On 7/7/2005 12:31 PM US(ET), encat took fingers to keys, and typed the
following:

I assume that it is a twin 18. A real common issue on these are the
armatures (ignition coils) Customers a lot of the time state that the choke
helps keep them going. It isn't always a matter that they loose there spark.
Infact, the coil has a built in capacitor that times the spark and they come
out of time. Usually they start out as a hot running condition and get
worse. The partis about $50 and all B&S opposed twins use the same one.

BTW the diaphrams in the front of the carb are part of the carbs fuel pump.
(Even if the tractor has a under hood fuel tank). It is also very easy to
drop one of the 2 little springs upon disassembly.

Best of luck!




I had given up on trying to get it to run, so I called a local mower
repair service that was about a mile away. I told him that I would drop
it off. I then discovered that it wouldn't fit in my Nissan pickup with
the mower attached, and taking off the mower and putting it on once a
year was enough for me and is something I don't look forward to, so I
called him back. He came and picked it up just before noon and then
returned it that afternoon. He said there was nothing wrong with the
fuel pump and all they did was to clean and adjust the carburetor ( I
had sprayed carb cleaner into it myself, but it didn't help). He
charged me $70.36 including tax. It would have been only $25 plus tax,
had I been able to deliver and pick up the tractor myself.
It has been running fine since then.
Thanks anyway.

"willshak" wrote in message
...


My 18 hp B&S on my Garden Tractor won't continue to run. It is about 10
years old.
I mowed the grass a few weeks ago and it ran fine until I was almost done
with the 1 acre mow job.
It started to lose power as I was climbing a small hill in the yard, then
it died. I was able to restart it, but I had to close the choke fully in
order for it to stay running, and the it only ran for a short distance
before it shut off again.
This week, I could not get it to stay running for more than a few hundred
feet before it shuts off like it no longer got gas or the key was shut
off.

What I did:
Pulled the fuel filter off and blew through it from both ends. No
obstructions, and I could see the screen was clean inside. I blew through
the gas line that goes to the gas tank and was able to blow bubbles in the
tank.
I replaced the fuel filter with a piece of tubing, just in case it was the
filter.
I removed the gas line from the carburetor and the gas ran out freely.
I pulled the cover off the carburetor and checked the diaphragms. No
holes, tears or problems.
I ran it with the air cleaner off and the in-line fuel filter removed. No
difference.
The gas is not old and the tractor is used year round for lawn mowing and
snow blowing.

As far as I can figure, it runs out of gas or perhaps heats up to where it
seizes up. Is there an oil pump that may have gone bad?

--
Bill








--
Bill