212-H - Lack of power

[WH-212-H 0]

Hi all. I'm hoping you might have some advice. I tried searching the forums a bit but didn't see anything that helped.

 

I've acquired a fairly well cared for 212-H from family for the cost of a battery, an air filter/pre-filter, and mower deck belt. This is the first "big" motor powered machine I've owned. I was given a non functioning weed whacker that just needed new fuel line/filter/bubble - but that is about the extent of my mechanical experience. I can change oil on a car and do some basics, but never worked with anything with oomph before so I'm hoping this is a good learning opportunity to learn engines and mechanical workings. 

 

So that said, I think the 212-H could use a little bit of work to make it run better. I have no idea where to start or even what to search to find out. Here are some issues I'm encountering:

 

1. Forward speed - pushing the lever all the way forward does not go very fast. Once in awhile, if i push it just a little harder, it will jump forward and go fast, but not always. It seems to have a very hard time going up inclines at any slow speed and i just stop moving. If i get a bit of a running start and it feels like going faster, i can get up a steeper incline, but if i were to take the same one slower i will get just stuck and have to back down. 

2. Reverse - reverse is very similar but worse. Going in reverse is very slow. Seems to have no power at all going backwards. Sometimes i need to just mow up to a spot going forward, and back up to get out, and if i am in a slight depression in the ground it gets completely stuck. I can usually rock back and forward and get some momentum or get just the right angle to get out, but something feels very wrong being unable to get out of a little dip. 

3. Turning amplifies these issues - the more the wheels are turned, the worse it gets. This is very apparent on anything but fairly flat ground. I have to be very careful which direction i mow. I don't feel like the grades i'm on should stop the WH in its tracks going uphill. 

 

- Is going up slight grades really that hard for this model, or does that seem strange? I thought perhaps it was just because fuel was running away from the engine as i used to have a ford ranger that didn't like starting if you were tipped too far a certain way. 

- This model is supposed to be able to push and pull loads up to 150 LBs i believe - currently, i wouldn't even attempt doing that as i feel like the first dip i hit would get me stuck. 

- The air filter and pre filter are brand new.

- I did notice that the fuel tank had some debris in the bottom so i will need to look into cleaning that out. Can that be enough to cause the problems I'm experiencing? Have not investigated the fuel filter yet. 

 

hope this makes sense. thanks if you have any words of wisdom! and anything else about the 212-H i'd need to know would be greatly appreciated! 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,046]

Welcome to the forum.

This should be the service manual for the transmission

Later 1992 models

Garry