Oil & Fuel Kubota ZG 327 won't start

[BrendanAtBucksteep]

I've got a ZG 327 zero turn that is part of my caretaking equipment. It's been working dependably since last year. The past maintenance guy was too busy trying to look busy instead of taking care of the equipment, so he put it away for the winter without gas stabilizer.

It eventually started up with a big cloud of white-blue smoke last week, but buzzed through 60 acres in a few hours without a problem. A few days ago, i couldn't get it to start - it really does turn over rapidly, so the battery seems fine.

The next day, my helper started it right up. It drove for five minutes, then sputtered and belched more white/blue smoke. Every try after that gave less results.

The plugs were black and wet. Fresh plugs showed clear sparking when cranked. I drained the fuel and replaced it with fresh. Nothing.

We have a large event happening this weekend, so getting desperate, I used JustAnswer.com After getting it to run for a few seconds with a couple of cc's of gasoline squirted into the combustion chambers, I got a FUEL SOLINOID conclusion from one of thier techs.

I can't find a part by that name in any parts supplier online. Finally, Monday, I called the local dealer who suggested it's just the fuel filter.

Would a fuel filter cause this behavior so abruptly??? One day it worked and another day it didn't! I'll put a replacement in tomorrow and report in - but I'm totally screwed if I can't mow the lawn by Thursday. Help, help help!!!!

 

[KennyV]

"The plugs were black and wet. "

This indicates a very rich fuel mixture...
You do not have a fuel filter problem. You either have an air flow problem OR something at the carburetor is causing it to go very rich, check the wiring harness at the carb... is everything securely plugged in at the carb?
When checking the air delivery look at the air filter, dose the outer AND inner filter look OK?

There is something causing you to get too much fuel and not enough air (at the times you are having this problem)... It should be rather easy to discover what is causing this. KennyV

PS. here is a parts diagram look up for your mower. http://www.colemanequip.com/Kubota-ZG327-Zero-Turn-Mowers-Gas-Parts/

 

[BrendanAtBucksteep]

Thanks Kenny. I air gunned the filter and there wasn't anything obvious. I was looking at the Coleman site earlier and just can't see amything looking like a "fuel solenoid below the carburator". Is there any merit to that idea?

The mystery is that it ran when I dumped some gas in there, that's why I was thinking it's electrical rather than plugged fuel lines. I'll let you know what happens later today.