Lawn mower question - it dies!

[00bolt]

I have a john deer push mower that I purchased a few years back. Its a pretty nice mower with a Briggs and Stratton engine, etc.

anyway, the end of last year it started acting up a little so this spring I did a tune up on it. The primer bulb had a hole in it, so it was darn near impossible to start. And when it did start after like 28934723847 pulls, it was real weak and often would die.

I replaced the spark plug, air filter, primer bulb and cleaned the carb, drained fluids, etc basically everything i knew to do.

good news is, it will start up on the first pull now, every single time. And its strong! i can feel and hear the difference big time. It doesnt smoke or anything, almost seems brand new again..

BUT... the bad news is, I can only get about one strip of my yard done, and it dies. I then have to push the primer and start it again... and over and over and over. Its annoying the crap out of me. I literally didnt mow the back yard this weekend because i was so frustrated.


is it possible I did something wrong putting all back together? i mean, it sure seemed pretty cut and dry or is there something else maybe I can check? I really dont wanna go pay someone $100 bucks or whatever that will basically just say, ohh your primer bulb isnt sealed up all the way or something dumb

[MILK]

I dont know but my mower does the same exact shit. I just said fuck it and started calling a guy to do my yard.

[Frank]

Can you take a picture of the engine, around the carb? Pretty sure I know what the problem is. I do this on the side.

[00bolt]

crap, im at work now so i cant take one til tonight.

i did spray a little of the carb cleaner around the engine area and muffler to clean it all up. that couldnt do anything could it?

[franks]

I had one do this the other day. It was the bolt that holds the fuel bowl on that pulls fuel through it, it was gummed up. I ran a piece of wire through it. Busted right off once clean.

[00bolt]

okay, ill check it out. can you maybe send me a picture or even a picture on internet of what im looking for?

thanks

[GE]

Do you have any pics of the wife/gf while you're at it?

[crapstang]

I had one do this the other day. It was the bolt that holds the fuel bowl on that pulls fuel through it, it was gummed up. I ran a piece of wire through it. Busted right off once clean.

This. Make sure the carb is truly clean (all of the small holes must be completely clean, as they gum up over winter).

[Juiced4v]

Needs crab cleaned...I found a guys on craiglist to fix mine. He charged me $25

[Frank]

We have this crap fuel and its mostly likely you have a few bubbles of water in the fuel or else something is gummed up. There are some B&S models that will trap the moisture in such a way you have to pull the carb & tank, then pull off the carb and there is a little pocket that collects water/dirt. Just a few drops is all it takes.