Lawnmower

[wozz]

After some advice.

Ive just acquired a troublesome lawnmower from a family member.

Ive sorted the choke lever that was playing up but its still having trouble starting. I can get it started after a few attempts (not unusual for this mower) it runs for about 30-40 seconds fine then dies doesnt matter what you do with the choke just coughs splutters and dies. Sounds ok uptil then.

I would like to attempt to sort it, ive cleaned the air filter and will be getting it a new spark plug in the coming days.

Is there anything else simple I could try?

Does it sound like a fuel starvation problem, like dirty fuel?

cheers for any input

 

[apprentice87]

What sort of mower is it? Once it conks out, can you restart it straight away, or will it only start again ages later?

john..

 

[wozz]

briggs and stratton its a self proppelled mower but that broke nearly instantly when it was new so its just a push mower and has been for a few years!

Once it conks out it doesnt want to restart for 10mins. approx.

 

[Barx]

If it's old and looks a little grubby then I would clean up the fuel system. Clean up with carb cleaner and put back together. Also, some (if not all) have a filter in fuel tank. Check thats clean.

 

[NozSpark]

To add to the carb strip down and clean,,, just make sure that you open the bleed valve on the fuel cap or you'll not get any air in to replace the fuel that's been used!

 

[wozz]

THe fuel tanks does look a bit grubby but can see a filter on the diagram ? http://bsintek.basco.com/BriggsDocumentDisplay/default.aspx?filename=18mrxLXBnfBhU7y

 

[batty]

How old is the fuel?

 

[NozSpark]

I'd say it was item 393 in the carb mate,,, but I wait to be corrected

 

[wozz]

fuel is most probably quite old if i can drain the fuel and any crap in the tank it would be a good start.

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I also though 393 when i first looked at it noz. Coupld be be running for thirty seconds on the fuel used to prime it u reckon?

 

[steptoe]

it would probably run for about 10-15secs if you just poured a bit of fuel into the plug hole.!

deffo a fuel issue,

could be countless things tho, anything from a dirty filter to blocked jets, leaky floats, or even a dirty air filter.

is the plug wet or dry after its stopped? this rules out either no air, or no fuel,(to a degree)[providing the spark is good, the spark could be breaking down when hot], you can usually tell by the noise it makes just before/as it stops as to whether its a fuel, air or spark problem,

 

[M107]

Had the same problem with my Briggs & Stratton 740 was a pinhole in the carb diaphragm.

Change the carb diaphragm & the fuel, bet it'll fire up & run no problem.

This may help if you are unsure how to do it...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/C5nzigcNTwo?feature=oembed

 

[wozz]

steps, the air filter is fairly clean. The plug is a bit oily after conking out, i thought this could be cos its run for a short time? Im getting a new plug for it anyway so will know a bit more then. this mower goes through plugs very quickly.

M107 i shall watch the video now.

Thanks for the input everyone! may actually fix this one!

 

[steptoe]

if the plug is 'WET' it would usually be a sign of no spark, or, too much fuel causing it to flood, try running it without the air filter, it should try to rev up, if not then its simply running too rich.

 

[NozSpark]

If the fuels old and it runs on a 2 stroke mix then is there a chance it could have seperated??

IMHO if it's alway had problems and it's been standing then it is definitely worth draining and rinsing the tank as well as stripping the carb and giving it a good clean... Whle you're at it check for sticking float and holes/perished diaphragm.

 

[wozz]

good video there!

Ive run it without the air box and it does the usual, but runs rougher then dies.

I will start with getting the fuel tank of and getting the old fuel out. I can have a look at the diaphragm then.

Its not a two stroke. Looks like carb cleaner is on the shopping list.

I got this mower for nothing and it isnt that old so dont mind tinkering with it to get it going.

 

[ian932]

My money is on a diaphragm issue, just had mine serviced as it was in storage for the past 5 years and used it last month and it was hunting rev's going up and down almost stalling and the old boy I use said perished diaphragm

 

[steptoe]

if its hunting deffo a fuel issue,

a long time since I worked on B&S, is it a piston port carb you have? or simply a vacumn diaphram? if its a vacumn then you could try just bypassing it and see if its ok, it works on a vacuum from the crankcase to allow fuel to pass through, so at worst you will only flood the carb.

 

[wozz]

Thankyou to everyone on this.

Picked up a diaphragm, spark plug (

 

[Sidewinder]

wozz,

Please tell me the plug was not

 

[wozz]

No plug and diaphragm was