Kubota TG 1860 G quits after about 30 minutes cutting.

[r4990]

I have a TG 1860 G with an odd problem. After about 30 minutes cutting time, the mower will stop like it runs out of gas. I can keep it running a little by putting on the choke but it will barely run and eventually won't run at all.

I have an inline fuel filter on the inlet to the fuel pump that shows fuel in it. The first time it happened I thought it was trash in the carb so I disassembled and cleaned it. Did that the second time too. After cleaning the carb I had the same problem.

The last time it happened, I just let it sit out of frustration then went back a couple of hours later and it started and ran great. I assume it would have shut down again after about 30 minutes but I didn't have that much left to cut.

It's not overheating and it's not vapor locking (I can pull the fuel line off the filter when this happens and it runs out freely plus there is fuel in the filter). I pulled the line from the fuel pump to the carb and fuel pumps when the engine turns over.

Any ideas? Its got me stumped.

 

[DaveTN]

Sounds like a fuel supply problem. Amazing that it runs for 30 minutes, then starts cutting out. I was working on a Craftsman rider, single cylinder about a month ago. Except his mower wouldn't make it to the 30 minute mark, only about 2 or 3 minutes, at other times maybe 5, then start cutting out and die completely,with the choke on. Even tho it was getting plenty of fuel, turned out to be a tiny piece of plastic on the plastic metering valve in the bottom of the float bowl cutting off fuel supply. You could look through the hole, squirt cleaner through it, all clear. But it would flop down and starve the pickup tube of fuel. Finally had to gouge it out with a wire and then everything ran fine! With your engine,something is causing it to starve for fuel having to use the choke. Thinking maybe a fuel pump going out? Check pump diaphragm for stiffness and being brittle, replace it. You could possibly do a bypass test on the fuel pump to see if it is the culprit but would have to put a gasoline tank above the carburetor and let gravity feed it. As per the fuel pump.. Check it for dirt and give it a general cleaning. Hope this helps.

 

[Rivets]

It may sound stupid, but have you checked to make sure that you don't have an ignition problem? Have seen coils slowly open up due to heat, which look similar to the engine running out of fuel. After sitting for awhile the coil cools down and engine will run again until it heats up. Just a thought.

 

[DaveTN]

Sounds like a fuel supply problem. Amazing that it runs for 30 minutes, then starts cutting out. I was working on a Craftsman rider, single cylinder about a month ago. Except his mower wouldn't make it to the 30 minute mark, only about 2 or 3 minutes, at other times maybe 5, then start cutting out and die completely,with the choke on. Even tho it was getting plenty of fuel, turned out to be a tiny piece of plastic on the plastic metering valve in the bottom of the float bowl cutting off fuel supply. You could look through the hole, squirt cleaner through it, all clear. But it would flop down and starve the pickup tube of fuel. Finally had to gouge it out with a wire and then everything ran fine! With your engine,something is causing it to starve for fuel having to use the choke. Thinking maybe a fuel pump going out? Check pump diaphragm for stiffness and being brittle, replace it. You could possibly do a bypass test on the fuel pump to see if it is the culprit but would have to put a gasoline tank above the carburetor and let gravity feed it. As per the fuel pump.. Check it for dirt and give it a general cleaning. Hope this helps.

Was re-reading this post and wondering if something is intermittently stopping up the fuel delivery? At the risk of redundancy are you absolutely sure there are no restrictions at all in the fuel delivery from tank, fuel line, carburetor and fuel inlet to carburetor? I've seen needle and seats, especially the seats deteriorate and block fuel flow. Sometimes pieces of fuel line will deterioriate due to ethanol gas and cause problems. Did you ever get this problem solved?

 

[LCBINC]

I had this same problem this week. Changed out both coils and problem was solved.
The Kawasaki part number is #E7199-67060. You do have to screw off the plug caps
and place them on the new coils. plus you may want to clean off the contacts connectors.

 

[nutjk1]

I am having the same problem. I repaced the carb and the electric clutch and that did not help. I cleaned the fuel system completely and changed lines and filter. It runs great plowing snow just won't cut grass very well. I am leaning to replacing the coils. Let me know if you solve the issue?