hi, I have a Briggs around 4hp magnetron something or other (I cant find a manufacture plate and it was swapped onto a different mower 'body' so i'm honestly not sure, but its the same 1990's briggs'n'stratton as most others with a square plastic cover and a pull start) which of course doesn't want to start now but started fine a couple of weeks ago.
I'll skip the "poor me" story, i'm just unexpectedly short until my work check arrives friday after the grass grew more than I thought while out of town due to excessive rain. (I miscalculated out of town grass growth rate) I bought a rebuild kit with the last of my cash but the last time I tried to rebuild a carb I screwed it up so was hoping to try other stuff first. I need to get this cut by thursday.
Since I always use Stabil (Pri-G actually) to keep the gas more tolerable I was a little surprised. I'm wondering if there are 'quick and dirty fixes' and inspections that I don't know about, and alternatives short of rebuilding the carb.
Super quickie facts version:
- usually takes a few pulls to get started but thats because there's no primer button
- this time when I pull on it (and I pulled it about 80-90 times) i almost never even hear the pops of it showing it's partially touching off the mixture at least
- shooting carb cleaner in there didn't fix it
- using carb cleaner as starting ether doesn't seem to be touching it off any better
- yet there is spark! i pulled the plug wire, put a screwdriver tip in and set it near the block.. i can see the little blue spark jump to the block so it didn't suddenly lose spark
Clearly i'm too rich, or too lean. Spraying the carb cleaner (as ether) should richen it up enough (always did in past 100% of time) in light spurts that i'd assume it should touch off even if not staying running. I'm not even sure what to inspect as I suck at small engines. After extended yanking and spraying pulling the plug showed it was wet but that was after experimenting a bit too. (trying more spray since it wouldnt start as is)
What are the quick'n'dirty fixes I can try during the day tomorrow? (that if they dont work I can just barely afford the carb kit and will try again but fear failure if anyone can suggest a 'best of' rebuilding video i'm all ears too) I'll be looking for videos and how to myself of course, I just figure you guys will know things that I may not find.
I'll skip the "poor me" story, i'm just unexpectedly short until my work check arrives friday after the grass grew more than I thought while out of town due to excessive rain. (I miscalculated out of town grass growth rate) I bought a rebuild kit with the last of my cash but the last time I tried to rebuild a carb I screwed it up so was hoping to try other stuff first. I need to get this cut by thursday.
Since I always use Stabil (Pri-G actually) to keep the gas more tolerable I was a little surprised. I'm wondering if there are 'quick and dirty fixes' and inspections that I don't know about, and alternatives short of rebuilding the carb.
Super quickie facts version:
- usually takes a few pulls to get started but thats because there's no primer button
- this time when I pull on it (and I pulled it about 80-90 times) i almost never even hear the pops of it showing it's partially touching off the mixture at least
- shooting carb cleaner in there didn't fix it
- using carb cleaner as starting ether doesn't seem to be touching it off any better
- yet there is spark! i pulled the plug wire, put a screwdriver tip in and set it near the block.. i can see the little blue spark jump to the block so it didn't suddenly lose spark
Clearly i'm too rich, or too lean. Spraying the carb cleaner (as ether) should richen it up enough (always did in past 100% of time) in light spurts that i'd assume it should touch off even if not staying running. I'm not even sure what to inspect as I suck at small engines. After extended yanking and spraying pulling the plug showed it was wet but that was after experimenting a bit too. (trying more spray since it wouldnt start as is)
What are the quick'n'dirty fixes I can try during the day tomorrow? (that if they dont work I can just barely afford the carb kit and will try again but fear failure if anyone can suggest a 'best of' rebuilding video i'm all ears too) I'll be looking for videos and how to myself of course, I just figure you guys will know things that I may not find.