Go BottomTrying to find a loose wire Maybe Rectifier
 | Izera21
Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 7 United States 
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2013-08-02 187782
I have an earlier 4 X 2 Gator and it starts and then it will run right along holding the throttle half way and then it just quits like someone shut off the switch. If I go back later on and try to start it eventually it starts and runs for a while and then shuts off with the same symptoms. All the lights work when it shuts off like this so I am assuming that there is power getting to the switch? I am assuming that there is a loose wire somewhere. I have cleaned, jiggled, pushed, prodded, pulled out the wires, cleaned them and put them back. I also pulled the rectifier wires and cleaned them. I forgot to plug back in the wires to the rectifier and tried to start it and it started. I ran is as before with the throttle half open and again it just shut off like someone turned it off.
Question 1: Anyone had this problem before?
Question 2: What does the rectifier do? I figured that it would not start if it wasn't plugged in.....
Any ideas? My wife wants me to get rid of it saying that it is too much trouble and it is in the way so any help would probably keep my marriage healthy and increase my wife's belief in my mechanical skills..... :-)
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 | appyacres
Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 9 United States
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2013-08-04 187793
Question 2: What does a rectifier do?
It's an electronic circuit that takes an AC input, from the stator, and converts it, or 'rectifies it' to a positive DC output voltage.
My guess is that your problem is not electrical unless the ignition coil is breaking down or failing.
I would be more inclined to review the fuel system. ....
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| appyacres
Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 9 United States
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2013-08-04 187794
Question 1; Anyone had this problem before?
On some older motorcycles I have seen this. Fuel related mostly. If you were to apply the choke about half way, does it run longer or better? What about full choke?
For the coil troubleshooting I would attach a spark tester; an inline wire with glass tube that shows if the coil is sparking strong enough. If your tester shows the spark doesn't quit when it dies, then you probably have a fuel problem.
The tank vent hose can become pinched so immediately open the cap after it dies. If you can hear the pressure release, you know the vent is plugged. If that's not it I would install a clear fuel line so you can observe the fuel. It's normal to have air in the line, but if it goes entirely empty you may have a fuel pump issue. ....
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| gatormaki
Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 33 Illinois
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2013-08-04 187795
Ditto Appy on a fuel supply problem and trying the choke as it begins to die. I assume your 4x2 has a pulse driven fuel pump. Those pulse fuel pumps can be really erratic when they begin to go- not like a car where your usually dead in the water when the electric pump goes. First time mine went my gator would stall 3-4 times a week when it was first started in the morning and warmed up. Just die away as I was driving along. I'd wait a bit and it would start right up and work fine usually for the rest of the day. Sometime for several days with no problem. Pulling the choke would usually keep it running when it had one of those morning conniptions and then I knew it was fuel related. It was under warranty at the time and before I discovered trying the choke even the dealer couldn't figure it out as it was so intermittent.
They sell pump rebuild kits but you will likely just end up with a bunch of parts for the trash as you pretty much need jigs to hold all the innards while trying to reassemble it. A new pump runs about $50 on-line.
Could also be the filter or vent as Appy mentioned. ....
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| Izera21
Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 7 United States
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2013-08-05 187799
I put a new fuel filter in it, new fuel pump and cleaned the carb. I'm just thinking that it is electrical because when it dies it just immediately shuts off. No spitting or sputtering or acting like it wants to try to keep going.
I have had it running with the rectifier plugs unplugged and it ran for a while and then it quit like it normally did. Why does it need a rectifier if it runs without one? ....
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| gatormaki
Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 33 Illinois
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2013-08-05 187803
To keep the battery charged.
Anyway sounds like an intermittent electrical fault in the ignition then. Not much fun to find if you don't have spare parts to swap out. Maybe someone knows how to test components like the coil and module. ....
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| Izera21
Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 7 United States
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2013-08-05 187805
I'v been looking on jdparts.com and I have a heart attack everytime I feel like "trying" something new to get her running. :-( ....
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 | kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina 
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2013-08-07 187809
Do not see where you answered about pulling the choke.
We have a gator that was doing the same thing and it was totally fuel related. Use of ethanol. Used Sea Foam at least twice and pure gas and think system is finally clean. Had mind made up carb had to be taken off and cleaned out but last few times use run fine.
....
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