Shutting down under load!!!! Urgent help required.

Ferguson TO30 1951: I bought a used Taylor Pittsburgh finish mower and picked it up this morning. I went over it checking everything then attached to tractor. My field has gotten away from me with all the rain and is 8-12 inch high grass. I began mowing and it worked very well but due to height I only took half swipes with the 5" deck. The tractor was running hard and nearly full throttle. After 3-4 times back and forth the tractor just shut off sort of sputtered and died. I waited a minute and attempted to restart which it ran for a few seconds sputtered and died. I then thought it was low on gas so filled the tank. Cleaned the sediment from the bowl and started it. It ran so I proceeded mowing. Made 2 passes and it sputtered and died. The amount of time varies that it will run but seems to only die out when working hard with 3/4- full throttle. When I had it running one time I took it in the back yard where the grass was low and it ran round and round mowing with no problem. So what is wrong?? I drained the carb too just in case dirt in there or something. Grass is not going to get shorter so I would appreciate all the help you can give me.

Did you check the screen on the elbow on the carburetor where the fuel line screws in? How many turns is the main jet turned out? There are many things that can cause it but it sounds like it is starving for fuel. Next time it starts to die pull the choke out and see if it keeps running. If it does then you know it is a fuel problem.

Condensers and coils will break down after warming up but I suspect the timing is off.

If fuel flow is only slightly restricted it can flow fast enough to keep up with demand for light or medium loads but when you are in the tall grass the governor is going to really open up the throttle and then the carb will eventually run out of gas with a restricted fuel flow. After sitting for a minute the carb will fill back up and it will start up again. Just cleaning out the sediment from the bottom of the bowl and draining the carb won't unclog anything. There could be a restriction in the sediment bowl inlet inside the gas tank, the sediment bowl screen, the screen in the carb inlet elbow, or the needle valve inside the carb. Some people have added an inline fuel filter and that could be a problem as well if you have one.

Dan

fuel restriction,under a load ur not getting enough.CLEAN everything.also chk vent in cap.its NOT timing.

Choke probably won"t work or help if carb is empty of fuel due to restricted line, etc.

I had almost the exact same situation on a TO 35, with a customer brush hogging. long story made short, the needle &seat valve would not let enough fuel through. The tractor had an aftermarket tisco needle & seat, and the only thing that clued me off to the problem was seeing what an Oem agco part and comparing. The agco had almost 1 1/2 times the size opening in the seat valve. I drilled and re -lapped the seat, thenit could run all day on the pto dyno if I let it. Never had a problem with it since.

:? I had the same problem today. Was cultivating in the rock garden today , doing tractor testing and had it sputter under heavy load. After I was done any putting it away. It sat for about 45 min. , restarted it and it ran like crap , had to use the choke to get it to run half way decent. This is a TO-30 that has an over size piston kit and I'm wondering if I need to open the main fuel jet diameter ? OR could it be the float level ?

in your case clean your inlet needle

Ok so I took off the fuel line and resized and shaped to be level or downhill to the carb. I removed and cleaned filter in sediment bowl. I removed and cleaned carb inlet elbow and cleaned screen. Took it out in the field and it ran with finish mower 1/2 swipe in foot tall grass at 3/4-full throttle. The field has downward angle which I started across with carb side low got
To the end turned up hill in a u and ran across field wit carb on high side. No issue until reach the end and turned uphill once again imagine figure "s" as I made turn uphill tractor shut off. Backed it down slightly and sat a minute then restarted it the lifted mower disengaged pto and drove to garage. Opened screw on carb 1/16-1/8 of a turn took it down to field tried again exact same pattern with exact same result. Back to garage the same opened screw on carb another 1/8 turn. Back to the field only this time made ellipses length of field and back carb on low side then u turn up and to left carb on high side but when I neared end of field I did not turn uphill I went downhill and across with carb back on low side again. I made 4 revolutions with no issues. On last revolution I decided to attempt a turn up the hill and tractor shut down. Any ideas??? Also is there a screen somewhere between or in the gas tank and sediment bowl?? What am I missing very frustrating?

Something simple to check would be pulling the carb off and checking the float level.....that may be an issue that could be influenced by the angle of the tractor. Float should be level with base of carb. Also, you don't have any rubber hose with an "inline" fuel filter on it do you? If you do throw it away.
A simple way to determine whether you are not getting enough fuel to the carb is to disconnect the line at the carb, and let it run back into a gas can. This will tell you if the issue is before the carb, or inside the carb.

No inline filter. Possibly one in the past because it is hard line from sediment bowl then to rubber for 6 inches the back to hard line. No filter now though. I will try the flow check.

Pull the sediment bowl assembly from the tank. There are screens inside. It is a good idea to take the assembly apart and clean the shut-off part as well as that can become restricted with dirt.

Update: changed out the manifold, cleaned fuel tank, replaced sediment bowl assembly, rerouted fuel line, cleaned elbow screen at carb. Should be ready to test out tomorrow if I can find a plug for the manifold. I bought it from this site and it did not come with the plug in the center. Of course the old one won't work due to being threaded differently. I don't have any 3/8" 24 thread bolts laying around either.