Lawn mower won't start

[spidey07]

So my lawn mower has been sitting around for two years without being started. Surprise, it wouldn't start.

Checked plug - got fire
Checked fuel lines - got fuel
Fuel to the carb? - yep...I took off the filter and the carb had plenty of fuel.

But the carb does have a gummy residue in the throttle body so I spray the heck out of it with carb cleaner - the motor then starts (running only off the carb cleaner and I continue to spray cleaner in the throttle body to hopefully clean it out)

But still no go.

So I can only assume the jets or something in the carb is clogged.

Any ideas how to fix? I saw three tiny holes near where some kind of adjustment screw is...this is where the fuel enters the carb right?

 

[Viperoni]

Take the carb apart, clean it out thouroughly with carb cleaner or some other harsh stuff that'll make you high in the process
My 10 year old Craftsman snowblower won't hold a steady idle for the same reason I'm betting. Gonna have me some fun this summer getting it working again

 

[spidey07]

I sprayed the heck out of what I think are the jets (three tiny holes)

Aren't you supposed to "soak" a carb that is clogged like this? Maybe just moving the screws a little (two screws...one must be idle and the other mixture?)

 

[nakedfrog]

Yes, I've heard tell of people soaking their carbs for 24 hours on a rebuild.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Yes, I've heard tell of people soaking their carbs for 24 hours on a rebuild.

in what? Gas or kerosene? Some other solvent?

 

[BigPoppa]

Dunno if you checked, but make sure your air filter is clear too.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: BigPoppa
Dunno if you checked, but make sure your air filter is clear too.

yeah, most of my troubleshooting was the the filter off. The mower probably only has 100 hours on it.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Yes, I've heard tell of people soaking their carbs for 24 hours on a rebuild.

in what? Gas or kerosene? Some other solvent?

Get parts cleaner from your local auto store. Comes with a wire basket so you don't lose anything. It's usually about 5 bucks for a gallon of it; and is reusable.

 

[Ornery]

Where's Eli?

What happens when you choke it? Can you prime it? You say it will ignite the 'carb cleaner'? Do you mean starter fluid instead? When you choke it, and turn it over, does the plug come out wet with fuel?

The carb has a filter at the bottom of the tube in the gas tank. See if that's crudded up. Also, throw a new plug on there. Just because it can jump the gap outside the engine, doesn't mean it can under compression. Also, get fresh fuel.

 

Gasoline starts seperating into it's constituants after 2 months in storage, by 8 months it is no longer gasoline.

Before disaasembling the carb, try squirting starting fluid or gasoline into the crab throat, then try to start it, if it fires right off, remove the carb down to it's base, clean all the passages out with carb clean, then blow out with compressed air, reassemble carb using new gaskets, reinstall and be on your merry way.

 

[Vic]

You need to drain the gas out of the tank and refill with fresh gas. Do the same with the motor oil.

 

[OutHouse]

replace the points in it. 90% of the problem

 

[rh71]

just had the same problem of not starting after 8 months of sitting in the garage. There was no gas in the tank at all and I filled it with fresh gas. I also just filled a little bit of oil. Primed it 3 times like it should... but the engine just won't turn over. Any other ideas aside from taking the thing apart ? I know nothing about engines in the first place. Going to look for the oil drain right now...

 

[zixxer]

My mower would start and run for about 2 seconds then die. I took the top cover off, took the bowl off the carb, sprayed it down with carb cleaner, cleaned the linkages, replaced plug, filter, drained gas, drained oil, refilled everything and she ran like a beauty.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: rh71
just had the same problem of not starting after 8 months of sitting in the garage. There was no gas in the tank at all and I filled it with fresh gas. I also just filled a little bit of oil. Primed it 3 times like it should... but the engine just won't turn over. Any other ideas aside from taking the thing apart ? I know nothing about engines in the first place. Going to look for the oil drain right now...

In your case, try pulling off the air filter and spraying some starter fluid in there.

 

[Armitage]

Yep ... what roger said. Dump the old gas out, and put fresh stuff in. Betcha it starts right up.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: bunker

Originally posted by: rh71
just had the same problem of not starting after 8 months of sitting in the garage. There was no gas in the tank at all and I filled it with fresh gas. I also just filled a little bit of oil. Primed it 3 times like it should... but the engine just won't turn over. Any other ideas aside from taking the thing apart ? I know nothing about engines in the first place. Going to look for the oil drain right now...

In your case, try pulling off the air filter and spraying some starter fluid in there.

Hmm... nevermind... I had to push the primer thing about 15 times... then it started right up.

 

[Eli]

Heh.. did you get it working?

 

[StageLeft]

Is it a briggs and straton?