My Scag patriot stalls on cool days

Four faced

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Jul 2, 2025
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I've got a 52" Scag Patriot with a Kohler engine. It's been running great, except on cooler days. Around 50°F, it starts fine but stalls or dies when I drive, especially over bumps, but on warm days there are no issues, does anyone know what might be causing it?
 
It seems like you're facing a pretty typical problem with Kohler engines in mowers. Cold weather along with some bumps can often lead to loose wiring or issues with the seat switch. I experienced something similar when a loose seat switch made my mower stall until I cleaned and secured the connector.It's also a good idea to check the position of the fuel filter, sometimes air or vapor lock can cause stalling when you're on uneven ground. Have you tried wiggling the wiring or testing the seat switch?
 
It seems like you're facing a pretty typical problem with Kohler engines in mowers. Cold weather along with some bumps can often lead to loose wiring or issues with the seat switch. I experienced something similar when a loose seat switch made my mower stall until I cleaned and secured the connector.It's also a good idea to check the position of the fuel filter, sometimes air or vapor lock can cause stalling when you're on uneven ground. Have you tried wiggling the wiring or testing the seat switch?
yep, it's a definite cold weather bug! besides the fuel filter, bro should also check the carburetor/choke. if it's carbureted, the choke mechanism might not be disengaging smoothly as it warms up, causing it to run too rich and stall when running.
Or, if it's not staying closed enough when cold, it'll run too lean. Tiny clogged pilot jets can also cause issues when cold
 
It seems like you're facing a pretty typical problem with Kohler engines in mowers. Cold weather along with some bumps can often lead to loose wiring or issues with the seat switch. I experienced something similar when a loose seat switch made my mower stall until I cleaned and secured the connector.It's also a good idea to check the position of the fuel filter, sometimes air or vapor lock can cause stalling when you're on uneven ground. Have you tried wiggling the wiring or testing the seat switch?
That makes a lot of sense, I haven't checked the seat switch or wiring yet, but I'll take a closer look at those and the fuel filter position
 
yep, it's a definite cold weather bug! besides the fuel filter, bro should also check the carburetor/choke. if it's carbureted, the choke mechanism might not be disengaging smoothly as it warms up, causing it to run too rich and stall when running.
Or, if it's not staying closed enough when cold, it'll run too lean. Tiny clogged pilot jets can also cause issues when cold
Do you recommend pulling the jets for cleaning or using cleaner first?
 
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