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I have an intermittent problem with my Craftsman 42-inch yard tractor with a V-Tech OHV engine. That the problem is intermittent is really maddening. For no perceivable reason, the engine will begin to act like it is starved for fuel; like not enough in the tank or some obstruction in the fuel line. Then it will stop running and will not re-start until sometime later. This has happened three or four times over the last six months. more than 90% of the time, it runs just fine. No evidence that it is running either rich or lean. It happens if the weather is warm or cold.
I have replaced the fuel filter, the spark plug, the air filter, the battery, and I always use fresh gas with Stabil added. I am at a loss to explain it and I'm open to suggestions.
Thank you
Ralph

What make engine is it? What are the model numbers? What are the model numbers off of the tractor too? The tag under the seat.

Next time it happens check for spark, you may have a coil breaking down.

Rivets said:

Next time it happens check for spark, you may have a coil breaking down.

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Sorry for the delay. I had to take my F-150 in to have the #8 spark coil replaced. It, too, had the problem intermittently. The "service engine soon" light would not stay lit. I bought a code reader so that I could get the codes myself when it started acting up.
Anyway. This is a Craftsman, Model # 917.276683, Serial # D004459.The engine is a Briggs & Stratton INTEK Twin 24HP OHV. The only identifier on the engine was a bar code and the number: 050720YG10592.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Ralph

Fish said:

What make engine is it? What are the model numbers? What are the model numbers off of the tractor too? The tag under the seat.

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Sorry for the delay. I had to take my F-150 in to have the #8 spark coil replaced. It, too, had the problem intermittently. The "service engine soon" light would not stay lit. I bought a code reader so that I could get the codes myself when it started acting up.
Anyway. This is a Craftsman, Model # 917.276683, Serial # D004459.The engine is a Briggs & Stratton INTEK Twin 24HP OHV. The only identifier on the engine was a bar code and the number: 050720YG10592.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Ralph

First thing I would suggest is that you check and adjust your valve clearances, It is easy to do, and should be done from time to time anyway, and costs nothing.

Briggs and Stratton Valve Clearances

If they are too close, the valves can expand and the engine loses compression until it cools back down. Being a twin, it can run on one cylinder, so the likelihood of both
cylinders losing compression at the same time is remote, but still, checking the valve clearances is free and easy to do. And while the valve covers are off, rotate the engine by hand, and watch each rocker arm, and see if their travel distances are all the same. Briggs has a lot of cam problems in that time range.

Otherwise, it could be an intermittent wire problem, so you will have to be prepared to diagnose it the next time the problem arises.

When the engine starts cutting out, pull the choke closed, and see if it helps, that would indicated fuel starvation. And when it stops, remove the air cleaner and spray
carb cleaner in the carb throat, and if it starts right back up, then it is a fuel problem.

Also, there should be the model numbers on one of the valve covers.

Fish said:

Also, there should be the model numbers on one of the valve covers.

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Thanks for the information. I'll try adjusting the valve clearances.
The thing about the choke is that when it begins acting like it is fuel starved, I've pulled out the choke to the point that it helped but it only helped momentarily. The engine started running smooth again but within 10 or 15 seconds the engine sputtered and died even with full choke. So, I think it must be fuel related but I just can't think how.

I had one in the shop a few years ago, that acted about like that. thought was loosing fire, put spark testers on both cylinders and ran until it quit, didn't loose fire so ruled that out. Pulled carb, and cleaned, checked fuel flow from fuel pump, and had good flow. engine would run about a hour, and then die, and would start back up and run about 20 minutes before doing it again.

finally found that the vacuum fuel pump was breaking down and would stop pumping fuel when hot.

ILENGINE said:

I had one in the shop a few years ago, that acted about like that. thought was loosing fire, put spark testers on both cylinders and ran until it quit, didn't loose fire so ruled that out. Pulled carb, and cleaned, checked fuel flow from fuel pump, and had good flow. engine would run about a hour, and then die, and would start back up and run about 20 minutes before doing it again.

finally found that the vacuum fuel pump was breaking down and would stop pumping fuel when hot.

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I had wondered about the fuel pump as a possibility the last time this happened which was about three months ago. But I did the periodic maintenance: new air filter, new fuel filter, new plugs, and everything seemed fine, until now. If the fuel pump is going bad, I would expect the malfunctions to increase in frequency and maybe it will in the near future. The engine started malfunctioning, again, on Friday last week, but this morning it fired up without a problem and I rode around on it, used it to pull the trash bin out to the road, etc., without a stutter. So if checking the valve clearance doesn't do it, I guess the next step is replace the fuel pump.
Thanks,
Ralph
P.S. Attached is an image of a peculiar circumstance when I started to change the air filter back in September of last year. Thinking about it, I guess the problem has been going on longer then six months

My next guess was going to be a horny toad under the air filter cover!!!!!

Fish said:

My next guess was going to be a horny toad under the air filter cover!!!!!

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Yes, it's something different every time. My son-in-law opined that nature didn't give these lizards a reverse gear. The filter cowling was screwed down tight when this happened. There's just a gap in the arrangement. He crawled in and couldn't crawl out. Startled the heck out of me when I took it off. I thought it was a snake, at first. Snakes under the hood are pretty common out here. They're attracted by the engine's warmth at night and won't leave until the morning warms up the hood.

Possible fuel cap not venting properly?

As noted a troublesome engine. It will run with one valve only barely opening. It is an overheater which can cause the valve guide to push up. Lot's of photos of failed valve gear on this site.

Ralph said:

Yes, it's something different every time. My son-in-law opined that nature didn't give these lizards a reverse gear. The filter cowling was screwed down tight when this happened. There's just a gap in the arrangement. He crawled in and couldn't crawl out. Startled the heck out of me when I took it off. I thought it was a snake, at first. Snakes under the hood are pretty common out here. They're attracted by the engine's warmth at night and won't leave until the morning warms up the hood.

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I've had the same problem with the vent on the cap. easy fix, pull the cap, pop the rubber and clean.

i had one last year it turned out to be the plastic intake was warped were the carb mounts to it