[IH Cub Cadet]

Without a functioning governor, your engine has no real way to add fuel to the engine beyond WOT - no load setting. So your engine could easily stumble when a load is applied.

My brother has an old Ferguson tractor with a bad governor and it's a fight to keep from killing the engine when doing some bush hogging.

I sold a friend of mine a newer Craftsman lawn tractor with I think a 22 hp engine, but the plastic governor gear broke. The guy that bought it, knew this going in, never fixed it either. He learned his yard and every where he needed to goose the throttle or let off so a not to blow the engine. As fas as I know, he is still using the lawn tractor - LOL