17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor – CA Model
Mower runs for about 20 minutes cuts off. Acks like it’s out of gas… but full of gas. Won’t start until about 4 hours later. Hot Coil? Only had this mower about 1 month.
Experienced gardeners share their insights in answering this question :
After trying to crank it, pull the spark plug out. You should see residue of gas or smell gas. If you don’t it is a fuel problem. Check the spark plug and make sure it is good. Clean it with a wire brush. Gap the spark plug and reinstall. I normally put a new spark plug in. Sometimes the flywheel gets rusty. It needs the rust knocked off with a wire brush. You take off the cover off the engine. The flywheel is made of plastic and metal piece on sears. You brush the metal piece (magneto). ( You also have a safety switch on mowers. I don’t know how to tell you to check them.)
How to Identify and Fix Common Gardening Problems ?
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Condensation inside the gas tank is one culprit, but moisture can also enter the system through a loose or ill fitting gas cap. The best solution is to drain the mower`s gas tank and refill it with fresh gasoline. A clogged fuel filter can also cause a mower engine to die.
As the fuel level drops, a vacuum begins to form in the fuel tank because air can get in to fill the space the consumed fuel occupied. 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.
A Dirty Carburetor Can Cause a Lawnmower To Start Then Die
By far, the most common issue that causes a stalled motor is a dirty carburetor. The carburetor on your engine is the thing that draws in air and mixes it with the fuel. Contrary to what the movies might make you think, gasoline itself is not very flammable.
If your lawn mower starts, runs briefly, then dies these are the four most common reasons that`s happening: Dirty carburetor / clogged carburetor bowl. Old gasoline that has gone bad. Dirty or defective spark plugs.
The most common cause of a mower that runs for thirty minutes and then dies is a faulty armature. A faulty gas cap is the second most likely cause.
Being Overworked
One of the most common reasons that a lawn mower might stall while it is cutting grass is that it is being overworked. This is a mechanism that is intentionally incorporated into the mower to prevent the motor from being blown.
Other things that could cause this issue are bad fuel, weak/colapsed/kinked fuel line, faulty spark plug, faulty ignition/coil, oil over full, clogged air filter, plugged/dirty carburetor, worn engine parts internal rings/valves/etc.
Use Carburetor Cleaner
Fortunately, you can generally do this without even taking the carburetor out of the engine. Start by purchasing some commercial lawnmower carburetor cleanerOpens a new window, which comes in a simple spray can and will make it easy to clean the inside and outside of the carb.
A full gas tank and oil reservoir are the essential first steps when checking why the lawn mower won`t stay running, but the problem could also be a dirty filter, clogged carburetor, improper fuel mixture, or a dirty spark plug.
Dirty or Clogged Air Filter
The air filter cleans the air before it is drawn into the carburetor and when it does its job properly, may get clogged up with debris removed from the air. A clogged air filter may not allow a sufficient amount of air into the carburetor, reducing the power of the engine.
The average residential mower is used for 1-2 hours per mow with 35 cuts per year. Based on that usage, a lower-quality line of residential mowers is expected to last 450-500 hours, while a John Deere residential lawn mower will last around 1,000-1,500 hours.
If your lawn mower cuts out, smokes, idles poorly, vibrates or runs erratically, it could need a good tune-up to replace the spark plug, oil and air filter. Or the problem could be with the lawn mower`s fuel system. Rebuild or replace the carburetor if the engine isn`t getting a good supply of fuel.
You Lose Power in the Middle of Mowing:
Here`s why this happens and what you can do: Dirty Air Filter on Your Lawn Mower: Clean or replace. Dirty Spark Plug: Clean or replace. Build Up of Clippings & Debris: Clean underside of your lawn mower deck as noted above.
Another symptom of an overheated mower engine can be that it will lock up or shut down, which might be a good thing because it will prevent further damage but also might be a sign of some damage itself.
A dirty air filter is one of the most common causes of a poorly running lawn mower, since it starves the engine of the oxygen needed for combustion. Fuel Filter: Check the fuel filter on the mower to make sure it`s clean, and replace it if needed.
