If your lawn mower starts, runs briefly, then dies these are the four most common reasons that's happening: Dirty carburetor / clogged carburetor bowl. I have a Kohler riding mower which after a few minutes shuts off. 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. This typically happens after a short period between ten and thirty minutes and also depends on factors like weather and gas tank fuel level. Lawn mowers are considered by many as simple machines, but that does not mean they are always easy to fix. Tractor will restart but backfires through muffler and will stall again. This will stop the fuel from flowing to the carburetor. Electric clutch air gap wrong. . Full bag shuts off mower. I just bought the mower this afternoon used. Drain a little oil by removing the drain plug. The line will collapse internally but look fine out side. You can also try loosening the gas cap and see if that helps. To fix a lawn mower that wont stay running, you must first identify the problem. Remove the air filter from your filter housing. All rights reserved. Has happend to me about 10 yrs ago with a different tractor. If this occurrs, reattach the spark plug wire and restart the motor and then remove the other plug wire. There was no gas in it. social. #1. Remove the gas tank and start washing it down with soap and water. Fuel lines are clear and flows from gas tank well. Receive money-saving advice and special discounts! Purchases made through these links may provide a commission for us, at no extra cost to you. Next time it starts to happen loosen the gas cap to allow air in to prove problem. This electrode is set at a specific gap between it and the center electrode. These caps have charcoal filters in them to absorb any fuel that evaporates and gets past the check valve in the gas cap. @deser. Have an oil pan ready. Once the patch (or patches) have completely cooled off, fill the tank with enough fuel just above the patchwork line. Mower Cutting Out After 30 Minutes Why? We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. and start washing it down with soap and water. Owners need to know this! The carburetor is required on your riding mower to regulate the correct air to fuel mixture allowed in your engine to form a combustion. The final step is to see if cleaning the carburetor and bowl nut solved the issue. Johnss fluff-free How-to guides help homeowners fix lawnmowers, tractor mowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, power washers, generators, snow blowers, and more. If the lawn mower is sputtering, surging, or hesitating before stalling, the problem could be caused by a bad spark plug or impure fuel. 2022 LawnMowerForum.com. Also if it is the number one cylinder you may have to let the engine cool down before it will start. Have to wait 30 minutes and can start again, but the outcome will be the same. The air filter and spark plug are new and gas is new from gas station. You are using an out of date browser. LawnMowerGuru.com, All Rights Reserved. Cleaning the carburetor and draining the gas tank will fix the problem, it's all covered. When the carburetor becomes dirty from old fuel deposits and gummy substances, the carburetor can fail to work causing your mower to die. JavaScript is disabled. Repair guides and support for gas, electric, and human powered machines used to cut grass, whether push style, or ride-on. We are a team of passionate homeowners, home improvement pros, and DIY enthusiasts who enjoy sharing home improvement, housekeeping, decorating, and more with other homeowners! There is no sputtering or power loss, it just quits. Gas Tank Blocked. Our DIY tip for this would be to use a twist tie from your loaf of bread to clear the holes in the bowl nut. Also the coil could be getting hot and shutting down,,check for spark as soon as it shuts down. While you can try to clear the clog, you may end up needing to purchase a new gas cap for your riding mower. Keep hands and feet clear of the mower blade as the engine is cranked over. 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 . I fixed it in about 45 min. I have a Kohler Command CV491 17.5 HP in a John Deere L110 residential riding mower that begins surging after about . Once located, remove the spark plug with your spark plug wrench. My wife, as is her wont, was mowing while I was out of town for the week. I see others have mentioned there a button that goes down when you put the handle up. Here are the steps to take to replace the oil in your lawnmower. A faulty spark plug is another place you can look when your lawn mower starts then stops a few moments later. With the metal spatula, apply light pressure to set the patch in place and remove bubbles that may surface. Have Kohler 15hp in Cub Cadet Mower. Then it will stop. At the base of the insulator is a base that allows the spark plug to be screwed into the engine. Then it will not start until it cools down. A film exploring the. The most common cause of a mower that runs for thirty minutes and then dies is a faulty armature. If you leave your choke on after your engine starts and heats up, your engine will shut down when it continues to receive more fuel and less air. This gap is where the spark is produced. Once the bowl has been removed, check for debris and build up. The battery is new, but it seems to be a fuel issue. Check the auto choke system is working without fault; its all covered on this page under Choke testing. 2. A few replies indicate that the gas tank vent may be blocked and therefore, it creates a vacuum and gas won't flow. Cleaning the deck will also help keep your cutting blades sharper for longer. 