removing it and checking it.

Scoring on the cylinder wall may indicate a problem with the piston ring. It is possible for oil to enter the compression changer when the cylinder wall is scored. During combustion, smoke is produced.

If you are not mechanically inclined, you should take your engine to a small engine repair shop. To fix the engine problem, you will have to disassemble it.

This problem will often require the replacement of your engine once it occurs. You may want to consider purchasing a new mower depending on the mower.

Are you still having problems with your Cub Cadet mower?

The following tips shouldn’t be able to solve your Cub Cadet problem, but if you’re experiencing a similar problem, check out my guide showing the most common Cub Cadet problems and their solutions: Common Cub Cadet Problems.

You’ll find solutions here to Cub Cadet problems like not starting the mower, having a rough cut, experiencing vibrations, or experiencing smoking. Here are some solutions and links to more detailed information.

Conclusions

It is never fun to have a lawn mower that smokes around you or your neighbors. Therefore, it is essential to address any smoke issues you encounter as soon as you notice them. You won’t only be able to enjoy longer mower life, but your neighbors and lungs will also benefitWhy Your Cub Cadet Lawn Mower is Smoking.

In addition to gas mowers, you might also want to consider reel mowers and corded electric mowers.

Let us know if there are any specific questions you have regarding your mower in the comments section.