riding lawn mower sputtering and backfiring?help?

Question

my lawn mower was runing just fine till.i tilted my riding lawn mower (murray) on its side for 20 minuts removed the blade,sharpend the blade and then put it back on.then i seen that oil was lecking out the air fillter near the gas line.i removed the spark plug drained the oil out of the air filter and the started the mower (without the spark plug in)pump oil out of the pistons and flused gas throw the engine.got most of the oil out.put spark plug back in and started the mower.thick white smoke came out off the muffler burnt oil for about 10 minuts.i have to pour gas under the (air fillter) engine to get it started the gas line is not blocked i think the fuel fillter has oil in it blocking gas from geting into the engine.well anyways is there any thing i can put in the mower the get it to stop back fireing like carb cleaner what ever?of if i let down on the gas the engine shuts off so i push up on the gas and it back fire when it runs not one but most off the time.

yes i got a new air fillter

Answer 1

A lot of possibilities are already mentioned here. Dirty carburetor, fouled plug, etc. Check all the common sense things. I just have one additional possibility to try. Remove the muffler, and see if that helps. Sometimes (especially after burning a lot of oil), soot can clog the muffler, and cause these problems. A motor has to breath both ways.

Answer 2

Lawn Mower Backfire

Answer 3

1 Get a new plug
2 Drain oil
3 Drain gas
4 Get aerosol carburetter cleaner and clean carburetter
5 Make sure fluid plugs are in place, replace fuel filter
6 Fill oil to specification
7 Fill gas
8 Put in new plug (with correct gap)
Start mower and run for 10 minutes (meanwhile check for leaks). Cut some grass.

Answer 4

Tilting a riding mower, or any mower on its side isnt suggested- as you found out. It wouldve been easier to either run the tractor up on ramps or remove the deck to save alot of greif.
When you did that you obviously drained the oil from the crankacase, thru the breather assy , into the carb.
Time to start over: Drain the oil, drain the gas, remove the carb and clean it, replace the spark plug , remove the muffler to see if its full of oil - the fuel line/filter wont have any oil- it would need to back up thru the carbs needlevalve.
To save some greif if you need to flop the tractor on its side - drain the gas an oil out first, then do it .

Answer 5

Can I use 5 w 30 oil in my mower

Answer 6

You probably got oil into the carburetor also. It would flow through the crankcase vent line and into the throat of the carb. Take the bowl off the bottom of the carb and drain the gas out. Make sure that you have gas flow through the float valve. Tipping the mower on it's side is never a good idea. You could put it up on auto ramps or just jack it up. I change blades on mine with the mower deck on and just sitting on the ground. Did you get oil on the ignition module?

Answer 7

did you replace the air filter? if you did not do so and that should solve your problem. the air cleaner gets oil soaked and not enough air can get through and it will do just what you said sputtering and backfiring or not run at all

Answer 8

Disconnect spark plug, remove and spit on gapped portion of spark plug. Wipe off with rag, reconnect spark plug. It sounds like you have too much oil in the crankcase.

Answer 9

Did all of the above suggestions except pulling the muffler which is anew one to me but the dude has 35 years experience so got nothing to loose but try...Thanks for the tip Srmainman.