What is happening to my lawn mower? It runs for like 10 minutes and then just quits.?
Answers:
Check for a bad ignition coil. When these fail the symptoms are exactly as you describe; after the mower gets warm it quits, let it cool it starts and runs until hot again.
Don't ask me how you check them. Maybe the small engine repair shops have a quick check tool.
Other answers:
Sounds like carb or fuel issues. When it starts to die can you save it by pulling the choke? If so, tell tale sign its carb or fuel. Is your fuel over 30 days old? Take off the float bowl from the bottom of the carb. Is there crap in there? water? is your gas clear in color? not yellow or orange? Change your fuel filter always when making improvements on a carb If your bowl is dirty break down the carb and clean it with carb solvent. Not where everything goes. Clean the jets and everything. Drain your fuel and replace it with fresh if its any other color than clear. Water in the gas floats at the bottom so look closely
Sounds like carb or fuel issues. When it starts to die can you save it by pulling the choke? If so, tell tale sign its carb or fuel. Is your fuel over 30 days old? Take off the float bowl from the bottom of the carb. Is there crap in there? water? is your gas clear in color? not yellow or orange? Change your fuel filter always when making improvements on a carb If your bowl is dirty break down the carb and clean it with carb solvent. Not where everything goes. Clean the jets and everything. Drain your fuel and replace it with fresh if its any other color than clear. Water in the gas floats at the bottom so look closely
Try changing your fuel and air filter's. And if that's not it change your spark plugs.
my mower did the same thing a couple months ago, i tried a bunch of things but in the end it just needed a new spark plug, i'm not sure if it's the same solution to your problem, but mine was similar.
Ater you do the normal - replace the spark plugs and fiters try moving your fuel line away from the hot engine areas so it doesn't create a vapor lock
#1 Loosen your gas cap - it may not be venting anymore.
#2 if your carb is adjusted too rich it could be loading up and fouling your plug
#3 When this non starting or stops suddenly issue happens again - does it again stop and check your spark
#4 if you had it stored for the winter - sometimes a mouse or snake or some other critter crawls in engine and make nests and chew the wires - this could explain the inttermitent problem.
It wants a raise 'cuz you're probably working it too hard.
Does kinda sound like the coil, the way to check it is run it till it gives out, and quickly with heavy duty gloves, take the spark plug/s out and put em back in the boot and ground the threads to the head, turn the engine over and watch for a blue snap.
Check the following.
1) Air filter. Make sure it's clean, if not, replace it.
2) Battery. Doubtful because if that were they case, the engine wouldn't start.
3) Fluids. Same as number 2.
4) Fuel system. Make sure that the fuel is reaching properly.
Also, when you are starting up, what are you doing with the choke? Are you keeping it open like when you start it or are you closing it back up once it's running. That will make all the difference.
The truth is, you got rust or dirt in your fuel lone.
Try this for an easy fix. Sometimes the vent in the fuel cap will get plugged creating a vacuum in the tank preventing the fuel from easily getting to the carb. Try cleaning the cap or running with it loose. Also possible to have water in gas or fuel bowl. If that's not the problem than it could be electrical, most likely the coil(magneto). After it quits try checking for spark.