KT series 2 problem
 

Yesterday, I got the 782 that I mow with, out to mow. Everything was good for about 5 minutes. Then the thing started to act like it was running out of gas but still had half a tank. It stopped but I was able to get it going again by pulling out the choke I milked it back to the shed by pulling the choke in & out. In the shed it seemed to run OK with the choke in at full throttle & then at half throttle but at idle it would shut off. If I would move the throttle down to the point were it would still run & not shut down the rpm's would go up & down Up & down but still run. I did take it back out & finish mowing but kept it a full throttle it seemed fine. But to try idle it would still shut down or just above idle the rpm's would be up down up down. This engine has always run great for me until now. I never had a new one but I couldn't imagine new running any better than this did. It has about 5 hours on a new set of plugs, oil change,& air filter. I did pull the plugs & the left side plug looked to burning perfect the right side plug looked to be sort of black not the same as the other. I pulled a spark plug wire from my other 782 & tried it on the right side but no change on how it runs.

Since pulling the choke helped it stay running I'm going to say its a fuel problem and has nothing to do with spark, if you had a spark problem choking it wouldn't help. Sounds to me like it has some trash in the carb that's plugging it up, probably time to rebuild the carb and flush the fuel system.

One thing I did not mention when I did the Spring service I pulled the gas tank An installed a new fuel shutoff with the screen. Good I did the old screen was very dirty An there was a cap off the end of a gas can that was rolling around in the tank. But that was my first thought a carb problem just didn't think that could happen so fast with no warning

All it takes is one small chunk of crap to get in the carb and its all over, generally you don't get much of a warning. Did you replace the fuel lines? Its possible that the line is coming apart inside and the carb is sucking up chunks of rubber.

Easy to get a crud in there from the fuel line when disturbing it.
Might take the carb off and remove the bowl, and have a look see.
while in there blow out any/all passages/jets.
If you are lucky you will not damage any gaskets.
But if so, they are easily obtained.

I did replace the one line from the tank with new also added a in line filter but did not replace the other line. Since I am far from a small engine wiz is there some type of carb cleaning additive that would help?

Carb cleaner additives don't work very well if at all, best bet is to take it apart and clean it. Make sure your fuel filter is flowing good, some filters have to much restriction to work properly on a tractor engine.

How is your oil level and how does it smell? My thought is fuel pump took a dump, those engines are famous for that. My 782 I used to have did that and had the exact same symptoms.

Just went out & checked oil level is just a little below full mark & it smells the same as my other 782 meaning I didn't smell gas in the oil if that's what you mean. Think I am going to try to pull the carb. This will be a new one:bigthink:

Hey, it was worth a try! :biggrin2:

I'm just trying to think of things that would make it run ok at full throttle but not at idle. Good carb cleaning, new fuel line, and cleaning the tank would be where I'd start. If it runs at full throttle it's not a fuel restriction in that sense but I'd think something may be in the "idle jet" (can't think of what it's technically called :bash2:). If not fuel pump, I'd wager dirty carb :beerchug: