My riding lawnmower is cutting off, help?

Question

It's a 12 horsepower lawnmower and when ever I go down hill or I back up and stop suddenly the motor almost cut off and starts smoking black smoke. Any ideas?

Answer 1

sounds like the engine is flooding... could be a stuck float or seat that is leaking... the gas level in the bowl could be too high...

Answer 2

First try filling the gas tank full. It could have problems picking up the fuel. If that solves it then you need to pull off the gas tank and try to fix the pickup line.

Second. Does your mower have an oil sensor that will turn off the motor if the oil is low? Check your oil level. It might be just low enough it works when on flat ground but when the oil is tipped back away from the sensor it thinks you too low on oil.

Third. Check to see if the seat safety switch is working properly. Under your seat is a pressure switch that will turn off the motor if you get off while the blades are turning. When you shift your weight it might be triggering that switch.

Next .......Sorry call the repair shop. (Oh..did you first check to see if it was under warranty? If so call the store.)

Answer 3

Oil would be white, rich would be black. It sounds like the float is the problem here (gets off level on the hill, and jumbled around when jolted) make sure it moves freely, and the inlet needle seats good. (that thing it pushes up and down, and shuts the gas on or off at a certain fuel level in the bowl.)

Answer 4

Sounds like the carburetor float is not floating properly. Black smoke indicates that the engine is getting too much fuel! See if the float arm is bent or if the float has a crack in it...:-)=

Answer 5

oil is burning to rich
not enough air
or maybe it's flooding itself
lol
like i really know maybe it need's a new carberater