Sears Riding Mower dies going up a slight grade

[Grassbagger]

Need some help troubleshooting this problem. Mower runs fine until I go up a slight grade (maybe only 10 deg) then sputters and if I don't quickly change the grade, it will die. Usually starts right up again. Going down a grade or level ground, no problem. Sometimes when I make a sudden lunge forward from reverse, it will cut out just for a second. This all is with a high RPM, blade engaged, gas tank full, and a new clean fuel filter. The Numbers: Craftsman 917280350. B&S 17.5 HP engine 31C707 0603 B1. Any help appreciated.

 

[bertsmobile1]

Usually that is water in the bottom of the float bowl or a low fuel height.
On gravity feed mowers it can be debris floating in the fuel tank
I have ever seen this happen because chaffed wires that run under the mower short out

 

[Grassbagger]

I figured my next step is to check out the float, bowl for water, needle valve, etc. This mower has a lot of safety kill switches and the thought has crossed my mind that a bad switch or chaffed wiring made also cause this intermittent sputtering and dying. Thanks for your suggestions.