My walk behind Snapper mower won't start. It's got a 5hp Briggs & Stratton engine and was purchased in 1995. It has been running well with annual oil, filter, and spark plug changes and occasional carburetor cleanings due to bad gas or debris getting into it.

It was hard to start on Saturday, requiring many more than the two pulls normally needed. It wouldn't restart after emptying the grass bag.

I gave it the annual oil, filter, and spark plug change a month early but that didn't help.

I took apart the carburetor and cleaned out the dog hair (of all things) that was stuck in there. But that didn't help either.

The mower will sometimes try to start on choke or fast throttle (rabbit symbol). It will fire about five times then die.

The gas is good and fresh. The oil is at the right level. The spark plug is gapped correctly.

Any ideas before I take it to the pros?

Check for spark. If no spark, check for a short. If none, you may need a new ignition module. I have had to replace them before.

A good couple of sprays of carb cleaner through the carburetor didn't change the motor's behavior. On two of the pulls it did the pop-pop-pop-pop-pop that sounds like the motor will catch but it didn't, just like before I messed with the carburetor. There was no roar to life.

I've never checked for spark. Do you just pull the plug, keep it connected to the boot, pull the cord, and look for spark? What's the best non-OSHA way of not igniting the gas fumes and the garage?

Thanks!

I HAVE SPARK!

But still no start.

While checking for spark, I realized that I wasn't smelling as much gas as I would expect with the spark plug removed. Current suspicion is that the gas isn't getting into the engine.

I'll re-clean the carburetor tonight.

Drain ALL of the gas out of the tank.

Fill tank about 1/2 full with fresh ethanol free gas.

Add about 2-4 ounces of Mechanic In A Bottle.(Can't put too much, it won't hurt anything, just $$$.)

Try to start for 6-8 pulls.

Leave it overnight.

Try to start again next day.

If it starts, let it run about 5 minutes.

Let it sit again overnight.

Try to start again next day. If it runs OK then run the remaining gas out of the tank. If it doesn't, repeat again for a couple of days until it runs and idles correctly. If that doesn't clear it, the carb will have to be disassembled and cleaned.

I put a stiff wire (#6 bare) or a short piece of rope to hold the safety kill lever in the "ON" position and when I am finished with the mower, I ALWAYS run it completely out of gas. Put it in an area where nothing is going to get into it when you have it tied on and running the gas out. Only put as much gas in as you need to do the job - after a few guesses you will get pretty close and not have to burn out too much to get it empty. This is the only way I've found to completely eliminate carburetor problems caused by our "better" fuels of today. Fuel stabilizers help, but don't work as good as getting it all out.

I've worked on a lot of engines over the years and have never seen anything work as good as Mechanic In A Bottle. It's good stuff. The overnight waits are to let it work on cleaning. Don't leave this mixture in the machine for very long (a week or two) as it will deteriorate some components if left too long.

plugged muffler?

When you said you cleaned the carburetor I assume you included taking out the jet and using a small dia wire to remove whatever is plugging it. It's hard to get that done with carburetor cleaner.

Friday Afternoon Lawn Mower Update

Removed carburetor and re-cleaned, paying special attention to the jet.

Drained gas tank, filled half full with better gas and Mechanic in a Bottle.

Let sit overnight.

Still got spark.

Still no start.

The Mechanic in a Bottle must be on vacation.

Next step for this evening is to post the above results while drinking Happiness in a Bottle to soothe my frustrations.

Checking muffler for blockages as a last hail mary shot tomorrow morning.

Draining the gas tank if it still won't start as I'm going out of town for a week.

Tune in after Mother's Day for the next chapter in the Dead Lawn Mowers Club.

Enjoy y'all's weekend, next week, and Mother's Day. Thanks for all of the help and advice!

Next thing I would try would be giving it a shot of cleaner in the spark plug hole, putting the plug back, and seeing if that'll start it. If it does, there's some kind of air it fuel blockage. If not, it's maybe not enough spark or a compression issue. If it's 20 years old, maybe say it has a good run and get a new one.

Fuel filter? And is it installed in the proper direction?

Kenneth_2003 said:

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Fuel filter? And is it installed in the proper direction?

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I don't think a walk behind typically has a fuel filter. Fuel line on mine is a 6" rubber tube from the tank straight to the carb.

My bets, in order of costs & ease to replace/fix

• Fuel filter
• Fuel pump
• Sticky valve

FYI: My problems with such were always solved with large dosages & soaking with Sta-bil and even when I was going to give up, my SIL said "keep with it" and it worked .. on chain saws and other small engines

There is no fuel filter that I can find. Just that 6 inch rubber tube like ABATBQ11 has. Fuel flows freely through that.

No fuel pump either. The tube goes directly to the carb.

Here's a sooner than expected update.

