I have a craftsman lawn tractor with a B & S 18 HP Vtech engine. It is three years old and did not have any problem until this year. I am mowing the same yard and have a small incline in the front yard. I have always mowed it vertically but now after 2-3 trips up the hill, the tractor sputters, backfires and quits and will not start for 15 minutes and then it is fine as long as I do not go up a hill (not talking a steep hill at all). Any suggestions are appreciated
Gary

Gary Rice, May 2008

Fuel pump diaphragm is shot. Costs pennies and takes minutes to fit. Confirmed is the problem gets worse with a nearly empty tank.

phil_saunders@bigfoot.com

Phil Saunders, May 2008