Bud I had this problem. My vent hose from the fuel tank was plugged with a dirt dauber creating a vacuum in the fuel tank. It would idle and drive a short way before dying. Mine had 3 hoses coming from the tank, 1 to generator, 1 to engine and the middle one was a vent. I had to pull the hose and blow out the junk with a compressor. If I didn't have a compressor I would disconnect the vent hose until I finished my trip.