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About a month ago my cub cadet 2135, kohler command 13, ran out of gas while mowing and wouldn’t restart. Went in the house for an hour and then it started right up. Couple days later I replaced the fuel filter and spark plug. Immediately after, it just cranked and wouldn’t turn over. Eventually I used a syringe in the fuel line at the carburetor to suck the gas up through the line , then it started. Now every time I start it after it has been sitting for a week, it cranks forever before starting. Then it runs great. Anybody have an idea of what is causing this.?

Usually it is a failure of the choke to close completely because the cable has slipped under the clamp

No, that’s not it. Manual Choke is working good. Just checked.
It’s been sitting since Friday and the fuel filter is still full also

What are the chances it the mechanical fuel pump?

Goby1234 said:

What are the chances it the mechanical fuel pump?

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Just a guess, but you might try cleaning out the carburetor bowl.

Take the fuel line loose at the fuel pump, I usually put another line on the pump, and stick it in a bottle and spin the engine over and see if the fuel pump is working.

If you have a vacuum operated fuel pump [usually the one that looks like a hockey puck] they can fail this way. I had just recently doing the same thing. It would not prime at starting speeds but work enough once the engine was running to keep the engine running.

I ran a new fuel line and put in a slightly less restrictive fuel filter today and then tried to start it . It turned over right away. Hopefully it’s fixed. Was going to clean the carb and test the fuel pump next, but so far so good

Ran into one today that was funny would run for 20 to 30 minutes and start surging. Could slowly pull choke until it would quit surging so I knew it was fuel problem. Mower only had 86.5 hours on it but the out side of the filter was really dirty. I said what the heck so I took the old filter off. Disconnected the tank side first and held my hand over the inlet took the fuel pump side off next held it over a container turned the carb side down took my hand off the inlet and the fuel would not run out. Replaced the filter and started it up surged until the fuel hit the carb and never surge again. Can't remember seeing one run that long before the problem would show up.

The old filter was a small 75 micron, the new one was a clear larger bulb type that was 50 micron. So I figured it might make a difference and went back to the older small 75 micron style. Fuel line had some black particles in it when I drained it as well.

Goby1234 said:

I ran a new fuel line and put in a slightly less restrictive fuel filter today and then tried to start it . It turned over right away. Hopefully it’s fixed.

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Unless the old filter was clogged with rubber deterioration pieces from an old fuel line or grit and grass?? Just a new filter resolution tells me there is a fuel delivery issue that might pop up later???

Goby1234 said:

Fuel line had some black particles in it when I drained it as well.

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THAT was your cause.

Don't get into micron ratings. Just get a large cellulose which is paper filter and be done with it. Paper filters better than any screen type filter.




One of these should be installed and USED too.

slomo said:

Unless the old filter was clogged with rubber deterioration pieces from an old fuel line or grit and grass?? Just a new filter resolution tells me there is a fuel delivery issue that might pop up later???


THAT was your cause.

Don't get into micron ratings. Just get a large cellulose which is paper filter and be done with it. Paper filters better than any screen type filter.

View attachment 58756


One of these should be installed and USED too.

View attachment 58757

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A fuel shut off valve? WOW, that's nice.

End all the troubles those plastic SOV's create.

The smallest jet hole in a ride on carb is around 500 µ so the difference of 25 µ is some what meaningless.