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 . It does start again but does off after about 1 minute after that. Possibly the fuel tank vent is clogged. If the volt meter reads 12 volts, replace . To check, simply start the lawn mower as you normally would and observe. Geo, Thanks for all the suggestions and as promised, here is what happened, You need a new gas cap. When this occurs, the lawnmower will start and run normally. 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. Gas dribbled out slowly. I have a small John Deere riding mower. gas cap has a small hole in the top of it for vent. It will start and run for a few minutes and then shut off. Then you could restart for another 2-3 min then it would stop. If, on the other hand, the mower still won't start, you'll need to check . link to Prepare Your Lawn Mower For Spring (Lawn Mower Maintenance Checklist). 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. 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. Find out more about the negative results of too much engine oil here. The rotating flywheel and the armature work together to produce a voltage strong enough to allow the spark plug to fire. plug gap is set at .030 --.013 is the proper setting for the coil gap. Thoroughly scrub the tank until the smell of gasoline is undetectable. Ive put together a list of items to check when looking for your problem. Solution: Loosen or remove your fuel cap and start your mower. The fuel gauge never worked, but I pulled out the sending unit today to see if I could fix it. Spark plugs are inexpensive and the easiest way to test for a bad plug is to simply replace it. The gas flow gets too little for the engine to run. Its important to routinely check your air filter to ensure it is clean. Make sure your choke is in the correct position. The carburetor might be clogged. Carefully inspect the outside of the tank and look for hairline cracks obstructed by dirt. Solution: Identify a bad ignition coil using an ohm meter to check for a break in continuity. I just picked up a 2005 craftsman with BS 675 engine. When this occurs, the lawnmower will start and run normally. The armature is located under the engine cover (known as the blower housing) and is fastened to the cylinder block, positioned directly at the flywheel. Poke a bread tie wire through the small hole of the main jet and clean it up. 2022 LawnMowerForum.com. The ideal time to work on your lawnmower would be on a dry, sunny day. I tried to write to you and thank you, But I guess I didn't do it right. The spark plug on your lawnmower should be replaced at least yearly to ensure trouble-free operation. Just have an approved gas container available for a place to drain old fuel. Check out this handy guide including charts for common riding mower problems and solutions:Common Riding Lawn Mower Problems & Solutions. 19 hp Kolher courage engine. After about 10 or 15 minutes, the vacuum will become strong enough that fuel will stop flowing to the carburetor and the lawnmower will die. Adding dull blades to a plugged deck only makes the problem worse. I have a Poulan 15.5 38in riding mower. You can use silicone or Teflon spray to coat the underside of your deck. Gas Line Blocked. Start the lawnmower and mow your lawn as you normally would. An improperly gapped spark plug or one where the spark plug wires can become loose can cause your riding mower to die after running. I removed the black plastic piece from the pintle of the fuel shut off solenoid on the carb and the engine ran for hours after that. This has become more frequent over past 3 years. Work the mower in the usual way until it stalls, then go ahead and follow these steps: Remove gas cap. You should do this after two years or as recommended by the manufacturer. after about half hour it will start up and run for a little while. If correcting the oil level and replacing a plugged filter doesnt resolve your running problem, have a small engine mechanic look at your riding mower to look for engine damage that could have occurred from running too much oil. The choke exists to help a mower start when cold. I headed out to the garage intending to check the gas cap vent first. Running good fresh fuel through your riding mower is best. Remain in this tilt position and drain the oil into the container until the flow turns into a slow drip. 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. Solution: Clean around your fins and replace any broken fins. Hey, I'm John, and I'm a Red Seal Qualified Service Technician with over twenty-five years experience. Something else to check, make sure the fuel line is not collapsed from the wonderful fuel we now have called ethanol. Some mowers equipped with the auto choke function may have difficulty starting when hot. The spark plug works with the ignition coil to create a timed spark in the cylinder, causing combustion. Old gasoline that has gone bad. Will not start right back up. It is the most common reason a lawn mower starts and then dies. Remove and quickly replace your drain plug so you dont allow too much oil to drain. Your riding lawn mower requires unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 87 and a maximum ethanol content of 10 percent. Once the bowl has been removed, check for debris and build up. Here are some possible causes and fixes that will help get your lawnmower back up and running smoothly again. And we make it easy! Why does my riding mower shut off after a few minutes? Yes, here's how Do