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+--- Thread: Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. (/showthread.php?tid=80435)
Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. - Greg - 06-28-2009
Craftsman, 22" blade, mulcher. Sears #917.387240
Anyway, it starts, and then dies. Takes less than a second for it to go from "running" to "arrrrgh....
I figured it was the spark plug, being the mechanical genius that I am. (Pfeh.) Turns out, the spark plug was all loose and jittery and not really screwed into anything significantly. So, last night, I tightened it, replaced the hose thingee that attaches to the spark plug, yanked the cord, and it ran! For around 20 seconds! Much confidence did I have! Whee!
But it was 90 degrees outside, so I put it away for the evening.
This morning, I confidently barged outside, pressed the little primer button five or eight times, yanked the string, and then came back inside to do internet research, because the mower was back to the whole start-and-die cycle.
What's next? Whack something with a screwdriver? Pay someone? Whack someone with a screwdriver? Figure out how to clean the side holes in the float bowl? (Thanks to Googling for that last one.)
Greg
Re: Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. - kap - 06-28-2009
http://www.peoplepoweredmachines.com/hudsonstar/classic.htm
I wouldn't work up a sweat in a 90s degree temperature!
:oldfogey:
Re: Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. - Mike Johnson - 06-28-2009
First, check the air filter -- just pull it off and see if it runs without it. A clogged air filter could cause it to start and die just like you describe.
It could also bad fuel, maybe contaminated with water. I'd drain it and fill it with fresh.
Then if it still won't start, I'd suspect the carburetor. It could need an adjustment, or a cleaning, or a rebuild.
Re: Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. - Gutenberg - 06-28-2009
Here's some advice.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/35624/troubleshoot_a_gas_lawn_mower_carburetor.html?cat=27
I am a city girl and don't know from mowers, sorry, but the above seemed sensible.
Re: Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. - Done - 06-28-2009
I would say the same as above air filter, bad gas, or clogged gas filter or jets in carburetor. I had one that did the same and it was jets in the carburetor, I would take the carb apart and then it would work again. So I assume trash was blocking the gas flow once it's starts the vacuum.
Re: Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. - Jimmypoo - 06-28-2009
If you pour gas over the entire machine, it will start.
And it will burn for hours. No need for Stabil if you run it this way.
Otherwise, try to start it without the air filter and that will answer your question.
Do that on concrete, so you don't get too much stuff that doesn't belong, into
the intake.
Often, those Sears mowers that require that you flip the machine over to dump oil,
have oil coming OUT of the carb too. Also, if it is overfilled, when you pull to start,
the splash lube method throws oil out the carb, and onto your filter, making it useless.
There is NOTHING you can do to clean a new filter. I tried when that happened last year
($13 waste of $$$$) soaking overnight in gas, spraying with starting fluid, but the nice
clean oil was in those pleats and NEVER coming out.
Except when I also started it (the pleated filter) - as instructed in first paragraph. It "ran"
for about 10 minutes before I had to scrape it off the driveway!
Try upgrading to THIS....
or....
you might try THIS....
Re: Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. - GGD - 06-28-2009
It's been decades since I played with a lawnmower engine, but from my ancient experience it sounds like the not releasing the choke.
Re: Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. - Jimmypoo - 06-28-2009
btw... you'll find the charge for someone to replace/rebuild the carb about the same as a
new engine. In other words, INSANE. I have a Briggs/Tecumsuh repair guide with prices
for carb jet pins, etc., and the prices are like buying $500 logic boards for a $850 Macbook.
Re: Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. - Jimmypoo - 06-28-2009
GGD wrote:
It's been decades since I played with a lawnmower engine, but from my ancient experience it sounds like the not releasing the choke.
You'll find that the newer mowers use a double overhead cam, with a fuel injected 413 as the engine.
Or am I just thinking of that damned Beach Boys song again?
Re: Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does. - deckeda - 06-28-2009
If you were, you'd be thinking, "She's real fine my 409"
I read this, "Lawn mower starts, but that's all it does." and thought geez, you also have to push it, or at least steer it.
Or maybe not: http://www.friendlyrobotics.com/robomow/