[raboley]

My 322 has been running like a champ since the now fuel pump a while back. Half way through mowing tonight it just started bogging down until it was nearly off. I turned off the deck and it still kept gasping for fuel. I finished mowing with a 318 and came back it and cleaned the filter (which wasn't bad). Started and still sputtering and really only ran with partial choke.

I am pretty sure its not the fuel pump and leaning towards junk in the carb.

Thoughts of where to start?

 

[JDF/ SwampFox]

If the coils are providing all the spark correctly and the plugs are fairly new, I agree. Could be when you disturbed the fuel line from the pump some crud got into the carb.
Fuel line is cheap, I'd replace it all if it's over 5 years old.

 

[boblin]

Richard,
The "partial choke" comment made me think of a carb issue I had last winter. The carb had been cleaned but somehow the idle jet was clogged at the bottom. To find this out, I took the carb off and completely disassembled it. Cleaned everything especially the passageways from the shut off solenoid to where the gas comes out of the idle jet. Be sure and pull the idle jet out and look through it. I used a carb cleaner that came with a small tube to spray all the passageways. My 322 would not run correctly without choking it either.
Bob

 

[sailon]

Richard, Pull the fuel line off just before the fuel filter. Be sure to have a can to catch the gas that will drain out of the bottom of the fuel filter and gas line that runs to the carb. With an appropriate container in front of the fuel line and very clear of all electric wiring turn the key on without starting the tractor for a couple seconds to run the fuel pump and assure you have a good flow of fuel. If not the gas tank filter may be partially plugged or the line inside the tank to the filter may be cracked or broken off. As suggested replace all fuel lines, fuel filter etc and recheck fuel flow again. If still really low the fuel pump would once again be suspect. I replaced all my fuel lines last year and found the line with the filter in the tank had broken in half. I replaced the line in the tank with 1/4" tygon fuel line.

 

[v1650dash7]

I think a quick way to check the pickup line in the tank is to simply fill the tank completely and see how the tractor runs. Of course, if you determine the pickup line is broken, you'll have to deal with all of that fuel...

 

[raboley]

I pulled the carb off and did a quick clean without even disassembling it. That did the trick for now and it fired right up and ran perfect. I was amazed at how simply it was to get the carb off compared to the Onans.