I've got an Apex 60 with about 90 hours on it. It just started this deal where it does about 20 yards or so after starting the mowing deck. It's been serviced and I just rebuilt the carb today with no improvement in performance. I can make the same loops around the yard with the deck off, thinking it may be the camber of the hillside, but it runs just fine. As soon as I engage the deck, I can go about 25 yards and it sputters and dies. It starts back up and runs fine again until I re-engage the deck. I'm at wits end with this thing.
first thing I might consider is fuel flow. When the blades are engaged the engine needs more fuel. If the fuel filter for example is restricted, then the load may cause the bowl to drain once the supply can't keep up. Same as a car running into problems climbing a grade with a dirty filter. Another cause might be electrical, is a switch failing as it heats up. You might engage the blades at one spot and sit there as long as the 25 yards to see if it is the load or the time that is killing it.
I would be checking the deck belt, spindles and clutch, but have a few questions. 1. Does it die slowly or just shut off? 2. When was the deck serviced last? 3. Have you released any deck parts recently?
Get some one to sit in the seat, hold the operator presence lever in ( I have no idea what an Apex 60 is ) start the mower then hold the governor arm with your finger .
Push the governor arm slowly to open up the throttle
If the engine stumbles & dies then you have a carburettor problem .
If the engine gets really loud, blows a puff of smoke then the head gasket is gone
If the engine just speeds up without any problems you have a problem with the deck
#10
sgkent
keep in mind that he gets 25 yards of normal mowing before it "sputters and dies."
Which is what makes me think it is a main jet problem of some sort as the mower will be running on the idle circuit until a real load is put on the engine.
Doubt it is a safety switch unless thee is a loose wire flailing around from the wind flow / vibrations of the deck running .
It is also the sort of thing that happens when you have some water in the bottom of the float bowl.
Usually a bad head gasket will cause the engine to splutter the instant the blades are engaged then smooth out as the throttle closes back down a little
A bad / worn / stretched governor spring will also do this but usually it will be associated with slow running
corrosion around the throttle shaft can manifest in similar symptoms .
But for the first place lets see if it is throttle, electrical or mechanical .
