GT 262 Losing Power fuel?

[rebmo]

I have a 1992 JD GT 262 that I've had since 2011 and has run fine. I do the normal yearly oil/filter/fuel filter/air filter/plug/grease/sharpen blade maintenance along with a few repairs along the way. It was running strong as ever all this season and this weekend it died going up a steeper hill with about 1/3 tank of gas. We only use no ethanol gas and fairly fresh. My son put some more gas in and it started but died. I noticed no fuel in the fuel filter. We disassembled the seat and shroud and I pulled and replaced all the fuel line to the pump. it started up and ran but sputtered and does not make full power. I pulled all the fuel line and blew air through it both ways and there was a piece of thin round flat rubber in the line and thought I had the problem solved. It still runs at about 60% power. I was able to cut the grass but had to go really slow in thick sections or the engine would just about stall.
The fuel filter runs empty, but at times about 1/8 full when I go to start. The fuel pump diaphragms are solid. It seems like a fuel line problem but it's old (we only put about 50 hours/year on it) but it probably got 100/year prior to us owning.

Any suggestions where to go with this? intermittent fuel pump? lines clear so not sure what would be obstructing? Motor valve adjust (never touched)? Motor getting worn/old hope not since ran strong prior to this weekend?

 

[tomplum]

A great way to determine if you have a feed problem is to run a line to a donor fuel can and see if the problem persists. It sounds like you have replaced all of the fuel line? You also have a pick up in the fuel tank which can be plugging or cracking for that matter. Thin rubber could be old seal from a deteriorating fuel cap. Discussing the cap, make sure that the cap is venting. If you still have the inline fuel valve, check that for debris also.

 

[rebmo]

Thanks for the sound advice. I went back over the fuel line again from the tank to the fuel pump. I verified the fuel cap vent. Looking in the tank at the pickup tube there was a red piece of plastic stuck in the pickup tube end. I removed it and all’s well. It appears to be a piece of gas container. I did not see any other pieces but will have to keep watch to make sure no debris gets in the tank.

 

[rebmo]

Oh and yes, all new fuel line. I had all from the pickup tube to the line attached to the fuel pump removed and blew compressed air through and was wide open clear. Now that the debris is removed that was found even after all that the filter fills well with fuel when running.