[fperugini]

My X324 (X320 with AWS) has started to stall after 5-10 minutes into mowing. If I push the choke on, it will keep it from stalling out completely otherwise it will backfire and eventually staff. It appears to only happen under load, i.e. blades engaged. It also has a power bagger which I removed for troubleshooting. The strange thing is it will run parked in the driveway at full throttle for 20 minutes and not stall out. I also drive around the yard up/down steep hills without the blades engaged for about 10 minutes and it did not happen, maybe I did not run it long enough though.

This happened 2 years ago, very similar, and I changed the fuel filter, then fuel pump which did not work, then the coils which did eliminate the stalling problem. I do remember that a side effect that continued after this fix was that when the engine was hot, if I shut the mower to empty the bags or I accidentally stalled it going into reverse without engaging the safety bypass, it would be very difficult to start again. Sometimes I had to wait 5-10 minutes before it would start again. It would just crank and crank but not turn over.

Now 2 years later, I started the season with the normal spring maintenance and changed oil/filter/plugs/air filter/gas filter. I started mowing and the second session the stalling problem started happening again. I called a JD Dealer and asked for some troubleshooting advise and based on my description of symptoms he suggested it could be the coils again, so I replaced the 2 coils again but it did not solve the problem this time.

I have been seeing many similar problems with X320's on this forum so I have been checking some of the suggestions. I tried removing the gas cap when it happens and it did not seem to help. One thing to note here is I do not see any vent hole on the top of the cap. I pulled the line from the fuel pump to the carburetor and gas is flowing. I am not sure on what a normal flow rate should be but it is flowing. I also sprayed some cleaner into the carburetor which did not help.

The fact that when it is about to stall and I push on the choke and it keeps it running seems to point to a fuel or carburetor problem, correct? Can anyone recommend any further troubleshooting steps to help diagnose the problem? Thanks, this is driving me crazy.

 

[tsoleno]

No vent hole means you should have a vapor return system. You will see a smaller hose that sneaks under the air filter cover on the RH side if so. A variety of things have been covered on the forums on causes. If it happens repetitive enough, a simple troubleshooting tool is to extend a length of 1/4 fuel line from the rear of the fuel filter into a small supply can and mow with it. If no stall, then it is time to pull the body and tank and give it a clean. Hot restarts / stalls I've had a couple ECU failures as well.

 

[fperugini]

a simple troubleshooting tool is to extend a length of 1/4 fuel line from the rear of the fuel filter into a small supply can and mow with it. If no stall, then it is time to pull the body and tank and give it a clean.

Thanks, this sound like a great idea, I will give it a try. I have also read about the ECU failures and I have to say that I have jumped the battery using my car in the past when the battery was dead. I have since learned this is a big no-no. I may have caused damage to the ECU.

 

[fperugini]

Well, it was not the ECU module. I am beginning to think it's the carburetor.

 

[Dr.Jett]

Well, it was not the ECU module. I am beginning to think it's the carburetor.

There is a video on YouTube that describes similar condition it was the fuel shutoff solenoid on the carb.

 

[rydplrs]

I would get a spark checker so you can be 100% sure it it isn’t spark related.

Once you know it’s fuel or air that’s the problem I would suspect a misadjusted carburetor float.

 

[tsoleno]

Did it stall when you drew fuel direct from a supply can?

 

[ifthat]

So I'm out looking for a solution to this same exact issue for a x390. I have owned a x360. Logged about 400 hours on a Z540R and now my parents x390. They all had this strange issue of losing power after a stretch of time of the engine just dying off unless I turned off PTO and took load off engine. I looked up the engine for all 3 models. All three models are all very similar if not the same in the parts used. My x360 used to backfire all the time when stopping engine. The 540 used to just die in the middle of cutting and I would have to shut it off, start it back up cut some more and repeat. That fix was supposedly a blade of grass in the float. Now my parents x390 is doing the same thing. Place mower under heavy load while mowing, example going up steep hill. Motor starts to die off. It also backfires when stopping motor. This block and design has flaws...so at this time. I dont know what it may be. Hoping a solution comes across here.


x360
Kawasaki FH661V
22HP Kawasaki 675cc 2-cyl gasoline

x390
22HP Kawasaki 726cc 2-cyl gasoline
Kawasaki FS651V

Z540R
24HP Kawasaki 726cc 2-cyl gasoline
Kawasaki FS730V

 

[fperugini]

I would get a spark checker so you can be 100% sure it it isn’t spark related.

Once you know it’s fuel or air that’s the problem I would suspect a misadjusted carburetor float.

So I bought a spark checker and the spark is fine when it begins to stall. I then bought a after market carburetor and installed it last night, sadly it is still doing the same thing.

 

[fperugini]

Did it stall when you drew fuel direct from a supply can?

Going to try this tomorrow.

 

[fperugini]

So I'm out looking for a solution to this same exact issue for a x390. I have owned a x360. Logged about 400 hours on a Z540R and now my parents x390. They all had this strange issue of losing power after a stretch of time of the engine just dying off unless I turned off PTO and took load off engine. I looked up the engine for all 3 models. All three models are all very similar if not the same in the parts used. My x360 used to backfire all the time when stopping engine. The 540 used to just die in the middle of cutting and I would have to shut it off, start it back up cut some more and repeat. That fix was supposedly a blade of grass in the float. Now my parents x390 is doing the same thing. Place mower under heavy load while mowing, example going up steep hill. Motor starts to die off. It also backfires when stopping motor. This block and design has flaws...so at this time. I dont know what it may be. Hoping a solution comes across here.


x360
Kawasaki FH661V
22HP Kawasaki 675cc 2-cyl gasoline

x390
22HP Kawasaki 726cc 2-cyl gasoline
Kawasaki FS651V

Z540R
24HP Kawasaki 726cc 2-cyl gasoline
Kawasaki FS730V

Still no solution, it's driving me nuts.

 

[Sefto]

Had same issue with my x500. A mouse chewed a pin hole in the fuel pickup tube at the tank. I posted on it here last week. Solved. Good luck.

 

[fperugini]

Going to try this tomorrow.

This worked!!! So it must be something from the fuel line into the tank. I cannot believe it. THANK YOU tsoleno! Now to go take it apart...

 

[tsoleno]

Not lots to it . Your drive pedals come off, HOC knob, couple of nuts in front under the pad, couple bolts in the rear. Fish the seat harness through. Gives you an opportunity to clean things up, lube the HOC knob etc. Around an hour and half of fun. Usually find plant debris in the tank to rinse out.

 

[fperugini]

Not lots to it . Your drive pedals come off, HOC knob, couple of nuts in front under the pad, couple bolts in the rear. Fish the seat harness through. Gives you an opportunity to clean things up, lube the HOC knob etc. Around an hour and half of fun. Usually find plant debris in the tank to rinse out.

Not too bad to get the gas tank out and clean it. This was the problem, clogged with grass clippings. It's all back together and runs fine now.