861 spit and sputter

[usmck405]

I run a 5' bushhog and the previous property owner let our pasture grow up before we moved in. I had a friend come and cut it with his Kabota before I was able to get my 861 and bushhog. However he was not able to get behind the fence due to time constraints. So I got out there once I got my bushhog and tractor and started cutting it and was able to get a good bit of it cut but after about ~1 hour of running it through the really thick grass/brush it started spitting and sputtering to where I had to push the clutch in and throttle back to keep it from shutting off. I pulled into the shade and cut it off for a while to let it cool down. After about ~5min or so I cranked it back up and it ran a little better but I knew it was not going to let me cut any more so I drove it back to the barn. It drove fine without cutting after a bit.

Sorry for the novel. Any ideas what could have caused this? I run regular gasoline.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Always check your spark first.
Next time you mow bring an old spark with
you that you've stretched the contacts
out to 1/4". When the tractor begins to
run poorly Immediately get out of the
seat and check your spark. Hook your home
made spark checker to a spark plug wire
and lay it on a good ground. It should
jump that 1/4" gap easily with a bright,
bluish white spark. Short or yellowish
spark means an electrical problem.
If your spark checks out okay you'll know
it is likely a fuel problem. Maybe vapor
lock. Those tractors are known for that.
I don't know your tractor as well as
others here do. So do the above check and
post your results. That will help the
others help you.

 

[usmck405]

(quoted from post at 17:15:34 08/17/20) Always check your spark first.
Next time you mow bring an old spark with
you that you've stretched the contacts
out to 1/4". When the tractor begins to
run poorly Immediately get out of the
seat and check your spark. Hook your home
made spark checker to a spark plug wire
and lay it on a good ground. It should
jump that 1/4" gap easily with a bright,
bluish white spark. Short or yellowish
spark means an electrical problem.
If your spark checks out okay you'll know
it is likely a fuel problem. Maybe vapor
lock. Those tractors are known for that.
I don't know your tractor as well as
others here do. So do the above check and
post your results. That will help the
others help you.

Thank you for the response! I will definitely try this and post my results when I get back out there.