Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): jd lx 255, mike easter, mows

Question
I have been experiencing problems for a few weeks.  i mow for about 40 min and it just shuts off. About 2 hours later i can get back on and it cranks and mows for 30 min.  i heard that i needed to change the air filter. so friday night, i changed the air filter and the oil and oil filter.  I went inside the house. when i came out, my brother had sprayed a cleaner on the engine and was hosing it down with water.  the jd was running during this process. i bout stroked out.  he stopped rinsing the dirt and dust off the engine and turned it off. i went to mow today and it wont crank.  the engine is turning but it just wont start... what can it be? i am not mechanically inclined.... thank you.
mike easter

Answer
Initially it sounds like you may have had a ignition coil problem, but you should be able to rinse it off with water and engine cleaner without too much problem. There are a couple things your new problem could be, if the engine has a cdi box(little black box mounted to the side of the engine) it may have gotten water inside and might take a while to dry out. The other thing is, did he get water in the gas or carburetor.