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I have a 14 HP Briggs & Stratton OHV engine on a Toro zero turn mower. When I have the shroud off, the mower runs smoothly. When I reattach the engine shroud, even without having inserted the filters, the engine begins to run rough. Inserting the filters exacerbates the problem. I have new fuel, a new fuel filter, have readjusted the valves, with little success in improving performance. Any help would be deeply appreciated.

well obviously it thinks you are about to bury it :laughing:

You will find either the High tension lead or the cut off wire have chaffed and are shorting to the block.


If your mower has a solenoid on the carby you can remove the cut out wire from the coil replace the shroud and start the mower.
Problems persists = HT short
Problem solved = cut out wire short.

If you do not have a fuel solenoid then you will need to make a patch lead to go into the coil so you can stop the engine.

Do not even think of using the mower without the cut out wire attached, very very very dangerious.
And as sure as Murphy drank Gulnness the 1 in 100,000 occurence when you need the safety system to work will arise.
Mower know what you are up to, they lie in wait to wreak as much havock as possible

Thanks, berstmobile1. This sounds like a good lead, and I will give it a try Monday evening after work. I have a full slate of activities today at church so won't have a chance to try it until tomorrow.

bertsmobile1 said:

well obviously it thinks you are about to bury it :laughing:

You will find either the High tension lead or the cut off wire have chaffed and are shorting to the block.


If your mower has a solenoid on the carby you can remove the cut out wire from the coil replace the shroud and start the mower.
Problems persists = HT short
Problem solved = cut out wire short.

If you do not have a fuel solenoid then you will need to make a patch lead to go into the coil so you can stop the engine.

Do not even think of using the mower without the cut out wire attached, very very very dangerious.
And as sure as Murphy drank Gulnness the 1 in 100,000 occurence when you need the safety system to work will arise.
Mower know what you are up to, they lie in wait to wreak as much havock as possible

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Found out yesterday that my seat switch is no longer working. Parked on hill to open shed door to put mower up. Got off mower opened door and mower was slowly rolling down hill. I allowed it to continue until it stopped. I'm not chasing a 500+ lbs machine. Got to mower and break was not on and engine was still running. I am cleaning the switch today and if it does not fix it I will order a new one tonight.

Do you want to hear the story about the old Italian farmer who fell off his JD while towing his wheelie bins to the front gate.
Seat switch and all the "safety rubbish" was disabled so it went down the sloping drive way with him chasing after it.
Could not jump on the back because of the, bins so he stepped on the deck, trying to get back on the seat.
Deck naturally dipped on that side, his foot slipped off, he fell down his foot went deep under the mower, got caught up in the drive belt, mower ran over his legs busting both knees.
He is 81 and never expected to walk again

Exactly why I do not disable them. Well except for the reverse one. First I do not mow without knowing what is going on around me. Second I do not assume nothing is behind me. I look. If I sell it I put it back together. I also do not assume everyone is as careful as I am.

BlazNT, Thanks for the great lead. When I checked, it was the kill wire that had rubbed up against a piece of sheet metal. I replace the wire and bingo- the thing runs like it did when it was new! Thank you so much for responding to my post and the help you have given.