@#$%&* B&S. Hard Starting....

[ROUSTABOUT]

The choke is where it's at. Mine is 22 years old and busts right off. It's had a hard life too. I mow bad areas at times, re claim new territory.

 

[Tinhack]

Probably a bad fuel pump or the pulse line to the pump is leaking. Perhaps even an intake manifold air leak.

New fuel pump and pulse tube....

Then it's probably a leaky manifold. If it has the plastic intake manifold, then it's leaking. I had a Sears lawnmower that did that when it was a month old.

 

[WranglerX]

Does it bust right off with carb cleaner or is it still stubborn?

Still stubborn.... But it runs like a banshee once started....

 

[2manyrocks]

Haven't ever tried this, but perhaps an inline bulb primer could be added like used on outboard boat engines? But I'm not sure what you'd actually gain over squirting carb cleaner in the carb as you are already doing except not having to buy carb cleaner.

 

[gstrom99]

Haven't ever tried this, but perhaps an inline bulb primer could be added like used on outboard boat engines? But I'm not sure what you'd actually gain over squirting carb cleaner in the carb as you are already doing except not having to buy carb cleaner.

Probably not able to "add" the primer bulb thingy. There needs to be a port on the carb for the line.

 

[WranglerX]

UPDATE: Well It just would not start this morning...Would not!!!!!!


So drug it up to shop with my SCUT pulled hood off, used volt meter to check all connection to eliminate every possibility of a electrical issue... Notably fuel solenoid and power to magneto...
Put old spare spark plug on one cylinder and tried to see if I really did have spark at plugs, YEP it actually started on only one cylinder... Tried same thing on other side and same thing ... Have good spark at both plugs and it now starts & runs as it should.... That is, when it is warm and decidedly has fuel...... Going to wait a few days letting it just sit and then try to start it and see what happens.....
Only conclusion is it has/had marginal electrical connection some place and fiddling with it "fixed" it ..... OR with all the spinning up it finally got fuel...

 

[tomplum]

So you should have power to the fuel shut off solenoid, but none to the coils. So in a moment of testing, don't put power to them. Yours would have the fuel solenoid straight down out of the bowl unless the carb was ever replaced. On these you do have to remove the bowl to get at the solenoid plunger and then reinstall. You should be able to feel the solenoid activate when the key is turned to on. One test that I like to do is actually crank the engine with the meter leads in the back of the connector to ensure power is present. All that being said, if you don't feel a solid click, these are known to get sticky and sluggish over time so it would be suspect.

 

[WranglerX]

So you should have power to the fuel shut off solenoid, but none to the coils. So in a moment of testing, don't put power to them. Yours would have the fuel solenoid straight down out of the bowl unless the carb was ever replaced. On these you do have to remove the bowl to get at the solenoid plunger and then reinstall. You should be able to feel the solenoid activate when the key is turned to on. One test that I like to do is actually crank the engine with the meter leads in the back of the connector to ensure power is present. All that being said, if you don't feel a solid click, these are known to get sticky and sluggish over time so it would be suspect.

Begging your pardon but tractor wiring and wiring diagram shows when key is "on" power (12 volts) is applied to fuel solenoid AND magneto coils...

 

[jaxs]

After old eyes couldn't clearly see spark in daylight and the pucker string got weak,I've found this works good checking spark to plugs.

 

[goeduck]

My neighbor gave me a no-name engine 7HP chipper that is harder than heck to pull start (pulls hard). I have a 6 HP air cooled diesel that is easier to pull.