It can be one other thing..... it is not a heat issue at all. Only an issue that occurs when the engine is hot. Doesn't mean it's overheating.


OP: Maybe it's time you go spend that $2000 you said was no big deal to blow on the ol' 782. :BlahBlah:

Have you checked for spark when it dies?

The M18 has an ignition module that I've read elsewhere can give issues when it gets hot.

I thought that myself. Maybe it was a spark issue.

J-Mech: man, I was so grumpy at it the other day when it died on me, I almost pulled the trigger!

Lol. I just bought a car in California and am having it shipped to IL. If it wasn't for the 1500 in shipping cost I just might have!!

Honestly this old girl runs real well until it starts to die out. As much as I would like the EFI engine and few extra horse power. I would like to just keep the current engine.
( I have a handful of other automotive projects I would rather work on)
But at this point, so close to fall and winter I'll nurse it along until winter if I have to swap engines.

PS. I am not sure how a new engine would be blowing money.
Blowing money is drinking it away at the bar, or buying scratch off lotto tickets at the gas station.
If I put a new engine in this is should serve me 15-20 YEARS easy. That's not blowing money. It's a tool I have to have to maintain my house. Just like any other tool you need to live around the house. Eventually this engine will wear our. It's already 20+ years old. An replacement is just kinda an extreme pm

On another note, what about boiling gas, or some sort of vapor lock?

Highly unlikely. Only way that would happen is if the engine is overheating, caused by all the issues we have told you to look for, but you say are fine.

Seems like you doubt me?

A quick and easy method is just take the grill off as it is only held in place by the 2 springs,as a test.
I still think you are not getting adequate fuel to the carb @ various times.
If you have floating chit in the tank, it will act just as you have described.
drain the tank and take it off (5 minute job) and clean it out.
Get a $2 bung that holds the petcock in the tank because it is old and hard as a wedding night groom.:biggrin2:
( it is cracked also)
You will need to remove the bung/petcock to clean off the screen.
Hell, just drain the tank and look inside with a penlight, bet you will see the crud/chit.:beerchug:
Now get busy, we are all holding our breath Ha,LOL!

Ok good. A new idea. Thanks.

Well back to square one.

Yesterday:
Took off the screen and mowed 1/3 of yard.
Ran fine.
Ran out of daylight. Wife said she would finish it today.

Today:
She calls me on the way home and says it won't start.
I thought bit was odd as it's never not started before.
Told her not to mess with it, I'll be home shortly.

Get home starts fine, start mowing, I get about 3 Minutes in and it quits.

Start it and it dies immediately. Did this a handful of times, now it will only even stay running with full choke and 1/4 throttle.

Sounds like a fuel supply problem or the carb is stopped up.
I doubt it's the reason, but did you JUST add gas--wondering if you have water in the fuel.