So the new to me Ariens lawnmower I picked up earlier this season is becoming difficult to start when it gets up to operating temp. The guy I bought it from told me this, but it really wasn't a problem when I first started using it. It would take 3 good pulls after a shut off to get it to fire up, but it would just catch and slowly sputter up to normal operation.
I pulled the valve cover and adjusted the valves to the wide end of the spec so that they wouldn't be tight and the problem seems to go away. During the summer, I really don't stop cutting once I start because I mulch, but now that leaves are falling I've been bagging and dumping them on the street. It now takes 5-6 good pulls to get it to catch and sputter to life.
I checked the valves again and they are still right where I set them when cold. I haven't checked them hot, but might try that over the weekend to see if they need to be outside of the spec range to insure they aren't tight when hot.
Anyone else have any tips or recommendations at what else I should be checking? The air filter was new this season, along with a fresh NGK plug. When cold, it has a good blue spark but only when pulled hard. When I try to start it when hot, I have to really tug to get it to turn over as fast as I can, otherwise no amount of pulling will get it to start. Once it does restart, it runs at 100% so I'm hesitant to think the coil is bad. I even tried priming it once when hot to see if it's a fuel issue, but had the same results.
Thanks in advance.
I pulled the valve cover and adjusted the valves to the wide end of the spec so that they wouldn't be tight and the problem seems to go away. During the summer, I really don't stop cutting once I start because I mulch, but now that leaves are falling I've been bagging and dumping them on the street. It now takes 5-6 good pulls to get it to catch and sputter to life.
I checked the valves again and they are still right where I set them when cold. I haven't checked them hot, but might try that over the weekend to see if they need to be outside of the spec range to insure they aren't tight when hot.
Anyone else have any tips or recommendations at what else I should be checking? The air filter was new this season, along with a fresh NGK plug. When cold, it has a good blue spark but only when pulled hard. When I try to start it when hot, I have to really tug to get it to turn over as fast as I can, otherwise no amount of pulling will get it to start. Once it does restart, it runs at 100% so I'm hesitant to think the coil is bad. I even tried priming it once when hot to see if it's a fuel issue, but had the same results.
Thanks in advance.