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Hello...I have a Troy built Self Propelled Lawnmower Model#12AV566N711-183621 that is cutting off on me. First season use after sitting still for 4 months using fresh 92 Octane Gas, started up on 2nd pull and ran with bluish grey smoke. Smoke cleared after 3 seconds and all was well. Stopped and started it maybe 3 times over the next 30 minutes to empty the bag and then it sat for an hour while I had lunch.

It started again fine but then only ran for 10 minutes and shut off and would not re-start. I took the air cleaner assembly off it and sprayed carb cleaner directly into the carb and it then fired right up. It will run for 10 minutes shut off and then will not re-start unless I spray cleaner deep inside the carb.

Here is additional info on this mower. My Father purchased it brand new in April 2008 and used it that spring season only. He sold his house and moved where the yard work is provided late that spring so It then sat unused in his garage for over 5 years. I got it back in December of 2012. After putting gas in it, it would not start so I drained the gas back out and took the bowel off the carb. The bowel had a "varnish" on it so I scrubbed it clean and sprayed Carb cleaner into the Carb/float etc. tried to coat everything good..and reattached the bowel, fuel line, new spark plug and air cleaner element. I also changed the oil. At that time I put fresh 87 octane gas in it and it fired right up and ran fine allowing me to mow for about 30 minutes but, would act like it was going to cut off at times the last 5 minutes while using it...just the last 5 minutes or so. It then sat again until this past weekend. It had a very tiny bit of gas left in the tank when I checked it but I read to use High Octane gas as it contains no "ethanol"(??) that will gum up the fuel system? So I used fresh 92 Octane Gas this time.

So, this now puzzles me..as I thought I had cleaned out the "fuel system" pretty good. I need help from the experts out there as to what my problem could be!!

ALL of your advice is appreciated!!

Next time it dies, try loosening the fuel cap and see if it will restart. If that doesn't do it then post back and maybe by then I will come up with some more ideas.

ILENGINE said:

Next time it dies, try loosening the fuel cap and see if it will restart. If that doesn't do it then post back and maybe by then I will come up with some more ideas.

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Loosen the fuel cap? Does the fuel cap have a sensor in it or..?

detett1560 said:

Loosen the fuel cap? Does the fuel cap have a sensor in it or..?

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May not be venting causing a vacuum in the tank, as the fuel gets lower. other possible situations is spark plug going bad, ignition module loosing fire, or even a sticking float in the carb, obstruction between tank and needle valve.

ILENGINE said:

May not be venting causing a vacuum in the tank, as the fuel gets lower. other possible situations is spark plug going bad, ignition module loosing fire, or even a sticking float in the carb, obstruction between tank and needle valve.

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Oh ok...it does have a new spark plug. IF the plug and ignition module was going bad, it would not start when I spray cleaner into it right? When I spray carb cleaner directly into the carb it fires right up. Should I actually take off the Carb and tear it apart cleaning everything seperately? Someone I work with suggested I get a can of Seafoam and put that into the tank and instead of carb cleaner use it directly into the carb??

I'll try anything at this point.

The seafoam should help clean up any junk in the jets of the carb, but something could be floating around in the bowl, asking like a ping pong ball, and temporarily plugging off the fuel. I had a MTD with a honda last year that would run 5-10 minutes and then would die like it ran out of fuel. i could remove the drain screw on the carb bowl, and it would be full. could let the bowl refill and it would start right back up, and run another 5-10 minutes. changed the spark plug, and it would then run in tell the fuel tank ran dry.

ILENGINE said:

The seafoam should help clean up any junk in the jets of the carb, but something could be floating around in the bowl, asking like a ping pong ball, and temporarily plugging off the fuel. I had a MTD with a honda last year that would run 5-10 minutes and then would die like it ran out of fuel. i could remove the drain screw on the carb bowl, and it would be full. could let the bowl refill and it would start right back up, and run another 5-10 minutes. changed the spark plug, and it would then run in tell the fuel tank ran dry.

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Ok..UPDATE*** Started the mower and it ran 10 seconds and died out. Now it will not start at all...pulled plug, clean and dry as it is new. I also dropped the bowel and it was still clean from when I cleaned it out in December. I even cleaned out the small holes in the jet really well. Problem still remains. I sprayed gumout into every area I could..fuel is coming out thru the line into the carb as well. I am at a loss!

detett1560 said:

Ok..UPDATE*** Started the mower and it ran 10 seconds and died out. Now it will not start at all...pulled plug, clean and dry as it is new. I also dropped the bowel and it was still clean from when I cleaned it out in December. I even cleaned out the small holes in the jet really well. Problem still remains. I sprayed gumout into every area I could..fuel is coming out thru the line into the carb as well. I am at a loss!

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Getting ready to put it on craigslist and see what I can get for it to apply to a new one. Any other ideas anyone??

There is a brass bolt in the bottom of the carburetor that two side holes and a small hole in the center that feeds the intake. Debris can clog this. You need to disassemble the carburetor to get to it which includes draining the fuel tank. It is not necessary to take the carb apart, just remove the brass bolt and try cleaning the holes with a small needle. Old fuel varnish can also clog the hole.