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.

 

[mjonesnh]

Have a 23hp Kohler Command engine that was behaving similar to yours. Run fine for about 10 minutes, then started losing power. Replaced both coils and issue disappeared. Was pretty sure that 1 coil was going dead after it warmed up.

 

[oldnslo]

If slowly getting worse would also suggest a compression test to see if you are losing compression on one cylinder.

A test for losing spark is pull a plug wire off while engine is running. You can tell quickly if engine misses or quits.

 

[ttener]

All great comments! Thanks everyone! I’m leaning toward replacing both coils. Stand by….

 

[Midniteoyl]

Agree with the coils being a problem and first thing to check next..

Another could be sticky valves, but check the coils first.

While running, pull the spark wire and see if there's a change, then swap coils side to side and check again..

 

[ttener]

So, I think I found the problem, lol!

But on top of that, the mags are super rusty and the gap is crazy inconstant. That’s not supposed to be off that much on the second part of the coil, is it?

 

[ttener]

Rusty

 

[ttener]

Mag hitting first part of coil

 

[ttener]

Mag leaving backside of coil

 

[ttener]

Maybe this is a better pic.

 

[ttener]

Coming into cool