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willshak

on 9/3/2007 10:12 PM said the following:
I have a lawn mower (which I found on the curb) that runs OK for a few
minutes sometimes longer, but inevitably stalls, needs to be re-
primed, and re-started. (But will restart with no wait.) When it dies,
and I go to re-prime it, you can hear and feel that the primer bulb
sucking air at first, turning to a more reasonable fuel sucking sound/
feel at times (or after a few tries).

When I got it I replaced the spark plug, changed out the oil twice,
cleaned out the carb, replaced the fuel line, replaced the needle
valve and a badly deteriorated seat, and put the thing back together.
There seemed to have been some water in the engine, as the first
change of oil was very cloudy. It is a 4.5 hp Briggs and Stratton
12H800, in a Murray 204210X8B.

Not sure where the primer is pulling air from, why it is stalling, or
how to fix the issue (cheaply). Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks.

Jerry

Besides what others have said, check the pickup tube in the bottom of
the fuel tank for debris (some have a small screen on the pickup).
Pull the hose off the tank and see if the gas flows freely out of the
tank. If it does, put it back on and then pull the fuel line off the
carburetor and see if the gas flows freely from that end of the tube. If
not, the problem lies in the fuel line or gas tank. Otherwise it's the
carburetor.
I have blown into the fuel line at the carburetor end and listened for
bubbling in the tank.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
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