John Deere E100 Problems

The John Deere E100 lawn tractor comes with innovative features such as a deep deck design for easy grass lift and superior cut, a comfortable and wide operator station and two incandescent headlights for safe night usage.

However, it can develop a fault at any time. Some of the problems include engine problems, electrical system problems, automatic transmission problems and steering issues.

In this article, I share 6 John Deere E100 problems, and causes and proffer solutions to get your lawn tractor working again.

John Deere E100 Problems, Causes, and Possible Solutions

Before I go into details, let’s look at some common John Deere E100 problems and their possible solutions:

Problems	Possible Solutions
1. John Deere E100 Mower Deck Problems	Clean the bagger Clean the discharge chute Replace the mower blades Use a higher cutting height Replace the bent or worn blades. Sharpen the dull blades. Inflate the tires correctly. Level the deck correctly. Install or repair the defective spindle Replace worn or bent mower blades Level the lawn.
2. Transmission Problems	Install new shaft seals Replace the case or transmission assembly Change the gaskets or seals Change the defective speed control pedal linkage Add more transmission oil Change the drive sheave. Reduce the load Add transmission fluid to the proper level or pour fresh fluid Adjust or replace the linkage
3. Belt Problem	Check and adjust the belt tension. Replace the damaged belt
4. John Deere E100 Steering Problems	Replace worn bushings Replace loose bolts
5. Engine Problems	Fill the gas tank with gas. Replace the dirty fuel filter. Wash, clean or replace the carburetor. Bleed the fuel system Adjust or replace the cable  Clean or replace the air filter Install new cylinder head gasket Change the defective push rod Change or clean valves. Fill the crankcase with engine oil Loads should be reduced. Clean the clogged cooling fins. Adjust valves properly Adjust the ignition time as required.
6. John Deere Electrical System Problems	Charge the battery Service or change the battery Check cable connections, and change or clean terminals. Charge or replace the battery Recharge the battery Replace the spark plug Change the solenoid or repair the starter. Replace terminal connectors Get a new battery Clean or tighten electrical wiring connections.

1. John Deere E100 Mower Deck Problems

Mower deck issues include plugged discharge chute, uneven cutting or lawn tractor leaving uncut grass. Here is an overview of John Deere E100 mower deck problems:

Lawn Tractor Leaving Uncut Grass

If you notice that your E100 model is leaving uncut grass while mowing, you need to inspect if the discharge chute is clogged or if the bagger is full.

To avoid your lawn from looking unattractive and untidy, you also need to inspect components such as blades and the cutting height to troubleshoot the problem

Causes

• Full bagger
• Clogged discharge chute
• Worn or damaged blades
• Cutting height is too low

Fix

• Clean the bagger
• Clean the discharge chute so that it will be free of grass, dirt and debris.
• Replace the mower blades
• Use a higher cutting height

Uneven Cuts

Uneven cutting can cause a ragged lawn appearance. This is caused by factors such as improper leveling of the mower deck, incorrect tire pressure, bent or worn blades

Causes

• Bent or worn blades
• Dull blades
• Incorrect tire pressure
• Mower deck is not leveled properly.

Fix

• Replace the bent or worn blades with new ones
• Sharpen the dull blades.
• Inflate the tires correctly.
• Ensure that you level the deck correctly.

Blades Scalp The Grass

If you notice that the mower blades are scalping the grass, it might be due to bumpy lawn, bent blades or loose/defective mower spindle

Causes

• Loose/defective mower spindle
• Bumpy lawn
• Bent blades

Fix

• Install or repair the defective spindle
• Replace worn or bent mower blades
• It is important to level the lawn.

2. Transmission Problems

Here are some problems associated with the John Deere E100 automatic transmission:

Transmission is Leaking

If your automatic transmission leaks, it might be due to broken seals or gaskets, a leaked final drive shaft, and a cracked transmission case.

Causes

• Leaked final drive shaft
• Cracked transmission case
• Broken seals or gaskets

Fix

• Install new shaft seals
• Replace the case or transmission assembly
• Change the gaskets or seals

Power Is Too Low

The power of your lawn tractor may be too low if the transmission oil is insufficient or the hydrostatic pump is worn. This will hinder the performance of your lawn tractor.

Causes

• Defective speed control pedal linkage
• Insufficient transmission oil
• Defective or worn drive sheave

Fix

• Change the defective speed control pedal linkage
• Add more transmission oil
• Change the drive sheave.

CVT Transmission Makes Excessive Noise

If you hear noises emanating from your CVT transmission, you need to check components such as speed control linkage and other factors such as the fluid and load.

