Toro Zero turn stalls repeatedly

grassrootsfarmer · May 17, 2015

I have a Toro Timecutter Zero turn about 8 years old, well maintained. In the past week, I have been mowing and the mower just stalls without warning. It restarts easily and I can mow another 5 minutes or sometimes 40 minutes and then stalling again. I did a spring servicing, new oil, oil, air and fuel filter, spark plug. I have checked wiring connections, fuel filter clog, spark plug connection. I have circuited around safety seat switch. It just works for a little while and then happens again. I just keep thinking back to elementary--spark and gas. I did replace PTO switch 2 years ago.

Help! Any ideas.

Doc8246 · May 17, 2015

Is the gas cap vent hole open?

T.R.K. · May 17, 2015

You don't say which model Toro.

We had a Timecutter in the shop three times last year that would run for about 1/2 hour. Then it would either stall or lean out. The last time my boss said just take it out and run it until it happens. The mower was about 3 years old.

I determined that the mower was starving for fuel. (Ran good for the first 30 minutes.)

The fuel pickup went in the top of the tank and had somewhat of a kink midway down the pickup hose. A leaf or part of a leaf was in the pickup (no screen on it) and at some point the combination of kinked hose and the leaf in the line would restrict the fuel enough to cause problems.

ztrmower · May 17, 2015

you got gas issue looks to me like

tractorguy2 · May 17, 2015

had a MTD mower once that would do that. Turned out the wiring harness had a bare spot.Everything had to be just right. Then it would ground out the spark and die. Just like you shut it off.

Texasmark1 · May 18, 2015

I had one clog on a riding mower with a plastic tank. Engine sucked the tank in and crumpled it up somewhat. To check it I either run a wire through the hole or blow through it with compresses air.

jeffcat · May 18, 2015

Also check the "DIRT" problem in the shrouds. If you have dead grass or mouse nests. Could be killing your coil and or the wires are chewed?

grassrootsfarmer · May 18, 2015

Thank you all for your suggestions. They were so logical. Tried w gas cap off; drained fuel and cleaned up some debris around the fuel tank filter screen. Still....stalled out after about 10 minutes, then restarted just fine. tried later in the day and stalled again after 8 minutes. Neighbor thought some sort of vapor lock might be happening and suggested an additive to counteract ethanol.

Could some electronic part be overheating and slowly failing?

Next call will be to a mobile repair guy.

Toro Zero turn stalls repeatedly

grassrootsfarmer

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Doc8246

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T.R.K.

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ztrmower

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tractorguy2

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Texasmark1

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jeffcat

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grassrootsfarmer

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