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J Deer 345 dies after 1/2 hour

K

KeepCalm

New User
I have the 345, which after about .5 hour starts to die off, especially if the deck is re-engaged.
When the problem started, choking briefly would correct the problem until it soon got worse. Now you have to
continually push the choke to keep the engine in motion.

I thought this problem was licked yesterday by replacing the fuel filter and blowing out the fuel line to the tank.
But, I did test with the engine hood off, which might have made it run cooler.

Looking at the fuel filter window, when running, it seems quite low - I would say about 1/4 fuel.

- The carb was rebuilt about 2 yrs back, and the fuel pump about 3 yrs (did not replace the engine-side pin).
- Replaced the fuel cap late last year and the orifice is open
- spark plugs about 4-5 yrs old
- I guess this could be a fuel issue but it wouldn't explain the 1/2 hour wait time to failure.

Does this sound like a spark issue? Could worn plugs be tripped by heat?
We talking ignition coils?
Could the old antifreeze/thermostat (not opening fully) cause an overheat that would in turn cause the ignition coil to short?
 
I fought a similar issue on a Walker mower 2 years ago. It was a dead wasp in the gas tank. I could mow 20-30 minutes; it would stumble and die. Let it set an hour and good to go again. It was getting caught in the elbow fitting in the tank outlet and blocking flow.

Bob
 
Replaced fuel pump about 3 yrs ago.

I can pull the outbound line, from the pump, and check for fuel flow -- but who's to say how much flow there should be?
 
I searched the best I could the inner tank - everything looked clean, but to actually pull the tank the rear of the mower has to be pulled apart.

Is there (1) outlet to the tank only?
I cannot see it there is a return fuel line.
 
Make sure the fuel tank is vented. I've had two tractors where critters filled the vent hole in the fuel cap with mud. Tractors would run for awhile and die, let it set for 1/2 hour and would run for another 1/2 hour.
 
I don't know if the carb has the same thing as my 175 or not had trouble like that for a long time kept working on every thing then I took a sensor off that went in towards the bottom of the carb put a plug in place of it let the wire hang n she has worked fine ever since that has been at least 8 yrs ago
 
You have a fuel starvation prob. You could have something floating in the carb or a fuel pump/hoses going bad . Fuel pump should have a good spurt like a cut artery . I don't think its coils because it recovers too quick. Are you burning high test gasoline ? Valves get sticky when hot with that , should backfire though . Hope this helps , nothing more aggravating than a lawn mower that wont run .
 
Bought a spark plug tester today for about $9.

Could not make the 345 fail today, most likely because it was too cool out.
Replaced air filter, plugs, simple stuff just in case...filter was a little plugged, but probably not it.
Probably not the antifreeze/thermostat either since the overheat dash panel light doesn't fire.

Will test for spark when it fails - if one side goes out it should be the ignition coil, which I believe to be the culprit.

Trying to void the $110 + for pickup and diagnose, not to mention the $80 per hour shop fee + potentially unneeded repairs...
 
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