Chuck, Put that new cap on before you mow any more. Here is what happens when the vent hole is plugged. The fuel pump draws the gas from the tank and the vacuum starts to form, the more gas used while mowing causes the vacuum to increase continuously. The longer you mow the stronger the vacuum gets. All this time the fuel pump is straining harder and harder the pump the gas. Finally it can't mechanically do it and the carb is starved for gas and the mower actually runs out of gas no matter how much gas is still in the tank. Now when the engine quits running the vacuum in the tank actually sucks the gas out of the fuel line and returns it into the tank. When you take the cap off the vacuum is released but there is no fuel in the carburetor so it doesn't restart until you run the starter long enough to re-prime the gas line and carb. You put the cap back on and the whole process starts again. Note: The fuller the tank the quicker the vacuum occurs. A nearly empty tank takes longer to create the vacuum because of more air in the tank. All this time you are running the engine with a vacuum the fuel pump is straining to overcome it and the diaphragm in the fuel pump stretches out of shape and it eventually ruptures. I am betting this is your problem and to save more damage to the fuel pump you need that new cap on before you mow any more. Post the results after you replace the cap so we will know if it fixes the problem.