Causes

• Transmission is under excessive load
• Transmission fluid is too low or is dirty
• Worn or unadjusted speed control linkage

Fix

• Reduce the load
• Add transmission fluid to the proper level or pour fresh fluid
• Adjust or replace the linkage

3. Belt Problem

If your mower belt slips off, some likely reasons for this problem include a bad belt or improper belt tension. 

Causes

• Improper belt tension.
• Bad tractor belt

Fix

• Check and adjust the belt tension.
• Replace the damaged belt with a new one.

4. John Deere E100 Steering Problems

This is one of the problems of the John Deere E100 lawn tractor. Over time, the bushings that hold the pinion gear in place can become worn due to friction.

This can make the steering difficult to steer. Your steering might also develop faults due to loose bolts. 

Causes

• Worn bushings
• Loose bolts

Fix

• Replace worn bushings
• Replace loose bolts

5. Engine Problems

Here are some problems that are associated with the John Deere lawn tractor engine

Engine Will Not Start or is Difficult to Start

Your John Deere E100 may develop starting issues due to a dirty fuel filter, air in the fuel system or no gas in the tank. This will affect the performance and functionality of the lawn tractor.

Causes

• Gas tank is empty
• Dirty fuel filter
• Dirty carburetor
• Air in the fuel system
• The choke cable is damaged or unadjusted.

Fix

• Fill the gas tank with gas.
• Replace the dirty fuel filter with a  new one
• Wash and clean the carburetor. You can also replace it if it is in a bad condition.
• Bleed the fuel system
• Adjust the cable properly or replace it if it is bad.

Engine Power Loss

If your John Deere lawn tractor loses power, it can happen as a result of different reasons.

Restriction of air, gas, and spark or engine stuttering, and other signs might cause your gas-powered lawn tractor to lose power.

Causes

• Dirty air filter
• Worn cylinder head gasket
• Damaged or worn push rod
• Valves are burned or stuck

Fix

• Clean or replace the air filter
• Install new cylinder head gasket
• Change the defective push rod
• Change or clean valves.

Engine Overheating

If the engine overheats, you need to check components such as cooling fins, ignition, and valve setting. The lawn tractor can also overheat if it is overloaded.

Causes

• Low engine oil level
• Engine is overloaded
• Dirty cooling fins
• Improper valve setting
• Improper ignition timing.

Fix

• Fill the crankcase with engine oil
• Loads should be reduced.
• Clean the clogged cooling fins.
• Adjust valves properly
• Adjust the ignition time as required.

6. John Deere Electrical System Problems

The John Deere E100 model can also develop a fault as a result of defective components in the lawn tractor’s electrical system. Here is an overview of its electrical system problems:

Starter Cranks Slowly

If you notice that your starter cranks slowly, the likely causes for the issue are low battery capacity or corroded battery terminals.

Causes

• Low battery capacity
• Battery drains quickly
• Disconnected wires or corroded battery terminals.

Fix

• Charge the battery
• Service or change the battery
• Check cable connections and change or clean terminals.

The Starter Is Not Working

If the starter fails to work, you may be unable to start the engine and this will disrupt the mowing process.

Causes

• Battery is low or faulty
• Low battery capacity
• Worn spark plug
• Damaged starter motor or solenoid

Fix

• Charge the battery or replace it if it is faulty
• Recharge the battery
• Replace the spark plug
• Change the solenoid or repair the starter.

Battery Does Not Charge

Your John Deere E100 battery may fail to charge due to corroded battery terminals or bad battery terminals connector.

Causes

• Faulty battery terminals connector
• Dead battery cell
• Corroded or loose electrical wire connections

Fix

• Replace terminal connectors
• Get a new battery
• Clean or tighten electrical wiring connections.

John Deere E100 Maintenance Tips

• Check the fuel level every 10 hours
• Clean the air intake screen every 10 hours
• Clean spark plug every 50 hours
• Clean mower deck every 50 hours
• Replace the engine oil filter every 50 hours
• Change engine oil every 50 hours
• Replace the air filter element every 200 hours
• Check carburetor adjustment every 100 hours

Frequently Asked Questions 

Conclusion

Some of the problems that users might experience while using the John Deere E100 lawn tractor include engine problems, mower deck problems, transmission problems and steering problems

Follow our troubleshooting guide to identify the causes and fix your John Deere lawn tractor so that you can have a smooth lawn mowing operation. Do not hesitate to consult a professional if the problem persists.