Engine bogging down

[ttener]

Toro 2000, Kawasaki Fx69 motor.

Takes a couple seconds to rev up to speed, but when I engage the blades, at a standstill, the motor bogs and the blades won’t spin up completely. Sometimes it catches and o can cut for 30 mins. Now tho - I can put the motor into a half run/half sputter just by going hammer down on the zero turn controls. Carb maybe?

I replaced the belts, greased everything, replaced the plugs, new fuel pump, new PTO switch

 

[5030]

Crappy corn squeezed gas....

 

[ttener]

Been thru a couple tanks with the same problem and I just put in 4 fresh gallons and a couple shots of carb cleaner to boot.

 

[oldnslo]

Was this a sudden change in running to not running or something that has slowly gotten worse?

Does this have separate choke? If yes if you slowly apply some choke does it run better or worse?

If this is a twin cylinder does it sound like missing on one cylinder?

 

[5030]

If you put the choke on and it runs better, sure sign of a gunked up carb.

Corn squeezed gas is the bane of small engines.

 

[Yander]

Replace the fuel filter $4. Can't believe 5030 missed that.

 

[5030]

just replaced the pulse pump and fuel filter on my wife's ztr. corn squeezed gas again. kawalski v twin.

 

[ttener]

I did replace fuel filter, forgot to include that.

It’s something that’s gotten progressively worse over time. Now it’s almost worthless to try to mow, it acts up in 10 mins.

Honestly, it actually does feel like it’s only running on one cylinder when it happens and I can smell the exhaust burning rich.

The half choke idea never occurred to me. I know that sound and feeling of running rough. This is beyond that, but I’ll certainly try it!

 

[RjCorazza]

I have had good results with spraying SeaFoam into the carb of a warm engine until it stalls, then let it sit for 10-20 minutes before starting.
This is now part of my spring routine with my Kawasaki twin walk behind.

 

[tomplum]

I did replace fuel filter, forgot to include that.

It’s something that’s gotten progressively worse over time. Now it’s almost worthless to try to mow, it acts up in 10 mins.

Honestly, it actually does feel like it’s only running on one cylinder when it happens and I can smell the exhaust burning rich.

The half choke idea never occurred to me. I know that sound and feeling of running rough. This is beyond that, but I’ll certainly try it!

It is quite common that you would drop a coil on one of these. Then, in fact you are running on 1 cylinder. They tend to run smooth, but seem anemic . One cylinder isn't igniting the fuel air mix and out it goes.