Push mower seizes up after 10 minutes

[thechadlee]

I have a push mower that seizes up after I mow with it for a few minutes. Then if I let it sit until the next day it runs great again....for a few minutes. After this I cannot pull the cord to start it and it's really hard to turn the blade by hand. Any advice?
It's a Craftsman EZ Walk.

 

[gotomow]

Oil level ok?

 

[Scrubcadet10]

take out the spark plug and try to spin it with the plug out, if it spins easier it could be hydrolocking.
Whenever it dies, how does it die? do the RPM's get lower and lower and then it dies? does sputter and pop/backfire, blow any black smoke?
also post the engine model numbers or a pic of the engine.