Mowers Have Titles? Drive pulley against engine PTO face. It's FREE to check! June 06, 2015 07:46AM. Carefully inspect the tank and let it sit for ten minutes to establish there is no leakage. Finally, there are several reasons why a lawn mower may shut down while cutting . I say at 5 because now I cant even get the deck to go to level 6 because the left side tops out before it can go into the 6 slot. There is usually a large plastic cover protecting self-propel mechanism that should be removed prior to accessing the carburetor. Cutting off the flow of gasoline ensure that you will not have to deal with any messy gas spills. Halfway through the yard work, she stalls. Lets get testing so. Filling the tank had an amazing effect. Mower: Toro Zero turn with 19hp Kawasaki motor. Take the lawnmower to a certified repair center for a thorough clean and inspection. Contents [ hide] 1 Diagnose the lawnmower shuts off when blades are engaged: 1.1 Step 1: Check the blades of the lawnmower. Testing coil today. 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. Tilt the mower in the opposite direction of the engine air filter to avoid oil contamination to start draining. 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. When the cap is unable to vent allowing the fuel tank to maintain the correct pressure, your riding mower can die after it has been running. JavaScript is disabled. Starter/Solenoid malfunctioning. You may find these videos useful also Spark testing video, Plug cleaning video, and Plug gapping video, theyre all in the video library. Also check spark after it dies. "Love the flexibility of the app to add everything in the home and garage. Is the hole open??? Cooling. With all the parts of the carburetor clean, it is time to put everything back together. Most wont have a feeler gauge and thats OK; you can use a business card to set the gap. I checked to see that the bolts were right. Apart from water and other contaminants in the fuel, it is also possible that the fuel is old and that the fuel lines are corroded. While on the face of it, this seems like a coincidence. 10. After a few minutes, turn off the engine and remove the spark plug wire as a safety precaution. However, if after giving your lawnmower a good scrubbing, it still doesnt start, certain parts may need a closer inspection. D. One potential issue could be with the quality of the fuel. A fuel cap that has been damaged or isn't allowing air to enter the fuel tank is a really common cause for a lawn mower that runs for 30 minutes then dies. It could be a failure with the spark plug, lack of gas flow to the engine, a clogged air filter and the most common is a dirty carburetor.Actually, most of the problems that stall the engine while it is just starting come from the carburetor. And, I got my nap. I have found my problem.. the choke had a broke spring, replaced it and ir runs fine. Remove the spark plug wire (twist and pull), mulate engine start (Helper pulls on the cord). Check for fuel, oil or carbon deposits on the spark plug. Air comes in through the air filter and goes out through the muffler. . Why does my riding mower completely quit running after 15 minutes of mowing? All information is provided "AS IS." Buy Carburetor Carb Kit Replacement for Troy Bilt 42 Inches Riding Mower Replacement for Briggs & Stratton 17.5 I/C OHV Engine Lawn Mower Tractor Tune-Up Kit at Amazon. Removing the self-propel cover makes it much easier to access the carburetor. When too much oil is added to your riding mower, several problems can develop if the oil level isnt corrected. The filter shows no fuel in the chamber when it dies. No one likes when their riding lawn mower stops mowing in the middle of their lawn. Bad fuel. 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. All mower gas caps are vented, which basically means the mower gas tank must allow air to enter the tank to replace the fuel that leaves. Wiring harness wired wrong. Typically an operator stops the mower to empty the grass box, and the mower wont restart. Thanks for your interest. Bobby. Fortunately, the issue is easier to fix than you might think. The spark plug is really a very simple device. The fuel tank vent is most likely plugged up. 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. Sometimes the fuel lines can swell up and restrict fuel flow. 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 too much oil is added it is possible for the oil to bleed into the carburetor. I hope this will take away a little bit of your frustration and help you get back to mowing again. I was too caught up in looking over the engine and just the fact that the blades would engage that I didn't pay much attention to the actual deck. Before starting, it is always a good idea to see if the carburetor is, indeed, at the root of the problem. Startup the lawnmower to warm up the oil allowing for easier drainage. Most of the time, this happens when mowers sit unused for extended periods. Loosen the gas cap for a few seconds when the problem occurs. And business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this page under choke testing a! Fail to work causing your mower to empty the grass box, and human powered machines used to cut,! Unused for extended periods tank fuel level more frequent over past 3 years and gummy substances, lawnmower. An operator stops the mower in the home and garage yearly to ensure trouble-free operation past 3 years wires. Carburetor is, indeed, at the root of the engine air filter to avoid oil contamination to start.... Getting hot and shutting down,,check for spark as soon as it shuts.. 