LT-180 loses power/cuts out after running around an hour...

Hitechluddite · Apr 8, 2020

I tried new plugs but no difference, #1 son pulled the plugs and said they look fine but not identical, I haven't seen them yet. I think that the hour meter stops updating then updates before or after it starts running rough, I haven't narrowed down which yet. i smell a rich or unburnt fuel smell when it starts cutting out. It's not running hot but when it cools down it starts and runs fine again.

Any ideas?

tom3 · Apr 8, 2020

Don't know if the fuel systems are similar, but my L130 started doing this a couple years ago. Weak fuel pump. Fuel lines and filter right up beside the engine and the heat starts vaporizing the gas after some time. I put a new pump, small filter mounted vertically and moved the lines as far from the heat as possible. No problem since.

Hitechluddite · Apr 8, 2020

Fuel Filter was my next step but couldn't figure why it only did it after running a while, Thanks I'll pay attention to line routing when I replace. Hopefully the pump is OK cause I doubt they are cheap!

mac · Apr 8, 2020

Hitechluddite said:
I tried new plugs but no difference, #1 son pulled the plugs and said they look fine but not identical, I haven't seen them yet. I think that the hour meter stops updating then updates before or after it starts running rough, I haven't narrowed down which yet. i smell a rich or unburnt fuel smell when it starts cutting out. It's not running hot but when it cools down it starts and runs fine again.

Any ideas?

It sounds like your float is sticking open on the carb.

Hitechluddite · Apr 8, 2020

Why would that happen after running for an hour?

tom3 · Apr 9, 2020

When I fixed mine I took the old pump apart. Two little round rubber disc check valves make it work, one of them had a little bit of a white looking fiber stuff stuck under it. I've seen the same type stuff in little two stroke carb diaphragms over the years. Don't know how or where it comes from but in that fuel pump it was just enough to weaken the pumping so that when the fuel line and filter (actual Kohler filter, pretty big unit) got hot the vapor would make an air pocket in the filter and the pump couldn't overcome the cushioning (?) this created. Mounted a smaller filter vertically and relocated it and the lines away from heat, and a new pump. Your problem might be something completely different? I dunno.

Hitechluddite · Apr 9, 2020

The pump is really cheap so i ordered a pump and filter combo. I'll now next week if it worked.

LT-180 loses power/cuts out after running around an hour...

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Hitechluddite

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