JD 345 runs and quits.

[mr-moe]

I have here a JD345 garden tractor that is giving us some trouble.
M00345B024258 Low production serial number. --- Kawasaki -- FD590V BS04
Let me say off the top that I'm the lawn and garden service manager
For a major John Deere dealership in Ontario Canada.
This one has got us stumped.

Unit came in running rough, when it ran. Choke application would help, but not completely clear it up.
Pulled carb. and opened it up. Badly corroded and full of debris.
Not worth the time and effort to clean up. Replaced the carb.
Checked tank for debris, very clean, made sure vent was clean
and flushed lines, changed out fuel filter./

Unit ran good after that took it out onto to our 8 acres of grass and cut for one hour.
Never missed a beat.
Installed hood.
Returned to customer

Customer got to try it out the next morning.
Saws that he ran it for twenty mins. and it started to stumble, lose power and did quit.
It would restart right away but needed choke. Ran again for a couple of mins. and quit again. Same process over again.

Just sounds like it's running out of fuel when it's hot.
I pulled of the new carb and rechecked for any signs of debris in carb. clean as new, it was.
Hooked up vacuum gauge on outlet side of fuel filter, hooked up pressure gauge between fuel pump and carb. inlet.

When running smoothly pump has a constant 5 lbs of fuel pressure. Never wavers always the same.
If I shut the engine down when it is running good (after 5 mins.) Pump pressure takes about 15 mins to bleed off.
When the engine shuts down while cutting, pump pressure stays a 5 lbs until the engine actually stops then it bleeds off very quickly (3 sec.)
The gauge on the outlet side of the filter never show and vacuum. Therefore no blockage in the lines.

We've even tried a new pump to no avail, make no difference in how it runs.
I did fine that with the hood on, it will happen more often and a lot quicker between intervals.

Ideas please

[bgsengine]

I have here a JD345 garden tractor that is giving us some trouble.
M00345B024258 Low production serial number. --- Kawasaki -- FD590V BS04
Let me say off the top that I'm the lawn and garden service manager
For a major John Deere dealership in Ontario Canada.
This one has got us stumped.

Unit came in running rough, when it ran. Choke application would help, but not completely clear it up.
Pulled carb. and opened it up. Badly corroded and full of debris.
Not worth the time and effort to clean up. Replaced the carb.
Checked tank for debris, very clean, made sure vent was clean
and flushed lines, changed out fuel filter./

Unit ran good after that took it out onto to our 8 acres of grass and cut for one hour.
Never missed a beat.
Installed hood.
Returned to customer

Customer got to try it out the next morning.
Saws that he ran it for twenty mins. and it started to stumble, lose power and did quit.
It would restart right away but needed choke. Ran again for a couple of mins. and quit again. Same process over again.

Just sounds like it's running out of fuel when it's hot.
I pulled of the new carb and rechecked for any signs of debris in carb. clean as new, it was.
Hooked up vacuum gauge on outlet side of fuel filter, hooked up pressure gauge between fuel pump and carb. inlet.

When running smoothly pump has a constant 5 lbs of fuel pressure. Never wavers always the same.
If I shut the engine down when it is running good (after 5 mins.) Pump pressure takes about 15 mins to bleed off.
When the engine shuts down while cutting, pump pressure stays a 5 lbs until the engine actually stops then it bleeds off very quickly (3 sec.)
The gauge on the outlet side of the filter never show and vacuum. Therefore no blockage in the lines.

We've even tried a new pump to no avail, make no difference in how it runs.
I did fine that with the hood on, it will happen more often and a lot quicker between intervals.

Ideas please

Did you check the shutdown solenoid and tubing? check also that same tubing for hardening, cracks, leaks.

Had one last year with the same exact problem - had been to several shops before with no solution - found the anti-afterfire (which is a solenoid that switches to allow atmospheric pressure to the throttle side of venturi, which prevents fuel from being pulled through main nozzle during shutdown) - It was losing voltage intermittently (had it hooked to DSO lab Scope for a trace capture while operating) and when that happened, the solenoid opened, allowing atmospheric pressure to the throttle side of venturi, removing the vacuum effect needed to get fuel through the carburetor.

Replaced the wiring terminals (tension tab "spring" on one had failed) , re-test, problem solved, replaced the solenoid valve and hoses afterwards just as preventive - we were getting *slightly* high resistance readings on the solenoid too, and the tubing was all hard as a rock.

[bobodu]

Have you COMPLETELY eliminated an electrical problem?