Honda 18hp carb

[choogie57]

I have a 2005 Land Pride Razor 44 with a 18hp Honda QAF GJAC 2003778. It will idle fine and will run fine with blades engaged under no load. When I mow and its under load it will run for 5 minutes then act like it ran out of fuel. It has new fuel pump new NGK plugs, and has spark as soon as it dies. New carb or rebuild? Need your help.

[KE4AVB]

GXV610K1 QAF GJAC 2003778

If the choice between a new or rebuild I would rebuild.

I would try determine exactly what is causing the shut down first.

[choogie57]

I've checked fuel flow (is good) unscrewed gas cap, new filter. Don't know what to do next. That is why I'm asking.

[HondaG100]

Seems unlikely that carb is causing a sudden shutdown after a few minutes of running. Get a container and let fuel flow through your line from the tank for a while. You may find that it slows down to a trickle because of blockage in the tank.

[bgsengine]

How come no one has mentioned the possibility of a bad anti-afterfire cut-off solenoid (or similar system) - Not familiar with that particular engine or Land Pride brand, but symptoms as described sure does sound like a sticking solenoid... if it has one. Had a deere with a kawasaki engine, that had a cut-off system that was basically a solenoid that controls air to the engine side of throttle - a hose was cracked and when it shifted a certain way the engine would shut down due to loss of vacuum so it wasn't pulling fuel into the engine.

[HondaG100]

I did not suggest it because these engines normally have a solenoid that immediately shuts off all fuel directly at the emulsion tube. An intermittent failure might cause a shutdown similar to a fuel starvation issue but it isn't my first guess.

[bgsengine]

I did not suggest it because these engines normally have a solenoid that immediately shuts off all fuel directly at the emulsion tube. An intermittent failure might cause a shutdown similar to a fuel starvation issue but it isn't my first guess.

Right - that's the anti-afterfire solenoid I refer to. So these normally *DO* have one? Could be stuck, internal failure (heat), bad ground, bad connection , or voltage dropping out from it?

They will still draw fuel up through the idle circuits if the engine is running at dead idle, *most* of the ones I am familiar with can run (although poorly) even with the AA Solenoid stuck or inoperative.. throttling up from dead idle, engine starves out and dies.

- he *does* mention it idles fine, so *assuming* (remember I have never seen a Land Pride machine) it is actually idle when things are started off, when load is applied, it will be coming *OFF IDLE* and thus, starving for fuel if solenoid is sticky or maybe only partially opening... ??

Just some thoughts.

[choogie57]

The engine will idle all day will run fine with blades engaged under no load and full blast will run as long as you want. But when you mow grass, will run five minutes and act like it run out of fuel. Landpride mower looks just like hustler zero turn.

[HondaG100]

The larger Honda engines can be really picky about having a perfect fuel system and clean carb. Still sounds like a starvation issue. Make sure your carb is spotless and as BSG says make sure that solenoid is working. In your case you should probably replace it because it isn't failing until it warms up if that is the problem. Valve gap check is in order also.

[Deere2me]

One other thing the OP can try is to remove the solenoid and retract the pintle by hand, then jam a toothpick next to it to keep it retracted, then see how it acts. If that works, then clip the pintle, or replace the $$olenoid.
I ran across one ( not honda) a while back, that had the same symptons. Problem? The solenoid tested and worked fine, BUT, the pintle/plunger had a plastic tip on it that was loose, and would "float" up enough to stop the fuel flow. Go figure!