Cub Cadet riding mower problem

If it happened to me, I'd unscrew the spark plug to see if it was wet with gas and if it was sparking. If there was gas and a spark, I'd use a bit of wire to see if the spark was strong enough to jump 1/4".

Good advice. Pull the plug and then turn the motor over to see if you're actually getting spark. Spark, fuel, and air about the three basic things an engine needs to operate.

There is often a safety switch under the seat, on the blades and one for being in neutral. Rule these out first.

That should have read -- one for being in "park" not neutral. In the case of my walkbehind (hydro) it's required to have the brake applied.

year 2002. Yesterday during normal mowing the engine shut off and would not restart. Spark plug is good, fuel is getting to the carb. Any ideas on what may be wrong? Oil was a little low, has been refilled. Didn't know if there was a safety sensor.

I saw this post yesterday, and now reading again. "engine shut off" is different than you shut the engine down by yourself. From here, my best advice is much the same as others write. Check for wet gas on spark plug, and spark when you turn the key. Also, this is a good time to pull the motor cover, and clean any grease, and old grass from under the cover. Over heating can damage engines. The round flywheel draws air in, and blows the air over the motor for cooling.

When you get it going, please let us know what you find.

From what I read, the mower shut down during "regular mowing". That would suggest a safety failure, or possibly coil burned out.

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Looking at the safety switches may be wise but the seat switch and the reverse switch are the only ones which will cut out the engine. The parking, and blade engaged switches prevent engine start up. It's not clear in his post but it sounds as if the engine cranks. That would eliminate parking and blade engaged as problems.

Dave M.

I had a chipper that did that. Turned out the rocker arm adjustment had not been properly locked at the factory (engine only had 9 hours on it)and backed off until the push rod jumped out of the socket.

You are correct. I was thinking along the lines that it simply wouldn't start. Looking at his original comment, if it was running and died, it isn't likely to be a parking or blade safety switch. I HAVE replaced the seat switch ... so they do indeed malfunction.