John Deere 335 Intermittently Dying (20 HP Kawasaki)

[shany1]

Hello, I am new to this site and I am hoping that someone may be able to help me out with a ongoing problem I have been experiencing for the past two years. Here are some specifics, I have a John Deere 335 with a 20 HP Kawasaki (Air Cooled) and it will intermittently sputter and eventually die while cutting the grass (this problem has only occurred while blades were engaged). This problem does not always occur; I have cut the grass all season without a hiccup until two weeks ago. When the symptom's arise I can keep the tractor running by choking it (as soon as I release the choke it will die). The mower will immediately restart after it has died sometimes it will run fine and allow me to finish cutting the grass and other times it will die again after a few minutes, or longer just completely random. Anyone with any insight to offer would be greatly appreciated.
So here is a list of what has been replaced in the past two years:

Spark Plugs
Rebuilt Carburetor
Fuel Pump
Fuel Filter
Gas Cap
Coils
Seat Safety Switch
Dealer Rebuilt Car

 

[Egon]

Would the problem be temperature related from both workload and ambient temperature? Perhaps an electrical component or fuel vapour lock???

 

[davesl708]

If it runs by choking most likely fuel flow problem. How many hours? could need the carburetor cleaned/rebuilt.
Sediment in the float bowl could be getting sucked into the jets from time to time. Choking puts more vacuum on the carb and forces more gas through the jets thus keeping it running.

 

[shany1]

Approximately 300 Hours on the machine and the Dealer rebuilt the Carburetor last year. The reason I am stumped is that it runs perfectly (idle fulle throttle, etc) the majority of the time and when I say that I can choke it to keep it running it will not move or anything (runs just like a cold start with choke on). So far it has only happens with the blades on (does not seem to matter how tall the grass is so not under heavy load etc) the problem is that it is inconsistent and does not occur with any regularity. I am curious about an electrical problem due to the fact it as soon as it dies it will restart immediatly and run without the choke (sometime for a few minutes other times for hours). That being said I can honestly say I do not think I have ever been around anything that has vapor locked and I have no idea what that may be like (although the outside temperature does not seem to matter with the problem occurring).

 

[Walt jr]

On the back of the carb there is a fuel control solenoid, it has two wires going into it. Unscrew it and pull out the metal pin attached to it, reassemble and see how it runs, if it stops it's nonsense then you need a new solenoid. I had a bobcat mower with same engine on it with similar symptoms last week.

 

[shany1]

Thank you, Walt would it stay running if you choked it while it acted up etc?

 

[Walt jr]

Thank you, Walt would it stay running if you choked it while it acted up etc?

The shutoff is just a needle valve and yes pulling the choke would likely pull fuel past it. It is a five minute operation to pull the solenoid and another five if it is not the problem but...if I was betting.

 

[Walt jr]

Did you locate the solenoid and fix it?

 

[shany1]

Yes I located it. Of course it ran perfect before I disconnected it (such a sopardic problem). So I am going to replace the solenoid and hope for the best.

 

[shany1]

Walt jr I replaced the solenoid tonight and it did the same thing (ran for an hour then died intermittently).
Does anyone know if the 335 year 2000 actually has a time delay module? I have watched the video a few times and I am having trouble finding it. Am128906 is the module and some places list it as for the 335 and others just list it for the 345. I am stumped feels like the symptoms I am experiencing maybe a bad tdm? After 2 years of auffering any help would be appreciated.