Menu Ask a Question Share a Post Account Search. Thats when well check for spark. Once the plug is in place, hand-tighten, then use a ratchet to secure without over-tightening. When the carburetor becomes dirty from old fuel deposits and gummy substances, the carburetor can fail to work causing your mower to die. Repeat Try another spark plug to eliminate a faulty plug; failing to test with a second plug means you could condemn the armature in error. Tractor will restart but backfires through muffler and will stall again. Once the bowl has been removed, check for debris and build up. When the problems are more severe, mowers often stall as a result. Never rule out the simplest explanation. Now, well need all our tools to hand; allowing the engine cool will, as you know, mean the fault disappears again. Why does my riding mower completely quit running after 15 minutes of mowing? Made a gravity feed fuel source to bypass the pump, still the same issue. My wife, as is her wont, was mowing while I was out of town for the week. While fuel can be a common issue, it might not be your issue. I've worked on all types of mechanical equipment, from cars to grass machinery, and this site is where I share fluff-free hacks, tips, and insider know-how. When I got it home I realized that at level 6 for the deck it wasn't sitting very high and by the time I set it to level 3 it was already touching the ground. Bad fuel. Ive covered choke testing and carburetor replacing on this page; it contains several videos Choke testing. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. Start the lawnmower and mow your lawn as you normally would. If you are unable to remove the fuel clog, you must replace your fuel line. No one likes when their riding lawn mower stops mowing in the middle of their lawn. Blow out the line with compressed air. This small, unassuming device is responsible for creating that electrical spark that ignites the fuel in your engine. It cuts out anywhere from 2-10 seconds. The tractor ran perfectly. They arent repaired. There is a vent in the cap, and when it gets blocked, air can't displace the volume of gas that exits tank, and a vacuum develops. When I called to let her know that I had arrived, she told me the John Deere rider had stopped after about 15 minutes and she had to get the neighbors to help push it back to the house. This is a long shot, but have you checked the oil level? Air comes in through the air filter and goes out through the muffler. Gas tank had a smidge I debri in it. Locate the source of the fuel or air loss to get your John Deere lawn . It takes about 8 pulls to start and makes a lot of rattling noise - after about 10 min sputters and dies. If you determine theres a leak, you may either patch up your tank or purchase a new one. Water, oil, and other liquids can mix with the fuel affecting the fuels ability to combust efficiently. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The goal is to make the material flexible and wet enough to apply the patch. The filter shows no fuel in the chamber when it dies. This sticky fuel can clog up the carburetor and cause the engine to stall. The spark plug on your lawnmower should be replaced at least yearly to ensure trouble-free operation. Drive pulley against engine PTO face. I replaced the oil, spark plug and broken pull cord (air cleaner was pretty clean), but after the 1st few pulls the rope is a bit loose. If the lawn mower starts without issue, you have likely found your problem. Johnss fluff-free How-to guides help homeowners fix lawnmowers, tractor mowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, power washers, generators, snow blowers, and more. 3. John Deere LX178 problem - starts-runs-dies-wait-starts-runs-dies. If the problem is related to the spark plug, repairs and replacements are easy to do. Sharpen and balance the lawnmower blades. A plugged filter cannot only cause your mower to run sluggishly and shut down, but it can also cause costly internal engine damage. Replace the oil filter. Ethanol is an environmentally friendly fuel option added to gasoline. A clogged carburetor is most commonly caused by leaving fuel in the lawn mower for a long period of time. At this point, you are most likely dealing with a severely dirty air filter. Riding lawn mowers are incredibly convenient and time-saving tools for maintaining any lawn. Hey, I'm John, and I'm a Red Seal Qualified Service Technician with over twenty-five years experience. cleaned up the entire engine(outside) and all over frame and mower panel. Maybe a needle or toothpick would cure it? Murray Lawnmower runs a few minutes and stops. I hope this will take away a little bit of your frustration and help you get back to mowing again. Believe it or not, the most common reason for a lawnmower stalling or not starting is an empty gas tank. I have a small John Deere riding mower. Finally it shuts off and refuse to start until it cools down. Cleaning the deck will also help keep your cutting blades sharper for longer. This is either built into the tank or part of the fuel tank cap. Dont reuse the baster for cooking purposes. Have a carb coming today