Mower stop after one minute of running

[sparkymarcopolo]

Just pulled the mower out to start but have a weird problem.

After eventually getting the mower started (it's Izzy self propelled petrol)....all was looking good until it started to splutter and then stop.

If I leave it for about 5 mins...it'll start again but the same thing happens.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Mick]

Hi sparkymarcopolo, and welcome to TGMForum.

This might sound a bit daft, but I've seen it many times on the Honda IZY's over the years.

Check the fuel tap is actually in the On position. Reason I say this is those taps can drip feed when turned off, so machine starts and after a minute or so it will cut out. After a few minutes it will start again. Rinse and repeat. Tap should be positioned in line with the pipe for on (horizontal).

Also check the fuel cap is breathing, by loosening and see if it still cuts out. Another common issue with these.

Check those and we can go from there if still playing up. 

[sparkymarcopolo]

You know what @Mick you might have a point there. 

I'll check tonight because something in the back of my head thinks I might have turned the tap after the final cut back in November.

Another thing it does during this issue is one of the levers that the cable connects to the engine seems self adjusts like it's trying to rev up and down just before it cuts out.

Up to now this year it's fired up 2nd pull without fail and it must be 10 years old.

[Mick]

You know what @Mick you might have a point there. 

I'll check tonight because something in the back of my head thinks I might have turned the tap after the final cut back in November.

Another thing it does during this issue is one of the levers that the cable connects to the engine seems self adjusts like it's trying to rev up and down just before it cuts out.

Up to now this year it's fired up 2nd pull without fail and it must be 10 years old.

The engine can and usually does rev up and down a bit as it runs out of fuel. so that could also be related.

[sparkymarcopolo]

I did have the tap set to off.....so fired it up and it ran for about 3 mins no issue.

I then started cutting and would you believe it, it popped after about 5 mins and stopped.....within 30 seconds I could start it and this happened another five of six times but then it kept going for 10 mins until I'd finished...I did also adjust the screw that increased the revs so I wonder if that helped.

Anyway...I'll see how it goes.

[Mick]

Well it hopefully will be ok, but if not it looks like a carb clean might be in order.

By the way, are you using new fresh fuel?

[sparkymarcopolo]

Fingers crossed...I have bought some sta-bil fast fix for small engines to mix in with the petrol so if it is carb related it'll hopefully clean it a little too because I don't want to be taking it apart.

Yes, emptied out what I could and using new, albeit from a can filled last year.

[Mick]

Pump fuel nowadays is at its best up to 30 days, though I have myself run machines with older than one year fuel. 

If it does play up, you could just try draining the float bowl first just in case there some water or dirt floating around.  If yours has a drain bolt on the bottom edge of the bowl you could remove that without disturbing the bowl. Just turn on the fuel and let it flush it out.

Or if yours doesn't have a drain on the side, remove the bowl retaining bolt out of the bottom while holding the bowl in place and flush it out by letting fresh fuel in.

Either way, hope you don't have to do this.