[Valleyvfdfirefighter]

Hey guys I'm having a very sudden issue with my cub cadet 2082.

It has had a Magnum 18 engine installed into it about 6 years ago from the PO.

My issue just started last week and I'm a bit lost. I can mow with it for about 15-20 min and then it will start to die. Only way to sometimes keep it running to limp back to the garage is to pull the choke out all the way. Still then it just diesels, blows some black smoke and mostly dies.

I'm getting good spark on both cylinders during this as I've checked it with my in-line spark tester. I initially thought it to be a faulty pulse fuel pump as it seemed to be starving for fuel. However, its definitely getting furl.

What I did notice today when I pulled off my air filter was a bit of fuel in the carb under the air filter and a crackle pop noise coming from the carb.

Put a stethoscope to the bowl and it sounds like the fuel is boiling like crazy giving me a vapor lock. I pulled the carb and pulled the bowl to find a lot of rust in the bowl. Cleaned the bowl out, pulled the high idle needle and cleaned everything the best I could. Reassembled it and yet again after a few min it goes from running WOT to dying.

Thought maybe the carb needed adjusted. Closed all the adjustment screws and backed them back out 1-3/8 turn as per the cub cadet manual. I can turn the adjustment screws for both high and idle in and out and barely get any engine rpm change. I'm meaning I can turn the screws in and out 4-5 turns and engine doesnt seem to change.

Intake manifold right after the carb is cold and sweating but I'm still getting boiling sounds and an occasional white smoke coming from the carb.

Any suggestions?