I have a lawm mower which tries to start, but doesn't make it. Can I use a Carburetor treatment?

Question

The lawn mower is a Briggs & Stratton, and was bought last year brand new and I bought the warrenty on it. I would take it in immediately, but last week we went through a period where it was raining every day. When it finally stopped raining I could not get out and mow because of my work schedule. While I was working my lawn was growing. Today, first thing, I got out the mower and it would not start. It sounds like it wants to start, but can't.

After doing everything I could think of to fix it, which was not much, I went to the corner store to get the newspaper and a cup of coffe. While I was there I saw a bottle of STP Fuel Injector & Carburetor cleaner. I read the bottle, and said "Hmmmm."

I bought it, and am now afraid to use it. My question is is it safe to use on a push lawnmower, and if so how much??

I would love to get the mower to mow just long enough to mow my jungle, and then I'll glady take it to get fixed properly.

I am doing a happy dance. I had already tried everything you three told me to do...I am no novice at lawn mowing. Including the emptying of the old gas and adding new. I guess after all I did to it, the lawn mower just needed to sit quietly for a while.

Thank you all soo much for your prompt help :)

As you young whippersnappers say, "Yahoo answers rocks!!!"

Rereading what I wrote, I forgot to say the lawnmower starts!!!! Started with the first tug :)

It is very strange considering how it did not want to start earlier, but I am not complaining :)

Again, Thank you all.

Answer 1

Glad you got it going..... but anything you add to the gas.... will not help it to start (stp is basically mostly kerosene anyway), about the only additives I use(other then fuel stabilizer....hope you use that?!!) is marvel mystery oil..... to get rid of the stp, dump it in your car.
Where is the mower stored? In a dry place I hope.... tarps are ok, but if they can't vent.... condensation will form and be almost like getting rained on. Keep the engine in a good dry place..... use a good fuel stabilizer (like stabil) if storing the gas or mower over a month. Be sure to check the oil often and change it every 25 hours.... straight HD-30 is fine above 40 degrees F. under that use a multi weight like 5w-30 or just use a synthetic all year round. Change the air filter once a year, more in dusty conditions and of course clean and gap the plug once a year (.30)

Answer 2

I have a mower similar to yours. There is a little red button on the mower. You must press this button 3-4 times to make it start. I had pulled the cord until I was red in the face. Then I realized, the salesperson told me to press the red button to pump gas to the carburetor which will make the mower start. Good luck.

Answer 3

no don't do that! check the oil! check the gas! it could have water in it. also check under the deck it could have a build up of dried grass that may prevent firing. If all that fails then it needs to be tuned up. By putting stp in it you will void your warranty.

Answer 4

when you try to start it is it in the long grass, try to start it were there is grass it could be to long and it takes to much to start it, and i would say you probably don't need the cleaner, probably somthing simple if it is only a year old

Answer 5

check the spark plug and the air filter