Mower won't start after sitting

etp1969

15 years ago

I have a Murray 13.5 hp/40". It has been sitting unused for about 2 years. When I first tried to start it, no surprise, nothing happened. I bought a new battery and nothing happened. I changed the spark plug, and nothing happened. Only because I'm hard headed, well, and because I can't afford to take it to a repair shop, I kept trying. After cleaning the air filter and pretty much everything I could see, it would start to turn over. It would crank sometimes briefly but would not stay cranked. I decided to drain the old fuel out, as it tried to turn over when I sprayed the "instant starter" while trying. I went to the store to make sure I knew how to get the hose off (I guess I should interject here that I am not a mechanic, know nothing about mowers, and this is the first time I've ever tried anything like this). By the time I came home, drained the old fuel and added new, it was back to doing nothing. Not a sound. I even pulled the fuse out and cleaned it too. Any ideas??? And if you have help for me, you need to be specific on how to do it :-) Thanks for any help you can give me!

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Comments (10)

hrpuffnstuff
15 years ago
Was there fuel in the bowl? If not then the venturi is clogged and you have to remove the carb and take it out and clean it.
etp1969
Original Author
15 years ago
I'm not sure what "the bowl" is... I'm sorry... like I said I'm new at this type thing. Although I will add this - it semed strange nothing was happening so I decided to jump the new battery from my car. While the cables were attached it would turn over and even crank briefly but wouldn't stay cranked. This leads me to thinking that whatever the problem is has to be draining the battery - as soon as I disconnected the cables it went back to not doing anything. Does this help anyone with figuring it out??
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I was out of town a couple of days and haven't been able to respond. Thanks for your response. I tried to be very careful not to turn or move anything. I did not check the timing marks when I put the cover back on, I only focused on getting the plastic governor gear meshed properly. I don't even know where the timing marks are. Considering that it won't even try to start, gets a good spark, and after pulling the cord numerous times gas will be visible in the carb cover around the choke plate, along with an occasional backfire, it does sound like the timing is off. Do you have any advice on setting the timing or maybe a website that might help? Obviously, I'm not an expert mechanic and hate to remove the engine again, but it looks like that's where I'm headed. Thanks again.
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I'm not one to needlessly "throw parts" at an engine, but try a new plug. A plug may appear to have good spark, but when under compression, it fails. Years ago, I had a TEC that did the same thing. I'd have to replace the plug about every 20 hours. Same symptoms that got progressively worse. Worse case, you have a new plug installed and have eliminated that as a possible cause. For $2, I think it's worth a try. IF the problem persists, take the OLD plug and open the gap to about 3/16" and use it as a "spark tester".
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lbpod
15 years ago
For one thing, it sounds as if your 'new' battery
needs to be charged. Most new batteries need
charging. Other than that, it sounds like a fuel
problem and the carberator will have to be
serviced. Make and model of mower/engine, please.
zoulas
15 years ago
After two years of sitting, you may have a significant mouse nest on your hands. For some reason, they seem to like it around the flywheel/ignition area. They may have eaten through your ignition wire as well. Ignition wires to mice are like White Castle. I would take all sheet metal covers off the top of the engine and inspect the flywheel area. Look for any signs of eaten up wires as well.
etp1969
Original Author
15 years ago
The Mower is a Murray 405000x8E. The engine is Briggs & Stratton 21B807.

Is the carburetor something I can service myself?

And to zoulas - I have looked through the mower and there is no nest, and I haven't found a broken/eaten through wire. I will look again, but I was pretty thorough.

Thanks to all who are offering help!
etp1969
Original Author
15 years ago
OK - so someone said to see if there was any "spark". So. I took a screwdriver, put it in the rubber part that goes on the spark plug, rested the metal of the screwdriver on the end of the sparkplug, and tried to start it. It keeps trying to turn over but can't. I saw nothing when I did this. I thought I would see a spark from the connection, but there was nothing. I don't know if it was actually a usefull test, but it seems like it would have worked. Any ideas what to look at if the engine isn't "sparking"?
1saxman
15 years ago
You need to refine your use of the terms 'crank' and 'turn over'. They both mean the same thing, to turn the engine in an attempt to start it. This could be by manual pull starter or electric motor. The engine may 'crank' or 'turn over' with out starting, which could indicate one set of problems, or not 'crank', which would be something else altogether.
As near as I can tell, the engine is not getting fuel, or not getting good fuel. You need to drain and discard any gas left in the mower/tank/carburetor and put fresh new fuel in. To this fuel add half a bottle of auto fuel injection cleaner. If you crank it some every day, you will pull the new treated fuel through which eventually will run the mower.
etp1969
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you for clarifying my terminology! The engine will crank but not start. I guess I should also add that it is an electric engine, not pull start.

I have already drained the old fuel and replaced it with fresh fuel as well as the fuel injection cleaner.
wrager
15 years ago
Saxman gives good advice. I did this yesterday with my lawn comber (lesco). It would not stay running on its own.
So I got it started, full throttle, using starter spray. Kept it running with a squirt before it would die. Eventually (10 min), it pulled enough good fuel and Seafoam through to clear the clogg. You can try this, but no guarantee that it won't need a carb rebuild.
etp1969
Original Author
15 years ago
So you think the fact there is no spark from the spark plug is not important? That it is still just a fuel issue?

Mower won't start after sitting

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hrpuffnstuff

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Mower won't start after sitting

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hrpuffnstuff

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