1991 John Deere 260 Garden Tractor Kawasaki 17 HP Used Oil Analysis History (UOA)

[fantastic]

This is the sheet of used oil analysis history for my John Deere 260 garden tractor w/17 horsepower Kawasaki single cylinder that had an engine knock for the first two samples so metals are very high. You can delve into that engine damage information HERE. I've fixed that knocking issue & the third sample shows a lot lower wear metals. I'm very happy to see that! Look at the "Total Wear Metals" & "Total Wear Metals / 1 Hour" to see the drastic reduction starting on UOA #3. Early results start on the left & latest samples to the right or just look at the dates towards the top. Towards the right I have averaged the total UOA samples. When the grass gets thicker I also started doing weekly mows instead of bi-weekly mows starting w/UOA #3 to be easier on this rebuilt engine w/unknown previous hours. It does have a new hour meter to keep track of hours since rebuilding the engine though.

 

[stu72762]

That is interesting. Especially the T6...wonder what the viscosity was at the beginning. Makes me want to see numbers for T6 15w40...and Mobil 1 15w50 Run M1 15w50 in everything at the moment, but ST 15w40 full synth is $15.84 a gallon. That said I live in south Alabama...heavy oils work fine here in the depths of winter. My gut tells me T6 15w40 is the king of the heavies...if we dismiss overpriced Amsoil. If it wasn't for my motorcycles liking XXw50...and I wasn't such a cheap bastard. Wish there was an affordable ST branded 20w50 full synth at $15.84 a gallon.

 

[thastinger]

Had the same engine in an 88 JD185. It was LOUD but a flywheel key was the only issue I ever had with the engine. Not telling how many hours were on that thing when I gave it to my BIL about 10 years ago, he used it for another 5 years and sold it.

 

[mrsilv04]

Some of those 17 horse single cylinder Kawasakis just tend to knock. Had an FC540V that had a knock from day one, and had a second one that didn't.

 

[fantastic]

That is interesting. Especially the T6...wonder what the viscosity was at the beginning. Makes me want to see numbers for T6 15w40...and Mobil 1 15w50 Run M1 15w50 in everything at the moment, but ST 15w40 full synth is $15.84 a gallon. That said I live in south Alabama...heavy oils work fine here in the depths of winter. My gut tells me T6 15w40 is the king of the heavies...if we dismiss overpriced Amsoil. If it wasn't for my motorcycles liking XXw50...and I wasn't such a cheap bastard. Wish there was an affordable ST branded 20w50 full synth at $15.84 a gallon.

I have VOA on both of these oils I've used, T6 & Super Tech, in the following post.

Thread 'VOA Diesel Oil Database'

Dec 5, 2022

I stumbled across @himemsys thread that combined a bunch of PCMO VOA in one spreadsheet (You can find that sheet linked below). I figured it was such a great idea that I decided to also put one together but with HDEO (Diesel Oil).

VOA Database

I started this awhile back here: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/collection-of-20-weight-api-sp-voas.342292/ and here: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/collection-of-xw-30-api-sp-voas.343019/ My time no longer allows me to keep it updated the way I'd like. Plus, people were...

bobistheoilguy.com

I created a line that adds up the Additive Package in the oil. This is displayed with the most additives towards the top, to the least additives at the bottom. This line is labeled "Add Pack". It is not listed in alphabetical order. On the bottom left side of the sheet...

• fantastic

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Had the same engine in an 88 JD185. It was LOUD but a flywheel key was the only issue I ever had with the engine. Not telling how many hours were on that thing when I gave it to my BIL about 10 years ago, he used it for another 5 years and sold it.

They are a bit louder than what I thought but no real ownership of anything this old until now. I suspect there was anywhere from 500-1000 hours on this engine before I rebuilt it. I won't ever sell this thing since I have so much work into it. I've learned just about everything from this motor & it's been a fun challenge but I kept at it. Those 185's were good lawn tractors of their day and still see some on marketplace still going. I think I found a document on the transmission of this tractor & think it said 1500 hour lifespan. That should give me a few hundred more hours but I do have a spare parts tractor w/another one.

Some of those 17 horse single cylinder Kawasakis just tend to knock. Had an FC540V that had a knock from day one, and had a second one that didn't.

The balance shaft & bushing was plum worn out so bad causing the Balance weight to hit the aluminum engine housing. It's all fixed now & there is no knocking anymore. You can see how much the metals went down this last sample after that repair.

I did turn up the carburetor to obtain 3550 RPM & that is where Kawasaki rated the 17 HP at (3600). JD says around 3300 RPM.