I had thought the same thing. I have actually replaced the cap with a new cap. The more I work on this, the more I think it is fuel related. It acts like it vapor locks. When I try to restart it, it actually hits everynow and again. I took the carburetor apart and went through it. I found a little dirt in it. Cleaned everything and put it back together. It ran better, but still had the same problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks johntommybob...1 clarification, the deal gets better, it's the LX266 not 255. Has cruise control. I did offer 1 bill less and was told no way. He told me the local dealer said it was worth 1,700 easy. I contacted that dealer and actually spoke w/the guy he spoke with. He said at 1,300 it was a steal...So, I bought it and now my wife is mad at me ;) Your comment about the GT255 brings to mind my first JD which I wish I could get back. A neighbor was moving and sold me his LT155 as a favor for $800. It was 2yrs old and I thought he was pulling my leg on what a deal it was, but as a friend figured it was at least a fair price and bought it. In my research this go around, I'm finding that people are still asking a grand for a y2k LT166...Did I mention it came w/a bagger and the metal dump cart!

I started having fuel line problems last year when our gas supply started to contain ethanol. But only on "older" things. My 1990 Toyota truck started to have carb problems and as I was cleaning the carb I noticed the gas lines had started to decay. They had become gumming and were actually seeping gas in some places. Since replacing the lines, I've had no problems. But I thought things as new as 2001 were compatible with the new gas blends. Could you cut out a piece of gas line at a conveniant point (near a fitting) and then slice it open and inspect it? If you cut the line just upstream from where it went over the fitting, you could compare the section that was over the fitting with a section that had gas flowing though it.

Check teh level of teh mower deck when in teh mowing position. The Freedom deck needs to be more flat than the regular decks, just a very slight tip toward the front. The owners manual has the specifics and JD among others sells a very cheap level guage to make checking easy. Also, there is a big difference between cutting in straight lines and cutting while turning. Mulching requires mowing at a slower speed than a side discharge deck, to allow full pulverizing action. Note that the freedom deck has very little lift (vacuum) to pull up the blades for cutting, so that may also contribute to the need for a slower speed. Apparently the mulching decks do not like to cut while turning, so most advice is to make a couple of passes all around the target lawn area, and then do straight passes, turning in the areas you cut on the first pass. Final advice I have read is to vary the cutting height and see what difference it makes. Said tob e very critical to get just teh right height and the height varies by type of grass being cut. Something around 2 3/4" is a good start, then try a few passes at differing heights (in 1/4" increments) and see what happens. I have been cutting with a Freedom 42 for just this season, but so far, it is an absoultely great cut and no clippings at all(at 2 3/4"), but I haven't got to the drier grass of mid-summer yet.