# Tractor engine starving for gas
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tractor-engine-starving-for-gas/247609
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 29, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tractor-engine-starving-for-gas/247609 "2004-05-29T00:16:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tractor-engine-starving-for-gas/247609/1 "2004-05-29T00:16:03Z")
While mowing, and out of the blue, the engine started to hesitate then smooth out, hesitate, then smooth out. Classic running out of gas. I jerked back to the house and discovered that I had half a tank left. Discovered that the air filter was clogged up. Cleaned same. Bought a new in line gas filter. Disconnected gas filter, disconnected hose from carb, and bottom of gas tank (no fuel pump, I assume that gas is pulled into the carb by its intake) Blew through each section of hose and all were clean. Put it all back together, mowed for about ten minutes, and problem came back. Manual choke works. I eyeballed it when air filter was off. Possible carb adjustment? But, how could that just go wrong suddenly? Tractor is 3 yrs. old and never abused. All trouble shooting thiings, as written in manual, check out. Now what? Anyone?
Oh…Sears Craftsman, Briggs and Stratton engine.
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### Author:  [@verbenabeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbenabeast)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tractor-engine-starving-for-gas/247609/2 "2004-05-29T00:33:50Z")
next thing I’d check for would be water in the gas or bad gas…
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### Author:  [@Kreekurmudgeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kreekurmudgeon)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tractor-engine-starving-for-gas/247609/3 "2004-05-29T00:55:29Z")
Checking for water is good suggestion. Any chance it’s getting too much gas? If so, it should be blowing black exhaust smoke.
Did you check the spark plug? A fouled plug will do that. (It’s a lot worse than a plugged fowl.)
There are other possibilities, but those seem to be the most likely culprits. Let us know.
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### Author:  [@olefin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olefin)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tractor-engine-starving-for-gas/247609/4 "2004-05-29T01:06:42Z")
I had the same problem with my Sears lawn mower. I blew out the gas lines with compressed air … had to do it a couple times before problem completely went away. I blew both ways… to gas tank and to engine.
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### Author:  [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tractor-engine-starving-for-gas/247609/5 "2004-06-02T20:45:59Z")
Put in two new plugs, and problem solved.
So, along with that, I know I have a clean fuel line, a new fuel filter, and, with the price of gas, I’m glad I saved what I removed, in a coffee can. 😃
Thanks, Guys!