I have a late 90's model Snapper Pro Hydro SPA480 with a Kawasaki FC420V engine. This mower is a 48" tank. Runs great. Starts on the first pull. I mowed for about 1-1/2 hrs. last week, shut it down and put it away then remembered I didn't mow at the street. Started it up and brought it down to the street and made 4 350' passes then went to the other side of the driveway and it started to sputter like it was going to die until I pulled the handles back into the idle position. Once I did that, the engine ran strong and the blades engaged without skipping a beat, but as soon as I released the handles just past a crawl, it started to sputter and the same would happen in reverse if I went just past a crawl. It continued to do that after several attempts so I decided to put it in the barn, which is over 500' away and mostly uphill. Reverse seemed to run steadier at low speed, so I went the whole way, at a snail's pace, in reverse. Once in the barn, with the handles in locked position and running at idle, it ran as strong as always with or without engaging the blades, but as soon as I went past a crawl in forward or reverse, it sputtered like it was going to die. Any suggestions where to begin? Thanks.
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Snapper Pro Hydro Mid-Size Walk Behind Zero Turn SPA480
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Export threadIf it were a carb issue, it wouldn't be running as strong as it does even when you engage the blades. I'm starting to lean more toward a safety switch issue. I just have to research where they are all located. Thanks.
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- Sep 7, 2024
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Hello Loulek77,
A safety switch acts immediately and not gradually.
Your problem description favors debris that is starving the fuel going to the engine. The trick is finding where the problem is.
The most likely location to start with is a fine screen filter attached to the fuel feed line elbow fitting inserted into the tank itself. The parts display shows the fitting and grommet in the tank but does not call it out on the parts numbers. That has become a common problem these days. They would rather sell a whole (high priced) tank assembly than just the obvious fitting with the filter screen.
A safety switch acts immediately and not gradually.
Your problem description favors debris that is starving the fuel going to the engine. The trick is finding where the problem is.
The most likely location to start with is a fine screen filter attached to the fuel feed line elbow fitting inserted into the tank itself. The parts display shows the fitting and grommet in the tank but does not call it out on the parts numbers. That has become a common problem these days. They would rather sell a whole (high priced) tank assembly than just the obvious fitting with the filter screen.