Craftsman Mower

[Lanse]

I got a craftsman push mower the other day, with a 6hp briggs engine, in non-running condition. I pulled the head and removed all the carbon, and there was alot (looked like someone OD'd on the oil) and it is to the point that if i drip some gas in the carb air intake, it will start and run for 10 seconds or so. I got it to go for a minuite once today. So where do i go from here?? I replaced the fuel line and there is no blockage in the gas tank either, fresh gas as well. Thanks!!!

 

[BotaBigot]

Since it runs on gas you give to thru intake, sounds like carb may be gummed up...

 

[ampsucker]

sounds like a carb issue. it runs, so that eliminates spark and compression, at least gross problems in those areas. i would look closely at the carb and intake to see if you can determine if the air fuel ratio is correct. if it has jets (a lot of the newer ones don't) then remove the adjustment needle and make sure they are clean. if it has a needle and seat in the bowl under the carb, make sure it is working correctly, isn't messed up and the float isn't cracked and floats properly. if it's a newer model, there may not be any parts you can replace and it will just need a new carb.

just my two cents. i'm sure others will chime in.

amp

 

[Kernopelli]

My standard routine when I get the occasional old freebee and it doesn't run well or not at all, First I drain the tank and put fresh gas in then drain the float bowl, especially if I suspect water in the old fuel. Even a little can sit in bubbles and bounce around in the bowl and cause it too run intermittently. If that does nothing then I take the carb apart and clean everything with carb cleaner. I usually take a bread tie wire and run it through all the jets and blow compressed air through everything. Old gas can turn to varnish and gum stuff up if its been sitting awhile. If It has weak or nonexistent spark I'll wire brush the magnets on the flywheel and armature and reset the gap between between them. Maybe a new plug. Maybe go ahead like you did and clean carbon from top of piston and exhaust port.

 

[mrutkaus]

Some of the newer carburators seem almost impossible to clean with their smaller passages.

Mike

 

[Ken Cunningham]

I just fixed a friends mower last week, everyone calls me when there small engines wont work for em. I stoped by on the way to pick the kids up so I was in a hurry. It had sheared the key on the flywheel, after a trip to the guy down the road who fixes mowers and sells em to get a new key, since the trip to lowes was a waste of time. Put it all back together and it still wouldnt crank. I had allread been there about 45 minutes and was in a hurry and didnt have time to pull the carb off. So I took off the filter and filter assembly so I could hold my hand over the air intake side of the carb, it took about 3 minutes of pulling, running, shutting off and repeat. After that it ran fine. The vacum of having the air intake blocked was enough to break free whatever was blocking the gas flow.

Some carbs have fuel pumps, if the diaphram has a hole in it your gonna have to take it apart.

Does the carb have a float? If it does then you dont have a pump.

 

[Patches]

Remove the air-filter, look into the venturi area of the carb and you'll see either a copper colored stand pipe or a simple orifice(hole) in the venturi floor. Apply a shot of compressed air to the pipe/hole;this usually woks for me as it clears the fuel channel from the bowl to the carb venturi