On 1/08/2011 3:21 a.m., Jim K wrote:
"Gib wrote in message
...
On 31/07/2011 7:46 p.m., Londonman wrote:
It'll stop dead as it's under load of sorts.

These stops can occur under no load.

Electrically, as you say they are simple and if it was an electrical
issue you would have trouble starting every time.

Unless it's intermittent.

Check the carb hasn't come adrift slightly and is sucking air, other
than that it's getting tired.

Everything was screwed down tight. I'm certainly getting tired.

Local mower shop or Ebay source a carb repair kit strip and sort it.
(Item 190556871460 might do the job but you will have to ask them about
your model or search for a kit for yours etc)

Thanks, it's possible that the kit will be available locally, but not
likely, given the age of the mower.

Also source a new air filter and a can of carb cleaner spray and don't
prod around with bits of wire in any ports or jets.

I'm used to working on bike carbs, probably will not do anything stupid.

Change the plug and the oil at the same time. If the plug is fairly
black suspect piston rings, but that's usually after many years of use.

thinking on a bit, when it conks whip the plug out and check for a spark
when someone pulls the starter rope- that will narrow it down to one or the
other (fuel vs elecs)

I've tested the spark (by myself, which isn't very satisfactory), but
not just after it conks out. The spark is weak.

There no engine number, so I can't use the B&S site to search for a
manual. The only identification on the engine is Classic 3.5 HP.