hopefully. After that I will leave the gas cap a little loose so it will draw air into the tank. Here are the steps to follow. Armatures are solid-state components. There is usually a large plastic cover protecting self-propel mechanism that should be removed prior to accessing the carburetor. My 21 HP Briggs & Stratton would run for 5 minutes and then cut off as if you turned the switch off. You can use silicone or Teflon spray to coat the underside of your deck. I have an engine here. Copyright 2023 eReplacementParts.com Inc. Our repair information is a general guide to help you, but for more specific repair information related to your model, check your owners manual. What the hell, take the gas cap off and see what happens. Once found, determine if it needs a thorough cleaning or a replacement. Did it help? Your engine must work harder when it must turn blades through debris with every revolution. This is the info I can find on the mower. Using vice grips or a clamp works very well for this. If the mower is allowed to sit for a time, usually a few hours, air will seep back into the tank and the mower will start again. Had the same issue. With the metal spatula, apply light pressure to set the patch in place and remove bubbles that may surface. A clogged or worn-out filter dramatically reduces the performance of your lawnmower. The base also has a second electrode attached to it. This gap is where the spark is produced. I fixed it in about 45 min. The choke exists to help a mower start when cold. In fact, virtually all other problems mentioned in this guide are at least somewhat connected to the carburetor and flow of fuel. All information is provided "AS IS." This will stop the fuel from flowing to the carburetor. Wiring harness incorrect. Take the negative lead from the volt meter and clip it to the other tab. The spark plug works with the ignition coil to create a timed spark in the cylinder, causing combustion. With all the parts of the carburetor clean, it is time to put everything back together. Well need to cut some grass until the engine warms up and stalls. The choke is used to allow more fuel into the combustion chamber before the engine heats up by restricting airflow. Solution: Clean around your fins and replace any broken fins. Purchases made through these links may provide a commission for us, at no extra cost to you. Running good fresh fuel through your riding mower is best. A clogged carburetor on a lawnmower could cause it to stall or act sluggish. Lawn mowers are considered by many as simple machines, but that does not mean they are always easy to fix. Armatures commonly fail in two ways, they stop working, and your mower wont start, or they work when the engine is cold but fail as the engine heat soaks into the windings of the armature. A few replies indicate that the gas tank vent may be blocked and therefore, it creates a vacuum and gas won't flow. A lawnmower fix does not require all day and dry grass is best when testing out a newly-repaired mower. Thoroughly scrub the tank until the smell of gasoline is undetectable. Solution: Regularly scrape your mower deck and sharpen your blades. Work the mower in the usual way until it stalls, then go ahead and follow these steps: If the mower starts and runs as normal, your gas cap is faulty, go ahead and replace it. If you see light shining through the paper, go ahead and reuse your filter. When this hole is not clear, fuel cannot flow correctly. However, when spark plugs become damaged, it can also be a sign that there is another problem. Your email address will not be published. Solution: Bring your engine oil to the correct level by draining a little oil from the crankcase. The oil then mixes with fuel and causes combustion issues. Make sure your choke is in the correct position. Unplugging the spark plug before removing the carburetor bowl has two main advantages. As a lawn mower owner, when you own it long enough, you are going to run into different types of problems. Slowly fill the tank and be careful not to overfill. Thanks for the replies. This may include problems where your riding mower is smoking, cutting unevenly, losing power, not starting, leaking fuel, and more. Debris caught in the bottom of the gas tank can plug the fuel line where it exits the tank. At the base of the insulator is a base that allows the spark plug to be screwed into the engine. It may not display this or other websites correctly. By Eric Blankenburg. Be careful when working around a hot engine. I have the manuals in hand. I have a Kohler riding mower which after a few minutes shuts off. Robert Booth, You should mark the question as solved, Robert ;-), Jun 3, 2010 by If it is, follow the same process and apply another patch over the first one. social. Most lawnmowers have a vented gas cap. The mower starts easy, runs and cuts grass for about 20 minutes, and then suddenly will shut off as if the key was turned off. Wait about 5 minutes and the mower . Access to manuals and parts right there makes it convenient.". 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Was mowing while I was out of town for the week no one likes when their riding lawn are.