901 Powermaster starting issues

My 901 Powermaster has been giving me problems with starting. I suspect I know what the problem is, and I just ordered the parts, but I wanted to run this past you guys to see if there's something else I could also be looking at.

Specs:
4-cyl gas
stock 6V positive ground, brand new battery
front end loader and rear blade

I can start the tractor and it fires right up and runs just fine...for about 30-45 seconds. Then it'll just shut off like you turned off the key, and no amount of cranking will get it to fire at all. It seems that I have to let it set for a while before it'll fire up again.

The ignition switch has been a little wonky since I got the tractor though. You have to find the 'sweet spot' to get current to flow through. I'm suspecting that this switch just needs replaced, and as mentioned I just ordered another one, so hopefully the problem will be fixed. However, someone (who I don't entirely trust with tech info) mentioned something about the hydraulics possibly killing the engine if it's not full. My hydraulic system does have a few minor leaks, nothing big, but just to cover my bases I went ahead and topped it off and tried again, but the engine again shut itself down after 30-45 seconds.

The tank is full of gas, the petcock is on and there's fuel in the pump's glass bowl. I tuned it up last fall (points, rotor, cap) and haven't used it more than a few hours since then. So...do you think I'm headed in the right direction, or is there something else I can check out? Thanks!
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I think you've got fueling issues. What pump are you talking about? The fuel flow is gravity on this tractor. There is no pump associated with fuel system.

If the hydraulic system seizes on this tractor, you'll have worse problems than a short run/no start.
 

I think that you are fairly likely to be on the right track with the switch. At least it is a quick cheap way of eliminating a possibility. Fuel is another possibility. You want to check the flow by removing the drain plug from the bottom of the carb. You need to get a good steady flow for at least thirty seconds. If it slows to a dribble you have a restriction.
 
You can simply jumper around the ignition switch to prove it.
Free and easy. Sounds like a good possibility.
If you wanted to, you could measure the voltage through the
key switch, to the coil, through the coil, etc. or check spark at
the coil and plugs when it won't start. Those are good tests too.

If all of those test good, pull the plug out of the bottom of the carb,
turn on the petcock and catch the fuel. It should run a pint in two
minutes in a fairly steady flow and be clean. Free of water and debris.
 

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