LTX 1046 with Kawasaki 20HP - Stalls When PTO Engaged

[mn_cub_rider]

Hello gang. Brand-newbie to this forum. Sorry if similar post exists...searched but did not find...

About a month and a half ago I bought a used LTX1046 (was purchased in 2011, I believe) with bagging system. Machine is clean and well-cared for.

I mowed about 4 times with absolutely no issues whatsoever -- I love this machine! Which makes the problem I'm having all the more painful. About two weeks ago it started a strange pattern. After starting and warming up the engine, i engage the PTO and the mower deck. It runs, cuts and moves grass into the bagger just fine for about 3-5 minutes, then suddenly the motor stalls completely. After it's dead, I shut off PTO, engage brake pedal try to start but it won't unless fully choked, so i choke it, it then it starts fine and the kawasaki purrs again...until i engage the PTO, then depending upon how early in the "running session" it is, it will either run for 1 to 3min then stall again or stall instantly (if i've been at it for 20 minutes or more).

After running it a while, the problem persists even while not in drive mode, just sitting there with the engine running, then engaging PTO on level ground

Here are some things I've tried so far to no avail or improvement

- Confirmed no obstruction under mower deck
- New gas
- New spark plug (properly gapped to manual specs)
- Topped off oil (my logic was: maybe the oil was low and driving it on my hilly lot is causing an oil sensor to trip and shut down the motor and a full reservoir of oil might prevent that?) I've since noticed the problem persists on level ground.
- New battery (dash display shows reading up to mid 14Vs after start and I tested it with a volt meter at WOT too.)
- Confirmed fuel line is not being pinched anywhere and I don't see any foreign material in fuel filter (it's a clear plastic filter)
- Confirmed the electric fuel switch at bottom of carb bowl opens and closes with turn of key as manual says it should
- Ran about 1/2 can of Seafoam in it today for about 15-20 minutes without PTO engaged.

I am FAR from a mechanic, in fact many of the above ideas were suggested to me by mechanic friends or phone conversations with mechanics at authorized Cub Cadet service centers. I have not taken it in anywhere yet.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you!

[jimbob200521]

My two cents would be ignition coil on its way out. If it's only cutting out when the engine is under load and getting its hottest, it would make sense. It's part #21171 in this link (there's two of them):

http://www.partstree.com/parts/?lc=c...n=769066740018

One question, though; when it dies, how does it die? Does it sputter? Does it start missing and die rough? Any chance of a video?

[mn_cub_rider]

Many thanks, jimbob200521.

Typically, it sputters out. I'l see if i can post a video today yet.

[mn_cub_rider]

i have a video and am working on uploading to google+ and sharing the link here. check later tonight if you have the chance. thanks.

[mn_cub_rider]

OK - hopefully you can access this link to a video of the mower.

https://plus.google.com/113414972004...ts/YF2say4oPai


Please let me know whether this works.

Thanks.

[J-Mech]

Ok. First things first. NEVER engage the PTO at WOT. It's hard on EVERYTHING. Engage it at the lowest possible throttle setting that doesn't kill the motor.

Second. Either you have a restriction in the tank, or the fuel line. Or there is something messed up/plugged in the carb. The carb is running the bowl dry. I'd start with a fuel system clean out. New fuel lines and filter.

The fuel filter..... is it stock? On gravity feed systems, sometimes you can't use a filter. You have to use a screen, or a certain filter.

[mn_cub_rider]

J-mech: got it; I'll engage PTO at lower throttle. the fuel filter should be stock, i don't not believe previous owner would have modified. this model has a fuel pump. i'm attaching a pic of the filter from the manual. I'll order new fuel line and filter and change those and see what happens. i forgot to mention earlier that when i bought new gas, i completely drained the tank, disconnected the tank from the filter and blew air through the gas tank to make sure there were no obstructions, so i'm fairly confident that it is clear.

Thank you very much for your input. I'll report back with results.

[J-Mech]

There are like 10 different models of LTX1046's. You didn't say which one, so I didn't know if it had the fuel pump or not. I didn't see one in the ones I looked at. That may also be the issue.