FIRST TIME: 20 year old briggs won't start :(

[Popinski]

For the first time in 20 years, my Briggs 3.5 hp lawn mower will not start. It will usually start after 1 or 2 pulls but after 20 pulls, it starts, runs for 10 seconds, then dies.

It's the first time since last August that I started it. Today:

-Changed Oil
-Cleaned and re-oiled air filter
-Cleaned and re-gapped spark plug
-Fresh gasoline

I took out the spark plug and turned it a couple revolutions and no gasoline came out. I'm thinking blocked fuel line?

Thanks in advance.

 

[demarpaint]

Sounds like the carb needs some cleaning or possibly a rebuild.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I found my head bolts VERY loose once when I ran syn oil one year. Does sound like fuel starvation though. Mine cheap Murray/briggs is 20 years old too - the deck is going on it and its only had one spark plug change and one blade rebalance. Maybe time for new (!) Rear bagger push mowers are still cheap enough to buy. I would shead a tear or two when putting "Old Reliable" out at the curb

 

[boraticus]

First thing to check is the vent on the cap of the fuel tank. If the mower runs good with ta loose fuel cap, chances are the vent is blocked. Next thing to do is pull the fuel line off at the carb to see if you have fuel flow to it. Put a clear glass container in place to catch some fuel. Look for water or debris. If you have good clean fuel flow, drop the float bowl (if it has one) and check for water/dirt in there. If you have water & dirt in the fuel, empty the fuel tank, completely flush it with a garden hose. Afterward, stuff a dry rag into the tank to absorb any residual water.

While float bowl is off, check to see if your float moves freely and allows the float needle to move up and down. Make sure the float needle is actually moving, not just the lever that moves it. If none of that fixes the problem, time to pull the carb, thoroughly clean it and put it back on. Good luck.

 

[JimPghPA]

If you go on You-Tube there ares several videos on how to rebuild old briggs carburators. There is a spring and a thin gasket to pay attention to, along with cleaning float valve and all passages.

Also after 20 years it might require you to adjust the valve clearance, there are You-Tube videos on how to do that for a briggs.

Basicly, if it still has compression and the main bearings are not shot, and it has spark, it is fixable.

 

[Popinski]

SHE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the help, guys.


All I did was put some gasoline into the cylinder hole and started her up. Then I messed with the governor back and forth. Now she's starts in one pull. She just "choked up" I guess.