Fuel flow issues, as well as irregularities in air flow and oil use can all have an effect on the health and longevity of a spark plug. I have put in new plug, cleaned gas tank, and gas lines, checked coil, it sparks good and is set at 13 thousands, put in new oil filter and oil ,took carb off and flushed out with carb cleaner, checked the gas cap, has a hole in the top, and is free. I have a crafsman 18.5 42" cut riding lawn mower,five years old, same thing, starts great, runs great, cuts great, for about ten minutes, then misses and quits. . Tilt the mower back to an upright position and prepare to fill it with new oil. This is the info I can find on the mower. Over fueling Some auto choke systems are prone to fueling, leading to flooding and no starts. If the carburetor is clogged, try cleaning it with carburetor cleaner. Drive pulley against engine PTO face. A carburetor is not an easy fix due to being made up of an assortment of springs, valves, and jets. The root cause is a defective auto choke; its causing the engine to flood with too much gas. You should change lawnmower oil after every 50 hours of use or once every season, whichever comes first. If you have a lawn mower that runs for a minute then stops, you are probably wondering why that is happening and how you can solve the problem. May 10, 2020 / Mower runs fine for an hour then sputters and dies. However, you can just ask a new question if you have a new one. Daffodils and tulips make their early presence known, and of course, there is your Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you. I have a Yard Machine (Model # 12A-379N062) with a Briggs & Stratton engine Model Number 12H802-2672-E1, and the engine will start first try and then runs for 10 minutes and then shut down. New to the small engine game but ready to learn! If your mower starts and doesnt continue to run, you must take your carburetor apart to clean it. After it cools down it will start again, but with the same results. With the dawn of spring comes sunshine, the return of birds chirping in the warm breeze, and new growth everywhere. The spark plug is really a very simple device. You replace the cap, and the mower stalls, but as you now know, a sealed gas tank will cause the engine to stall. Welcome to the best mower slash engine forum on the internet. Fortunately, the issue is easier to fix than you might think. It's been 3-4 years now since it happened last. If you are unable to fix your riding mower or dont want to attempt a more complicated repair, have your local lawn mower dealership or repair shop for assistance. No one likes when their riding lawn mower stops mowing in the middle of their lawn. Put the carburetor bowl and bowl nut in place and secure each well. Did you actually take the carb apart and clean out the jets? The spark plug works with the ignition coil to create a timed spark in the cylinder, causing combustion. After about 30 minutes of use my mower goes into a shut off mode, acting as if you are getting off the seat. And, as an added bonus, when you're finished hosing off your cutting deck, engage the lawn mower blades and let them turn for a few minutes to induce drying and to re-heat the bearings. Would run for about 2- 3 min then stop. Full bag shuts off mower. It is best practice to replace your spark plugs annually when you perform your riding mower maintenance. The base also has a second electrode attached to it. If you have spark, your armature is good, and its likely you have an over-fueling carburetor issue (see below) usually caused by a faulty auto choke system. The filter shows no fuel in the chamber when it dies. Several other possible things might be . You should do this after two years or as recommended by the manufacturer. A riding lawn mower will start then die due to old gas, dirty carburetor, clogged fuel line, plugged fuel filter, plugged air filter, dirty spark plug, faulty ignition coil, insufficient engine oil level, or plugged cooling system. A clogged carburetor is most commonly caused by leaving fuel in the lawn mower for a long period of time. Taking apart the carburetor is a task with multiple steps. However, expect your lawnmower to function optimally for only five years or less if you dont maintain it. How to Clean Your Riding Mower Carburetor: Step-By-Step. Armature Common cause of hard hot starting and running issues. Replace the oil filter. Once the patch (or patches) have completely cooled off, fill the tank with enough fuel just above the patchwork line. Most Cub Cadet riding mowers have a 20-22 horsepower engine which takes about 2 quarts of oil. Copyright Lawnmowerfixed.com 2018 Virginia, County Cavan, Ireland. The carburetor might be clogged. Dry the tank with a clean washcloth and rub the outside with alcohol to get rid of stubborn dirt. Remove the dipstick and immediately place it in a small vessel to catch the dripping oil. Specs: Ryobi 48" Riding Mower. I have replaced the fuel filter, spark plug, and ignition . That fixed my problem. Cleaned that out and made sure the lines were cleared to the carb. Not sure if thats what you are meaning, but I hope it helps, Hey Frank, Thank you for your excellent answer to my question..You are awesome. When it happens to you, frustration can build as you try to identify the cause of your mower quitting. Bad John Deere Mower Gas Cap. When the patch cools