Riding mower intermittently dies

[shiftsuper175607]

I am a new member and would appreciate any help available. I have a 1992 Dynamark mower (model d4316) with a 16 hp b&s vanguard engine. It has ran perfectly until recently when it has begun to die intermittently. It will always immediately restart, and run smoothly from 5 seconds to 10 minutes before it dies again. Because it runs and dies so smooth I am assuming it is an electrical problem. Have good fuel to carb. When it dies, it's like you turned the key off with no sputtering, just shuts off. Have checked switch, solenoid and safety switches and all have checked o.k. Is it possible that it could still be one of these mentioned, possibly only breaking down intermittently, or do I need to look toward the engine at coil or something else? Once again, thanks for any help possible.

Does it die when you first try to use it? Or after it gets hot?

I have read the responses and I was thinking at first that it is fuel starved. I wouldn't rule it out.

What the other guys have said is really good also. The spark tester idea is good to see if it is not firing at the shut down...if it is firing, but still dying...then it is fuel starved.

 

[bdm1978]

Does it die when you first try to use it? Or after it gets hot?

I have read the responses and I was thinking at first that it is fuel starved. I wouldn't rule it out.

What the other guys have said is really good also. The spark tester idea is good to see if it is not firing at the shut down...if it is firing, but still dying...then it is fuel starved.

shiftsuper175607, I believe it is in the kill wire as when I unhooked it the mower ran flawlessly. I haven't had opportunity to further check into it. Thanks everyone for input.