usnavyvet

Hello,

I've got a Swisher tow-behind finish mower with a stalling problem. It will run great when it runs, but will periodically just stall out. Sometimes it will not restart immediately.

When the engine begins to stutter, it can be kept running with starter fluid, also a timing light verifies that spark is occuring even when it won't fire.
Plug, filter, and gas are new. Gas appears plentiful at the carb input. The mower was taken to a small engine repair shop, but they were not successful in repairing it.

I believe, at this point,that it is either dirt or a float problem in the carb, but I have a couple of questions:

The suspect carb is a NIKKI, but I can get a WALBRO replacement. It appears to be a direct substitute, but should I do this or attempt to rebuild the NIKKI carb? The price of a replacement isn't much more than the rebuild kit.

Can someone explain the function of the fuel solenoid that both carbs have?
Without a wiring diagram, I am unsure if this is a switch that turns off the ignition when the bowl empties, or if it is a relay that permits fuel flow into the bowl, or ????.

Thanks in advance

John