off, do a visual inspection to ensure that the material is not too thin. 01 - Craftsman Lawn Mower Carburetor. An important part to mention is main jet. Just out of curiosity, why did you completely change the question? Once it hesisates i stop, put the emergency brake on, and open the handle bars out as if i am parking the mower, it then regains a little life, for a . They arent repaired. Then you could restart for another 2-3 min then it would stop. This will ensure that you have enough material to work with before applying the patch. This will stop the fuel from flowing to the carburetor. If your lawn mower starts, runs for a while, then dies, check the ignition coil, gas cap, and spark plug. Some mowers equipped with the auto choke function may have difficulty starting when hot. No matter what the reason is for the fuel in your lawn mower to be degraded, fuel quality issues are generally the easiest to fix. The spark plug works with the ignition coil to create a timed spark in the cylinder, causing combustion. Remove and quickly replace your drain plug so you dont allow too much oil to drain. 2. If, on the other hand, the mower still won't start, you'll need to check . Prepare Your Lawn Mower For Spring (Lawn Mower Maintenance Checklist). It has a Briggs and Stratton 20 HP V-Twin model number 441577 - 0118B1 . If the lawn mower is stalling almost immediately after being started, the problem is most likely caused be a fuel flow issue. Most lawnmowers have a vented gas cap. It wasn't running when I got it (came with the home we bought), but I changed the plugs, put in fresh gas, new starter, and Voila. Take the bowl off the carb and see if there is a steady flow of fuel into the bowl. Have a carb coming today hopefully. Also the coil could be getting hot and shutting down,,check for spark as soon as it shuts down. Together with her husband, she has been spending the last several years lovingly renovating her grandparents former home, making it their own and learning a lot about life along the way. When the problems are more severe, mowers often stall as a result. The battery is new, but it seems to be a fuel issue. Reattach the dipstick, and let the lawnmower sit for a few minutes before starting the engine back up. It all started during early spring maintenance when I changed the spark plug, oil, oil filter, FUEL FILTER, and air filter. To clean your air filter, remove the filter from the filter housing. To fix a lawn mower that wont stay running, you must first identify the problem. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Old gasoline that has gone bad. It's FREE to check! One of the most common causes of a lawn mower starting then stalling comes down to a very small metering hole in the bowl nut. Most of the time, this happens when mowers sit unused for extended periods. At the base of the insulator is a base that allows the spark plug to be screwed into the engine. If there are no visible signs of wear and tear, reinstall the spark plug and restart your lawnmower. Allow some oil to drain out of the engine oil filter. That's the only way I could get mine to start and run and it has less than 100 hours on in. Here are the steps to take to replace the oil in your lawnmower. Access to manuals and parts right there makes it convenient.". Spray carburetor cleaner into the air intake. John Deere LX178 problem - starts-runs-dies-wait-starts-runs-dies. Make sure your plugs are gapped according to the engine manufacturer. To check, simply start the lawn mower as you normally would and observe. John Deere's riding mowers usually have a four-stroke engine. Check for gas flow into the carb bowl. Geo. 2022 LawnMowerForum.com. The air filter gets dirty quickly, so clean it every eight hours of operation. Our repair information is a general guide to help you, but for more specific repair information related to your model, check your owners manual. All information is provided "AS IS." Your email address will not be published. Solution: If you have the wrong fuel or old fuel in your riding mower, drain the tank. Too much oil can also cause your riding mower to push oil through the valve train and into the cylinder. This is a push mower Craftsman about a 4 hp. An improperly gapped spark plug or one where the spark plug wires can become loose can cause your riding mower to die after running. If the lawn mower stops running at random times and sometimes doesnt start at all, the problem is often fuel quality. The mower had been acting up for a couple of years. If the mower starts up again and continues to run you will know that the fuel cap is faulty and needs to be replaced. The gas cap does not have a vent and after 10 to 15 minutes of running a vacuum is created in the tank and the fuel will not flow to the carburetor. No issue with B & S engine. guys - 7 years late I know but that link doesn't take you to the answer (or anything remotely relevant to the question). When a spark plug is loose, worn, or grimy, this affects the engines ability to perform at its best. I actually prefer this method because its an expensive kitchen tool and not too messy. Loose bolts mean the carburetor is prone to pulling in too much air through the seams. Next time it starts to happen loosen the gas cap to allow air in to prove problem. Ive put together a list of items to check when looking for your problem. Regularly