I have a 24 hp craftsman lawn tractor with 290 hours use, loses power on hills and when pto engaged. What can be causes

Hi,
Because you say it is with PTO engaged, I would look for a parasitic load having to do with the PTO.
Peace,
Clarke

loses power on hills and when pto engaged. What can be causes


A low float setting in the carb will easily cause this. The HILL demonstrates that the fuell in the carbs bowl gets low/to one side and can effect the gas amount to carb air/fuel mixture.

In other words you are running to lean. Low float syndrome. Engaging the PTO putting a load on the engine with not enough gas in carb bowl to keep up with the demand of the load in fuel will cause this problem.

Check fuel filter first. Check needle and seat valve in carb. Make sure float is free to move and set properly. Rule of them is level.

Dirt in the carb can be a situation here also. I like using Sea foam carb spray cleaner before I tear the carb apart to manually clean it out. Many times it does the trick without a carb tear off, A weak fuel pump will also cause this proble, but the hill leans towards Not on this case.

Bottom line it's the carb needs more fuel from carb bowl .under load is again the fuel is not there for the demand.

Hi,
I remember seeing a few mowers over the years that would also act this way with partially clogged fuel filters. Without some extra load pulling more fuel, they could run all day.
Peace,
Clarke

Hi crigby I went through this same thing and it was to low fuel in carb on hills and fuel filter was the issue and float needle valve was also a player. That's why I suggested to check fuel filter first. And if the filter/carb is at that certain point a loss of power under demand. Mine ran fine up hill and on flat but once the demand was there it wanted to slow down.

It was a bear to get a handle on it until I used basic science/gravity

Hi,
Just think of how John Deere felt when they went from two fuel filters to one several years ago on compact utility and utility tractors. They then started suffering from loss of power and then dying when going across hillsides. Turned out the second filter made it unlikely to nonexistent for the problem to occur (one in the back with the tank and one at the engine.)
Peace,
Clarke

Crigby This will slay you. I use a I use a lawn mower for pre filter fuel on my John deer 555 Crawler Loader. Saves the $80.00 factory filters from going bad so quick