Cant figure this issue out. My trusty MTD 42" rider starts up just fine. I can run it for maybe 30 minutes until it starts the following ritual. Hit tall grass and it stars dying.
I dissengage the deck and it will come back to life. This process repeats over and over. Its like its getting hot and vapor locking. Sometimes I will open the hood and the gas tank will be blowing up like a balloon as if some vent is plugged. I remove the fuel cap and it will be fine for awhile.
Still cuts great. Fresh blades, fresh fuel lines. Havent changed the plug but seems odd that would be it.
Sounds like the grass your trying to cut is too heavy going for the mower? If it only dies when you hit heavy grass areas try strimming the area first before going in with the mower.