checking your engine oil level and air filter condition in addition to scraping your deck and sharpening your mower blade is essential to keeping your riding mower working at its best. Here are the steps to follow. In fact, virtually all other problems mentioned in this guide are at least somewhat connected to the carburetor and flow of fuel. #1. Water, oil, and other liquids can mix with the fuel affecting the fuels ability to combust efficiently. It shuts down and then takes a few minutes to slowly equalize the pressure before it'll start again. Thoroughly wipe down the spark plug with a dry washcloth, and brush with a stiff bristle brush. Whether you're looking for a step-by-step guide on fixing an appliance or the cost of installing a fence, we've here to help. A mower armature is a small component fastened to the exterior of the engine; some may refer to it as a coil. Try loosening the gas tank cover and let it run and see if that fixes the problem. If the lawn mower is sputtering, surging, or hesitating before stalling, the problem could be caused by a bad spark plug or impure fuel. The ideal time to work on your lawnmower would be on a dry, sunny day. One potential issue could be with the quality of the fuel. Sid Phillips Maybe it's not getting too hot, but building up a vacuum in the gas tank. If the lawn mower runs for a short while and then stops, it is likely that fuel flow is the issue. Add an extra 50% to the measurements and cut the empty plastic bottle accordingly. Solution: Clean around your fins and replace any broken fins. Maintaining that tranquillity means occasionally breaking out the gardening shears and that noisy lawnmower, but machines break down over time. Be sure to empty the bag once the bag is full of grass or leaves so the lawnmower will not cut out of shut off. I can only see the fuel gauge and the wiring as possible culprits, unless I am missing something. link to Prepare Your Lawn Mower For Spring (Lawn Mower Maintenance Checklist). I have a John Deere LX178 with a 15HP Kohler-John Deere engine. Hes been a mechanic for over twenty-five years and shares his know-how and hands-on experience in our DIY repair guides. Cooling. There is no way to prevent grass from building up under your deck, but there are ways to minimize the amount of grass that sticks. Today I found the problem. 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. Take measurements to determine the size of the patch to replace the cut-off section of the tank. At the base of the insulator is a base that allows the spark plug to be screwed into the engine. While on the face of it, this seems like a coincidence. If these systems are dirty or restricted, the mower will stall out and be difficult to restart. After taking a look at the air filter, the next place I would investigate is the fuel cap. Runs great for 10-15 minutes while mowing then acts like its not getting gas and shuts off. Using a spark test tool is preferred, but Ill cover the whole process here in this post, MacGyver style. It will refill again after about 20 minute of rest and then the mower runs again for another 10-15 minutes.I have cleaned out the tank and checked the few line . To get the carburetor bowl off, simply unscrew the bowl nut from the bottom of the bowl with a inch wrench. Now, well need all our tools to hand; allowing the engine cool will, as you know, mean the fault disappears again. Using a thin wire to clean the metering holes works well. There are many issues why this happens, and a wide range of solutions to choose from. The ceramic insulator also isolates the center electrode electrically from the spark plugs base. Any irregularities in the spark plug could provide confirmation that the carburetor is the cause of the lawn mower stalling. Fuel lines are clear and flows from gas tank well. These caps have charcoal filters in them to absorb any fuel that evaporates and gets past the check valve in the gas cap. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Removing the self-propel cover makes it much easier to access the carburetor. It is the most common reason a lawn mower starts and then dies. I bought it from a buddy who bought it from his uncle and the for the first season and almost all of the second it ran great. Wiring harness wired wrong. This oil will begin to burn off creating smoke. The choke exists to help a mower start when cold. Now turn the flywheel until both valves are closed. Some of those models had adjustable valves, and that could easily be your problem. Consult a professional if you dont have the skills, or knowledge or are not in the condition to perform the repair safely. Starts up just fine, runs fine until I move forward. Finally it shuts off and refuse to start until it cools down. remacberlin. The spark plug is really a very simple device. A Tecumseh VH50 as far as I can tell. When this vent is plugged, your mower will die after it starts. (The Short Answer), Possible Reasons Your Lawn Mower Runs for 30 minutes Then Dies, How to Fix a Lawn Mower Wont Run for Longer than Half an Hour. Poke a bread tie wire through the small hole of the main jet and clean it up. If a clogged carburetor was the issue, the mower should start right up and run smoothly. 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You could restart for another 2-3 min then stop the hell, take the bowl could!