I called in the big guns. Or rather, took it in to a shop. This shop is run by an older guy with great stories about his overseas service and a knack for busting the balls of his twenty year old staff.

Those twenty year olds got the stuck bolt unstuck so the blade could be removed and sharpened last year. They've got skills.

I told the owner the whole saga and what "my internet friends told me to do". He shook his head at the mention of the internet.

Admittedly, he didn't seem hopeful but he'll give it a good try.

Stay tuned for more "As the Mower Doesn't Turn" next week!

If this thing has a spark and it won't fire off for at least a couple of seconds with some carb cleaner, then there are bigger problems. Like said above, maybe a valve or maybe the flywheel shear pin sheared and it is out of timing.

It will be interesting to see what the shop guy finds.

Bonfire97 said:

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If this thing has a spark and it won't fire off for at least a couple of seconds with some carb cleaner, then there are bigger problems. Like said above, maybe a valve or maybe the flywheel shear pin sheared and it is out of timing.

It will be interesting to see what the shop guy finds.

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Sheared flywheel key. That's the ticket. Usually though the story is more like "it ran fine until I hit a stump, now it won't restart"

clean the air filter?

unplug it for 5 minutes and plug it back in?

The Lawn Mower Saga: A New Chapter

When we last left our hero, his current owmer had given up and sent the poor snapper to the local mechanic.

The mechanic gathered his elixers and charms together and worked his magic.

He called to deliver the news: our hero just can't handle the pressure.

On compression he only gets 30psi but needs 60psi.
It's time for our hero to meet his reward.

Next Question: It's been 30 years since I've shopped for mowers. What are my internet friends' recommendations? Do these new fangled battery operated things actually mow well and can they do a big yard on a single charge? Are the old-fashoned gas powered ones really worth $800?

Please give me your takes and experiences.

Thanks!

I never posted, but I thought compression from the start!

If you're going gas, get a Honda before they run out. They're not making them anymore.

Coworker just bought his first house and bought a DeWalt... So far he's very pleased with it. First mow was the overgrown weedy condition his builder left the place in and he said it went right through.

I'm still running a now 18 year old "WeedEater" lawn mower I bought from WalMart with a Briggs & Stratton engine. Nothing fancy, no bells or whistles. Just an engine sitting on top of a blade.

Based on my results... While I have started picking up some Sthil battery equipment (love their string trimmer), if I need a new lawn mower tomorrow...

https://www.lowes.com/pd/SENIX-125-cc-21-in-Gas-Push-Lawn-Mower-with-Briggs-and-Stratton-Engine/5014901691


https://www.lowes.com/pd/SENIX-4QL-21-in-Gas-Push-Lawn-Mower-with-140-cc-Briggs-and-Stratton-Engine/5015315871


https://www.lowes.com/pd/SENIX-140-cc-21-in-Gas-Push-Lawn-Mower-with-Briggs-and-Stratton-Engine/5014901697



You've gotten how much life out of your current model? 30 years?
I've gotten 18 years out of an equivalent to what I've posted above. Even if I only got 10 years I'd still be WAY ahead of paying over $1000 for the 22 inch units or one of the fancy self propelled units.

Food for thought ... once I got to RIDE, I'll never again push a Reel (in my low-30s), push a gas Rotary (high-30s), then family bought me a tiny Snapper gas rider (40s), placed with Craftsman gas "Tractor" riding mower (50s) that finally died when turning 16yo, now John Deere S100 "Tractor" gas riding (70s)
BUT I love Ryobi battery tools AND
Neighbor just got a Ryobi "Tractor" 80V battery riding mower that is cutting through his tall grass like butter, even on a acre.
Jealous now

Compare tiny rider prices with walk-behinds but once spoiled, you'll never look back.

Hope to read what the winning purchase was and why.

I was the one to get it right! What's the prize.

How big is your lawn? I have been pleasantly surprised with the ryobi 40v mower and blower. I thought it would get stalled in thick grass but it actually works and mulches pretty good. Better lasts longer than I thought as well.

The best part about the electric ones is that they are light so if your yard is mushy they won't tear it up. Our Ryobi is what we use in a pinch or my wife wants a fresh cut while I am offshore.

OE_Ag11 said:

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I was the one to get it right! What's the prize.

How big is your lawn? I have been pleasantly surprised with the ryobi 40v mower and blower. I thought it would get stalled in thick grass but it actually works and mulches pretty good. Better lasts longer than I thought as well.

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Hate to say it, but I mentioned compression a few posts above you

+1 on these. I've gotten maybe 12+ out of my current mower. It was the cheapest model with a bag I could find at Lowe's. It's a Yard Machines with a Briggs and Stratton engine. Occasional carb trouble, but I also leave it out in the rain and don't really take good care of it. Nothing some carb cleaner or a good deep cleaning can't fix