Tractor Repair: Sears 44inch 18 HP lawn tractor, gas filter, tractor engine

Question
Engine surging, backfiring, sluggish, stalling. It will run good for awhile and then the problems start, I pull the choke out to keep it running, I cleaned the carburetor, there was some dirt in the gas cup and cleaned the air filter and replaced fuel pump and gas filter,

Answer
No
 Subject: Sears 44inch 18 HP lawn tractor Question: Engine surging, backfiring, sluggish, stalling. It will run good for awhile and then the problems start, I pull the choke out to keep it running, I cleaned the carburetor, there was some dirt in the gas cup and cleaned the air filter and replaced fuel pump and gas filter,


Hi Bill.
It sounds like a governor problem to me but I can’t remember if this machine has one frankly. Have you a manual does it cover this?

You did the right things in cleaning etc The governor normally controls the revs and in some cases the timing as well, it is controlled by the flywheel fan in most B/S ENGINES THIS COULD EASILY GOT DAMAGED OVER THE YEARS.
Have a look. I found a web site that has all sorts of information.
Martin