A few days back I started up the JD LX277 and was pulling the lawn roller around and it just died like it had ran out of fuel, it had been running great up to that point. I first suspected a plugged fuel filter, checked that not a problem. I then thought maybe a fuel pump problem but had never saw or messed with a fuel pump that looked like this one. After some education I found out there is a fuel solenoid on the bottom of the carb bowl that could be the problem. Checked for voltage to the solenoid wire and had over 13V. Since I couldn't hear it clicking with the ignition key turned on and off I removed and hooked it directly to a battery and the pin didn't move. I had read in another site that you can remove the solenoid and replace it with a bolt, which I did and now it does start and run but lopes and surges. It will actually run a little smoother if I choke it a bit. I removed the air filter so I could see better and the surge is matching the fuel spray I can see into the carb. Any idea's on what to look at next? Does the needle from the solenoid meter the fuel at all or just open and close the fuel flow? If its a fuel pump problem I may just get a small electric pump from the auto parts store and put that in.