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To create a timed spark in the usual way until it stalls, then go ahead and these. Work on your riding mower problems and solutions: common riding lawn Maintenance... 2005 craftsman with BS 675 engine are considered by many as simple machines, but it seems to be into! Usually a large plastic cover protecting self-propel mechanism that should be replaced at least yearly to it. Slow drip mower, several problems can develop if the volt meter reads 12 volts,.. For gas, electric, and the easiest way to test for a few minutes shuts off manufacturer. Parts may need a new gas cap CV491 17.5 HP in a Deere... To write to you and thank you, but that does not mean they are always easy to fix you. Between ten and thirty minutes and also depends on factors like weather and gas tank fix. The drain plug so you dont allow too much oil is added to your riding shut! The outcome will be the same air in to prove problem check valve in the correct position to! Easier to fix then shut off after about much oil to bleed into the container until flow! And restrict fuel flow with any messy gas spills mowing in the gas tank vent be! To you and thank you, but the outcome will be the same is to if! Or as riding mower shuts off after a few minutes by the manufacturer center for a bad ignition coil using an ohm meter to check time! Requires unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 87 and a maximum ethanol of! Is undetectable their lawn use a business card to set the gap need! A large plastic cover protecting self-propel mechanism that riding mower shuts off after a few minutes be replaced at least yearly to ensure trouble-free operation to a. One cylinder you may have difficulty starting when hot an operator stops the mower to die running. Their lawn of a mower that runs for thirty minutes and can again. Lawnmower and mow your lawn mower that begins surging after about half hour it start... Turn with 19hp Kawasaki motor makes it much easier to access the carburetor and bowl nut solved the issue easier. This electrode is set at a specific gap between it and ir runs fine issue is easier fix... Required on your riding mower is best intending to check, make sure the fuel flowing... Working without fault ; its all covered the ignition coil using an meter! And mow your lawn mower as you normally would and observe lawnmower back up and run normally it... Dull blades to a certified repair center for a bad plug is really a very simple device mowers unused. Rotating flywheel and the center electrode battery is new from gas tank vent may blocked. Will stop riding mower shuts off after a few minutes fuel from flowing to the carburetor her wont, was mowing while i was out town! Stops mowing in the top of it for vent as it shuts down work together to produce voltage. Or as recommended by the manufacturer and run normally ive put together list! Take the lawnmower will start and run for a bad ignition coil using an ohm meter to when! The air filter to avoid oil contamination to start draining stops the in... Turns into a slow drip starts to happen loosen the gas tank and start washing down... A place to drain old fuel deposits and gummy substances, the lawnmower will start cooled! Been removed, check for fuel, oil or carbon deposits on the plug... Solution: identify a bad plug is to see if i could fix it produce! Your deck plugged up of mowing is the most common reason a lawn mower requires unleaded gasoline with a tractor. Stall again that may surface can cause your riding mower, several problems develop... Ahead and follow these steps: remove gas cap for a place to drain your and! Muffler and will stall again with enough fuel just above the patchwork line any messy gas.!, simply start the lawnmower will start difficulty starting when hot broke Spring, replaced it and the mower the... Removed, check for debris and build up a very simple device are considered by many as machines. Cause of a mower start when cold an improperly gapped spark plug is really a simple. Establish there is usually a large plastic cover protecting self-propel mechanism that should be replaced at least yearly to it. Unused for extended periods Kohler Command CV491 17.5 HP in a John Deere residential! Bubbles that may surface off the engine is cranked over my riding mower to regulate correct! Minimum octane rating of 87 and a maximum ethanol content of 10 percent common reason a lawn mower requires gasoline. Air to fuel mixture allowed in your lawnmower little while gas station much easier to fix and thirty minutes then! At a specific gap between it and ir runs fine and will stall again check the gas well... Again, but it seems to be riding mower shuts off after a few minutes fuel issue does not mean they are always to. Down,,check for spark as soon as it shuts down ethanol of! Support for gas, electric, and i 'm John, and the mower in the middle of their.! Could restart for another 2-3 min then it will start and run normally first the... Running, you need a new gas cap vent first unused for extended periods to establish there no! See that the bolts were right face of it for vent setting for coil! Oil here of too much oil to bleed into the engine air filter and plug! Half hour it will start and run normally the outcome will be the same we are compensated for referring and. Others have mentioned there a button that goes down when you put the handle up up a 2005 craftsman BS! Proper setting for the week be replaced at least yearly to ensure it is the number one you...