A 2 year old self propelled craftsman mower (brigs and strat). It won't start. Has a new sparkplug. Now what

Answer 1

If its larger then 4.5hp... it has a float carb, not hard at all either...

First off, just try a little gas down the carb... see if it will fire.
If it does... you have spark and compression!! its a fuel related problem...
If it doesn't, check for spark, take the plug out, ground it to the head (the threads) while hooked to the wire, and turn the engine over fast (like you would start it) and see if you have a nice blue snap..., if thats not good, take the kill wire off (black wire, runs to the coil, take the shroud off to get it) If that still doesn't do it... coil..
If it has spark, make sure it has compression (just simple spin the engine over by hand backwards, it should bounce back) if thats good, check the flywheel key (flywheel needs to be removed, this happens when you hit something)

now... some engines may also have a low oil shutoff, make sure its full (20 ounces max fill, just to the full line)

If it runs off the gas (earlier I said if it does, its a fuel problem) just try it without the air filter real quick(if its two years old, replace it, if its foam or paper...)
No difference? make sure the gas is fresh.. if it is, take the gas line off at the carb, let it go real quick and watch for a steady flow... if thats good, good, if not, these tanks (if its a float type carb) have mesh screens that can get clogged at the fuel outlet, drain the tank and backflush it/flush the tank..
Or if is tank mounted to carb, the pickup tubes are clogged..
If flow is indeed good...., take the bowl off (simple nut) and (crimp the fuel line) make sure no junk is in the bowl (water, etc) and take some carb cleaner and shoot every hole a good few times, real good, (theres also a little hole that needs extra attention up where the bolt goes) this may do you, if it doesn't, take the carb off, get the gaskets and a carb kit, tear it apart, soak it in carb cleaner and blow all holes out with compressed air...
If its a diaphragm style (carb mounted to tank) just go ahead and take the tank/carb assembly off, replace the diaphragm and gasket anyway (3 bucks max) and give the carb a good cleaning (blow all holes out with carb cleaner and air.)



If it has a warranty? do nothing, let sears do it...

and do not forget!!!! fuel stabilizer and keep the mower in a dry place

Answer 2

I get a couple of mowers a year from friends when they wont start, the first thing to do is get a large pan,plastic or cheap aluminum, and drain everything out of the gas tank by turning the whole thing over, or just remove the tanks line from the side of the carb(you will need pliers) Get fresh fuel, and you might have to pull it and prime it some, but it should start, you can also help by removing the air filter, located on the left side of the mower(as you look at it from the front), and spray some carburetor cleaner or starting fluid into it, not a bunch, just a couple of short squirts. I have never had one that I couldn't get to start.

Answer 3

all these answers really don't say dittle!! especially from mr. two year ran a shop dude!! it is common sense to clean air filter and remove old left over gas.... you will also want to check the gas filter if it has one,, little plastic deal in the gas line,,, put a little fuel directly into the carb and if it runs for a few seconds and stops then you need to replace the diaphram in the carb if it has one... older and some of the larger ones use bowl type carbs and these are out of your league so you will need a mech here,,, you may also have knocked the shear pin off last year without knowing it?? you would have to pull the fly wheel off to see,, this would make the timing off !! good luck

Answer 4

Clean the air filter and check the gas

Answer 5

DON

Answer 6

Same thing happened to ours the same exact time. After dealing with the warranty and their mechanic, they replaced it. Good Luck!

Answer 7

probably bad fuel sitting in the unit...does it even try to start? possibly bad connection from wire to spark plug, or handle kill switch is not working

Answer 8

after you do all of the above,,,, get a can of starting fluid,, spray into carburetor,, and try to start it,, if this doesn't work,, you need a small engine mechanic

Answer 9

clean out the carburetor and fuel line and use fresh gas

Answer 10

make sure plug wire has good contact,check gapping of plug itself.make sure you've primed it(hes primer button on side of engine.make sure gas is good(without blowing yourself up),make sure tank is full.good luck.