5/5 HB Briggs don't have reed valves. Only found on two strokes.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"David Martel" wrote in message
ink.net...
: rile,
:
: As gas is drawn from the gas tank air must come in through a
valve,
: typically a cheap reed valve. These valves can fail. So you run
the mower
: until a vacuum builds up in the gas tank and stops the flow of
gas. Next
: time it stops take the gas cap off, put it back on, and try to
start it. If
: it starts up then suspect the reed valve.
:
: Dave M.
:
: