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John Deer 304 and 390 series mower trouble UPDATE!
- Thread starter candycar
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Export threadAnd to follow up on this advice....make sure the inlet in the tank is not sucking up against the tank and the tank is free of debris. I usually install sintered brass fuel clunks in the tanks. A lot of surface area to filter thru and damn near impossible to keep from working even if there is vegetative matter in the tank.Typically, this is a clogged fuel tank outlet. Trash in the tank.
Could be internally deteriorated fuel lines from tank to carb. Clogged fuel filter. Inline shutoff valve possibly not letting fuel by.
Someone using an open top spout fuel can. Passing trash from the can to the mower tank. Tank on to carb. Water, bugs, dirt dobbers, grass and so on.
Pull the fuel line AT the carb inlet. Drain into a glass jar. Should be a solid flow from tank. Look for water.
Starting to like this guy...... LOL
Wonder if a relay is making poor contact but when bounced around the yard either makes good contact or a poor one???? Not sure of this relay you speak of.
Most of the time, safety switches are either on or off.
VegetiveSteam
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What are the engine models?
I'm new. Please Help! We have 2 JD mowers that have the same problem. 304 and 390. They start fine, run/mow for a while then just shut down and take a few minutes before they start again. We've replaced batteries, gas, filters, coils, fuel pumps, and cussed a lot. Even had JD service done on them. Still the same problem. I think it's some relay switch but don't know which one to look for. Our JD tractor had the same problem, and we fixed it with 2 relay switches (recommended by a mechanic, don't remember what they are called). I would take them to the JD mechanic, but they are REAL busy and we wouldn't be able to mow the yard for months.
If there is a fuel solenoid in the bowl of the carb, it is the likely culpritAnd to follow up on this advice....make sure the inlet in the tank is not sucking up against the tank and the tank is free of debris. I usually install sintered brass fuel clunks in the tanks. A lot of surface area to filter thru and damn near impossible to keep from working even if there is vegetative matter in the tank.
Cleaning all the fuel lines and taking apart the carb and cleaning the inside including metering jets is good too. But one thing not mentioned is cleaning the gas tank vent. A plugged gas cap vent will do exacting what you are describing. The gas tank cap vent allows air into the tank as the fuel is used. If the gas cap vent is plugged and insufficient air gets in, a vacuum condition in the tank will increase until no fuel can be pulled out by the fuel pump and the engine starves for fuel. After a while the vacuum in the tank will normalize and the engine will run again for a while.