[B]John Deere JX75 with 6hp Kawasaki (FC150V)[/B] I've searched for other questions on this topic, but I believe mine is different since the engine doesn't seem to be stalling under load. Rather, it seems to suddenly stall at a specific point (about the middle) as the blade engagement lever is pushed forward. I've tried slooooowwwly engaging the blade and at a certain point (before the 'click') the engine goes from running full speed to OFF instantly. If I back off the lever as soon as I sense the engine is stalling, it doesn't 'recover'. Once it starts to stall, that's it. At first blush it seems 'obvious' the blade or clutch is seized, but curiously if I 'pre-engage' the blade with the engine completely off and hold the bail down, it starts right up with no problem and the blade turns normally. If I then release the bail, the engine continues to run, but if I try to re-engage the blade it stalls again. It BEHAVES as if there's an magneto/ignition kill happening somewhere, but I don't see any wires anywhere near the blade engagement lever. Any ideas? I know the standard advice is to rebuild the carb, but other than a little 'hunting' it runs strong and even under load (cutting tall grass) it does fine, so I'd be surprised if that was the culprit, especially since it works fine if I 'pre-engage' the blade. Also, for what it's worth, if I tip the (non-running) mower over and engage the blade, I can spin the blade with my hand 'freely' (as much as you'd expect with the piston compressing the air). Without the blade engaged, it's very difficult to turn (again, as I would expect). Thanks in advance for any replies!

[left]I am attempting to bring a 1986 Polaris ATV back to life. I’ve worked with 4 stroke go kart engines lots and done basic maintenance with 2 stroke stuff - but not too deep in the 2 stroke engines. So so it’s hard to pull the starter rope and it sort of jumps around. Not impossible but doesn’t feel like it should be so hard and unsmooth. When i take the spark plug out it turns real nice and easy. So its old and im thinking i have to rebuild probably. The carb is fully off and I’ve removed the exhaust. The drive belt on the clutch is off too. So nothing should be holding the engine back from turning easy. If it was a bad cylender, piston, rings, crank, or bearings it would be hard with and without the spark right? So why easy with spark and hard without? [/left]