Put the carburetor float and other components in a large container with your Simple Green Pro HD solution, and soak thoroughly. Use a brass brush to scrub all metal components, and a stiff nylon brush to scrub plastic pieces. Make sure the tiny vents get cleaned.
WD-40 Specialist® Carb/Throttle Body & Parts Cleaner with attachable precision straw is the only all-in-one carburetor cleaner spray you will need to clean your carburetor, throttle body, and unpainted metal parts.
Check the air filters. If they`re clogged, the engine might not be getting enough air. Either clean or replace them. Check the thermostat and make sure it is set correctly.
One issue is loose cables where they connect to the battery posts. A loose connection makes a battery work harder, thereby draining it of power more quickly. Cleaning the posts and tightening the connections should renew the battery`s ability to hold a charge. A larger problem is a cracked battery case.
How Long Do Tractors Last? The average lifespan of a tractor is 4,000 or more hours. Low hours on a tractor are pretty much anything less than where the warranty runs out.
Clogged Air Passages
If these two passages get clogged or blocked from dirt or carbon buildup, the engine will start and stall out soon after it heats up. Clean the air filter after every eight hours of use and scrub out the muffler every 60 hours.
One issue is loose cables where they connect to the battery posts. A loose connection makes a battery work harder, thereby draining it of power more quickly. Cleaning the posts and tightening the connections should renew the battery`s ability to hold a charge. A larger problem is a cracked battery case.
Discover Relevant Questions and Answers for Your Specific Issue
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
42 inch mower cuts uneven, what is the problem?
ANSWER : Several things here could be the problem. Check to see if mower deck is level, measure distance on both side on a level surface. Check tire’s for low air. If you’ve replace the mandrel’s lately, some have a left & right side & if not put back together properly this will cause uneven cutting
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Lawn mower will start and run for 5 seconds and shut down
ANSWER : Will it stay running with your choke on? if so then clean your carb. if not then look for a blockage from tank to carb. ie fuel shut off, deteriorated fuel line. plugged filter etc
Read Full Q/A … : 17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor – CA Model
It won’t stay running. have cleaned the gas tank and it just had a tune up. runs fine then gets rough and quits. If I push the bulb it smooths out and runs fine for a couple of minutes and then begins hesitating again. Now today it ran for about 15 min. and now it won’t start. It wants to. runs for a couple of seconds 5-10 and then quits.
ANSWER : Remove the float bowl and empty the contents out clean and replace
Read Full Q/A … : 17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor – CA Model
Carb problems wont stay running unless i unplug and plug in the anti diesel switch the plug on the fuel bowl
ANSWER : Check and see if all your carb jets or clean sound like some dirt got into one
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Self propelled mower will start but want stay running long? it runs about 3 or 4 min. then stop and when i restart it, it will start back up.
ANSWER : The fuel bowl has a float and needle, if the float isn’t floating to open the needle for gas to flow into the carb, it will cut off. A kit can be purchased for about $5 or take yours out and soak and clean then replace. Usually when these go bad its best to replace them.
Read Full Q/A … : 17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor – CA Model
Uneven grass cutting
ANSWER : I have seen dull blades, blades not installed right and an un-level deck cause that.Hope this helps.
Read Full Q/A … : 17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor – CA Model
MTD Yardman push mower runs fine for awhile then cuts off.
ANSWER : Try buying a new plug first but if it continues then I would say that there is debris in the carb.
Read Full Q/A … : 17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor – CA Model
I have a Poulan push mower that after mowing in a ditch started making a loud noise and running rough. It almost sounded as if metal was hitting metal. The mower was vibrating more than normal. I checked under the mower and nothing is hitting. After a few times of stopping the mower engine because it sound as if it is going to die down the mower will not start now. The shaft does not appear bent and the blade appears ok. The mower has oil, a good spark plug and a clean air filter. It was running fine until that moment. I did not see anything that I hit but it is possible I hit something in the ditch like a pine cone or branch. What could the problem be and how would I go about fixing it?
ANSWER : If you are sure the oil level is correct then it sounds like it’s about to die, unfortunately. A pine cone shouldn’t cause any damage, but a large branch may do so. Was it smoking before you shut it down? The vibration could be caused from a bent blade. It could also be caused from a part breaking in the motor. I wish I could have given you better news!
Good Luck,
Jim
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