Remove a gas tank on a John Deere lawnmower: Step by Step

Have you ever been a victim of a leaking gas tank? Or is the gas tank from your John Deere lawnmower worrying you? To fix these problems, you will have to remove the gas tank and do a further inspection. The gas tank of a John Deere lawnmower can hold up to three gallons of fuel. The fuel system is run by a powered fuel pump that fastens to the engine block’s side. If water or debris gets stuck in the gas tank, it must be removed to keep the engine running at peak performance. If you are unsure how to remove the tank from a John Deere lawnmower, this article will take you through a step-by-step approach.

How to remove a gas tank on a John Deere lawnmower step by step?

Follow these steps in order with the necessary precautions to do the job efficiently and safely.

• Step 1. Gather the tools, drain the tank and remove the spark plug.
• Step 2. Remove the cap and check for any debris.
• Step 3. Remove the connections to the gas tank.
• Step 4. Cover the flow lines and remove any left fuel.
• Step 5. Remove the empty gas tank.

The fuel tank is there to keep your engine’s fuel clean, secure, and vented. The tank of a John Deere lawnmower itself is made from a special corrosion-resistant material. Usually, it is immune to minor problems like water and dirt, but if you hit your mower somewhere, it can cause issues. If the fuel in the tank remains over a long period, it can also deteriorate. In both these cases, you will have to remove the gas tank, get it repaired and inspect all connections.

Please stay tuned as we take you through a comprehensive and easy-to-follow procedure to remove a John Deere lawnmower gas tank.

General Troubleshooting Guide: 

For your lawnmower’s smooth working, follow these steps to remove the gas tank yourself without calling in a professional. Make sure you keep yourself protected at all times with a pair of safety gloves.

● Step 1. Drain the tank and remove the spark plug.

Your John Deere lawnmower may be gas-operated or fuel-operated. Mostly, the riding lawnmowers are more powerful and require liquid fuel like petrol for operation. As a first step, you have to drain the gas tank. You can do it in two ways. Either start the mower and let it run till it depletes the tank or drains the liquid fuel by a siphon pump. For gas-fuel, use an empty cylinder and a one-way nozzle.

While your lawnmower is running to empty the tank, you should gather the following tools:

• Fuel line clamps to hold the flow of fuel.
• An adjustable wrench to remove the fasteners.
• A siphon pump or empty gas container to drain the gas from the mower.
• A pair of safety gloves.

Next, disconnect the spark plug present on the side of the engine under the hood. Do this step as a precautionary measure. Turn the ignition off and apply the parking brakes.

● Step 2. Remove the fuel cap and check for any debris.

Remove the hood of your John Deere mower if the gas tank lies under it. Generally, the inlet has an outside approach, so you can easily access the cap from there. While you are removing the fuel cap, it is always advisable to check the error source (the air vents, cap casing, and any leakages or rust). So, initially constrain the cap in place by fuel line clamp and check if the air vents are free from dirt. Next, remove it simply if you have a liquid fuel. For gas fuel, you will have to be careful. It is better to do the task in a well-aerated environment, preferably in your yard.

As a precaution, keep all inflammable and ignition sources at a distance. Now, you can easily drain the remaining fuel by approaching from the cap hole. Empty the tank.

● Step 3. Remove the connections to the gas tank.

The next step is to remove the gas tank that is usually mounted on top of the engine body. It is under the hood or the seat for a Deere mower (in the case of a riding John Deere lawnmower). As the fuel flow requires, it lies close and at a height to the main engine. The first step is ensuring that your mower is placed on flat ground, such as that of a driveway. If possible, park it on a floor that can deal with some gas spillage. Engage the parking brakes if it’s a riding John Deere lawnmower.

Now, remove the mower hood completely to access the whole tank body. Next, you need to remove the connections that emerge from the tank. Typically, these tanks have one inlet (guarded by a fuel cap) and one outlet which supplies fuel to the combustion chamber.

John and Deere’s lawnmowers have only one fuel line to carry the fuel to the carburetor. The exit line has a hose attached with fasteners or an adjustable tightening ring. Remove these fasteners to free the gas tank of any connections. You might have to remove a few seals and washers in doing so. Keep them safe with you to use in the future. Now that the mower is free from any connections, the next step is to remove it.

● Step 4. Cover the flow lines and remove any left-out fuel.

Before you get on with the John Deere tank, always cover the fuel connections, especially to the carburetor. Cover the flow line with plastic wrap so that it remains free from any dirt or debris. Use a rubber band for tight support. Also, some reservoir fuel may already be present in the lines. Please remove it now to avoid any future issues. Either suck the fuel out by a siphon pump or remove the tubes to drain the fuel into a pan.

● Step 5. Remove the empty gas tank.

The John Deere gas tank usually has at least two mounting bolts on its base to connect it to the rest of the main body. With the help of an adjustable wrench, you can easily loosen them by giving regular anti-clockwise twists. With this, you will have your empty gas tank in your hands. Check again that all connections are covered. Keep them protected till you fix back the same or a new gas tank.

Now that you have the removed gas tank in your hands, you can always inspect the insides using a flashlight for any presence of cracks or rust. Make sure that you don’t drop the tank in any case.

The following link can be used to see how the remove a gas tank on a John Deere lawnmower.

Additional Tips:  

1. Attach the fule line: Always remember to attach the fuel line to the John Deere tank and carburetor before fueling the fixed tank. You can give an air thrust by an air pump to clean the lines too.
2. Inspect the spark plugs: It is also recommended to inspect your spark plug after installing a new tank as a general routine troubleshooting step.
3. Fuel stabilizer: Add John Deere fuel stabilizer to new and fresh fuel before using it in your engine to give the new or fixed tank a kick-start free from any stale or lousy fuel.
4. Safety gloves: Protect your hands with a pair of safety gloves always and keep a piece of cloth nearby to catch any dripping fuel.

Frequently asked questions:

1. Should I leave gas in my lawnmower over the winter?

You should avoid doing this because unused gas left in a lawnmower over the winter can get deteriorated, gumming up the carburetor and inviting rust. It would be best if you drained your tank before storing it; otherwise, it gives crucial damage to your gas tank and carburetor, leading to its replacement, which is costly.

2. How to open fastening bolts that are rusted or locked?

The lawnmower is always working in harsh environments. The exposure to moisture may cause the nut bolts to corrode and get locked in their position. If you are not careful with them, you might even break them. Here are a few solutions that you can try:

• Metal Plate: Try welding the locked nut bolt head to a metal plate. This elongates the moment arm making it easier to twist it open.
• File: You can use a metal file or ruler to create two perpendicular grooves on the bolt head, making a cross. You can use a long screwdriver, which makes it easier to turn.
• Cleaner spray: Sometimes, the problem can be solved as quickly as throwing in some cleaner spray and letting it rest for a while.

3. What happens if air gets in your gas tank?

It will cause some severe damage to your gas tank as air bubbles in a fuel line can lead to delaying the start, hiccupping may occur, or it may refuse to start. Make sure that your fuel lines are air-free. It will help keep your lawn mower running smoothly, and no stalling or running rough issues occur.

Final remarks:

A John Deere gas tank ensures that the fuel stays clean and prevents it from degrading. Like all other lawnmower components, a gas tank may require repairing or cleaning at some point in time. Therefore, removing it becomes a need. Although removing it might seem a hassle if you haven’t removed it before, it is a relatively simple procedure but requires some small precautionary measures to keep the rest of the components free from dirt. By following the steps above and seeing the reference videos, you can smoothly perform this task yourself.