Engine dies frequently

[yapper]

I have a Craftsman LTX1000 (917-272442 with Briggs and Stratton engine 407777-0119-E3) that I acquired recently. It hadn't been cared for much but runs smoothly for 10-15 mins then dies. If I shake the fuel line and restart it, it will run for another 10-15 mins before dying again. I've tried shaking the fuel line while it's running but that alone doesn't stop it from dying.

I've changed the fuel filter and cleaned the lines from the gas tank to the fuel filter and from the filter to the fuel pump but the problem remains. I'm suspecting the fuel pump or the vacuum hose ... anyone have any thoughts? I haven't cleaned the line from the fuel pump to the carb and I'm reluctant to mess with the carb as I'm not too mechanically inclined.

 

[Rivets]

Next time it stops remove the fuel line from the carb and have some one turn the engine over and watch for a steady flow of fuel going into a bottle or bucket. No steady flow could be pump or plus line crack.

 

[yapper]

I've ordered a new pump and pulse line and weather permitting I'll test it out at the weekend

 

[DaveTN]

Carburetor may be getting enough fuel to fill the bowl, but not enough when running to keep the bowl full. When you stop it, the bowl will fill up. Run it 10 minutes and it'll die again. Check the fuel lines as there may be some obstruction. I've even seen insects and spiders in the gas tank starving an engine for fuel. Wouldn't hurt to check the float and needle operation as well. I've seen some debris get above the fuel inlet and needle and seat blocking fuel flow.

 

[Natureboy]

Sounds like a fuel line obstruction, or dirty carb.

 

[yapper]

Well replacing the fuel pump and pulse line hasn't cured the problem so I guess I need to check the lines from the pump to the carb, and if I get brave the carb itself

 

[DaveTN]

Have you taken the float bowl off to see if there is water, debris, gunk down in it? Sometimes a small amount of water will shut down an engine and make it hard to start. They'll all condense water in the bowl to some degree it seems. You can pinch the fuel line off, then remove the bowl and check it. Wouldn't hurt to spray out everything with carburetor cleaner and move the float up and down as well. I've seen floats get in a bind on some engines and either flood or starve for fuel.

 

[yapper]

I think I've located a possible cause of my problem - the new fuel filter I bought (based on O'Reilly Auto Parts showing a Wix 33011 as "Matches: Briggs & Stratton, OE Part Number" when I searched for 691035!) is a 12 micron filter and that is way too fine for this application.

The IPL shows 691035 as the part number for the fuel filter and is shown by B&S as being a 40 micron filter, much bigger than the 12 I'm using so that might explain the fuel starvation.

 

[GetTechnicalWithJd]

I think I've located a possible cause of my problem - the new fuel filter I bought (based on O'Reilly Auto Parts showing a Wix 33011 as "Matches: Briggs & Stratton, OE Part Number" when I searched for 691035!) is a 12 micron filter and that is way too fine for this application.

The IPL shows 691035 as the part number for the fuel filter and is shown by B&S as being a 40 micron filter, much bigger than the 12 I'm using so that might explain the fuel starvation.

If this does not solve your problem make sure that your fuel tank cap is breathing. If the breather is blocked it could be causing a vacuum in the tank.

 

[yapper]

The breather hole seems to be good - I get the problem even with the cap loose.

I noticed this morning that there is an inline fuel cutoff valve between the fuel pump and the carb, and neither side had hose clamps. I've added clamps and also dumped some carb cleaner into the line going to the carb. Initial tests look promising - it now starts very easily and runs smoothly with no choke. I'll know more next weekend when I mow again.

Thanks for all the suggestions.