Craftsman 50" Rider Stalls When Blades Engage
Mower has a 20 hp Kohler motor, is 13 years old, and very well maintained. New deck assembly this year. Teenage son runs mower out of gas. He puts gas in but it won't start. I assumed it may have sucked up some trash when it ran out of gas. I got it running again by changing the fuel filter, pulling the carb and cleaning it out, and new plugs and air filter. Mower runs great, as always. However, now, when I engage the blades, the motor sputters and will die if I don't disengage the blades. I don't believe this mower had a safety switch other than the one under the seat that shuts down the blades if no weight in the seat. Kind of feels like electrical, but how would I check that? If it were fuel, would it run so well the instant I disengage the blades? Thank you for any help you can offer.