1811 TROUBLE!
 

Ok so i went to run my 1811 today and it started to run then it started to shut down like it ran out of gas. I checked the tank and its at half, fuel line valve is open, and filter looks ok. So i let it sit and tried again and had the same issue. Any help on this would be greatly apprecieated! Yards are getting tall!

Is it getting gas beyond the carb? Do you have spark?

My 1812 did that. It would run than quit. I found out the coil was bad so i put a new one on it runs like a champ or the carb is flooding mine did that to. It would start and run for about 30sec than quit.

I have both gas and spark. When it does run at start up it sounds like one cylinder is lagging in power, and idles realy rough. After a minute or two it smooths out and runs better but still feels like its lost power, or it just dies. Could a cylinder, or my crank case be flooding with gas? Or could it be the coil?

I have had the battery get "cold" and not want to crank the engine over at first, the starter would make a grinding noise then crank it over or it keeps grinding. Think this could be related?

Trying my best to describe what going on. Kinda aggravating that right when i need it, it starts to act up.

Don't you check the oil before you run the tractor each time? That would tell you if there's gas in the crankcase. If there is, DO NOT run it again until you drain the crankcase good and determine what is causing that to happen and fix it.

The grinding starter is an unrelated issue; the starter bendix is dirty and needs to be cleaned. Check this out for that.

Do you have spark at both plugs, and good compression in both cylinders? Do you still have spark and gas right after it dies?

1811 troubs
 

My 1811 was having issues, similar to yours last year. Ran like on one cylinder, gas in the oil and quit after a while. Over the winter (unheated shed), I replaced the coil, missing engine mount/bolt, and made a new drive shaft and couplers. On start up I was still getting gas in the oil. Found that the crankcase pcv valve was mussh (looked like emulsified rubber), o.e.m. nla. Sears had a replacement, it has a spring steel reed (instead of the rubber flapper button). I believe this problem was due too our newer fuels. I have had problems with the float bowl needle valve sticking shut and the fuel pump has been replaced twice. My guess though would be the coil, heating up after a while of running?

Good luck,
Dick

Thanks Matt! Normally i do but ive gotten a tad lazy about it. :bash: And after checking out the oil I didnt find any gas in the crank case, it was somethng i had read about and was wanting to know how that happens to a M18. I have no tools for checking compresion though. but i do have spark with both plugs.


:bigthink: The part that gets to me is the fact that Ive been starting it at a stone cold start everytime(every other day if that). After it "warms up" it wants to mellow out but even at half throttle the govener shaft is hunting for the right mixture. If its at idle it becomes much worse and finally shuts down. Could it be the govener gear going bad? although im not sure why it would be. Or its quite possible ive got a carb issue? I currently have the factory Walboro.

The governor is either bad, or it isn't. There is no in-between, and if it is bad, the engine will run away, not die.

Do you have spark and gas immediately after it dies? If it starts and runs, you have compression. That means you either have an ignition issue or fuel issue, or more unlikely, the valve lash is too tight and you lose compression when it gets hot.

I have both gas and spark. after it dies i can start right up again.

That sounds like a fuel issue to me without knowing anything else.

Any idea on what could be causing the fuel issue? :bigthink:

Inlet screen, fuel line, fuel filter, fuel pump, dirt in carb, etc. You're just going to have to start checking stuff.