The engine on my Murray Sentinal ride on mower cuts out at random times.Sometimes it will go through 3 lawn mows with no problems and the next time it will cut out half way through as if the key was turned off.Some times it will restart and other times it won't.
I pulled apart one of the wire connections and it starts for a couple of seconds and stops again. Putting the connection back together doesn't keep it going.Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sounds like the coil/amuture is heating up and shutting down. Or it could be the fuel solenoid heating up and closing.
When it happens again check and see if it has spark at the plug , if no then it's the coil. Or spray a little carb cleaner in the carb if it starts check the fuel solenoid. Luck

It doesn't have a coil. It's a magneto I think. The problem does sound electrical though as it shuts off really fast like the key has been turned off. Cheers.

Coil/amuture/magneto there all the same.
Depends on what it s on and where your at on what its called,
I should have put that on there.
Luck

Thanks for that DG. I will try this out this weekend and let you know the result.

Good Luck
We got 8 inches of snow here
No mowing here.

You get snow and we get grass. I live in the north of NZ where it never snows. The closest we get is the odd 1 degree frost in winter but it doesn't stop me riding my bike or mowing lawns.
I was also told the problem may also be the voltage regulator, is this a possibility ?
Having a crack at it tomorrow.

Cheers Phil.

If it was the regulator the battery would be dead , and not crank
Doesn't sound like that to me.
Luck