AboutDavid R -GlobalTek LLC Expertise Small Air Cooled Engines and applications including Twin Cylinders. A specialist in the Chinese Engine-- i e LIFAN, LONCIN, ZONGSHEN, RATO, LCT, YAMAKOYO, DUCAR, GREYHOUND, (Honda Engine COPY) area. Have personally been to Chinese Engine factories several times Former Day to Day job is in application engineering of 4 cycle Engines. Evaulation, testing and failure diagnosis of Chinese Engines,Briggs and Stratton and Kohler engines daily. In other words I do this everyday.
Experience 30 Years in OPE industry. Briggs and Stratton Master Service Tech, Master Parts Pro. Former owner of OPE dealership servicing and selling Honda, MTD, Murray, Husqvarna, Toro, Lawnboy, Shindaiwa, Briggs and Stratton, Kohler, and Tecumseh. Previous job as trainer for engine manufacturer performing service training for companies like SEARS, HOME DEPOT, LOWES, TSC, etc. Instructor for Technical College.
Education/Credentials Vo Tech Training 1981, Husqvarna Factory Training, Briggs and Stratton Factory Service School(s) Tecumseh Factory Training, Shindaiwa Factory Training, MTD, Hydrogear, Toro, Lawnboy update schools. To many to list in the past 30 years.
Question I have a Scotts Riding Lawn Mower [Model #S1742] with a 17HP Briggs and Stratton Intek engine. It has been running fine until this evening when I was mowing. After about 30 minutes, it began to "miss" and sputter, then eventually stalled. I removed the air filter, shook it out, then replaced and it started up and ran fine. After about 10 minutes, the sputtering and stalling happened again. Again, after about a 10 minute wait, it started and ran fine, then the cycle continued. I removed the spark plug and it had no fouling, but I cleaned it anyway. I was mowing in a dusty area, but I do this all the time. I don't think it's the air filter, but it seems to happen when the engine is warm, and I originally thought that it occured more often when going up hill, but I'm not sure now. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance for your assistance with this.
Answer Henry:
How old is your fuel? It sounds like you may have a vapor locking issue going on here. What this means is the fuel actually starts to boil in the line before it reaches the carb, OR its just plain bad fuel. Maybe you have water in your fuel? Try getting fresh fuel from the pump. Make sure the octane is at least 87. Stay away from Ethanol blend greater then 10 percent until we get this problem resolved. Drain all your fuel from the tank and try it.
I would also put in a new Air Filter and fuel filter. Good Luck!
