Thanks in advance for any replies. I have a Bolens mower with a Briggs
and Stratton 4.5 hp engine. And, you guessed it, it won't start. I have

a giant cottonwood tree in my backyard, which, at this time of year,
sheds all its cotton, leading the the clogging of my mower. After
taking the time to clean it out, it will not start at all. The air
filter is clean, the spark plug is new and is getting gas (after
priming, it is wet and smells like gas)......And the mower has a tank
of clean, fresh gasoline. Any suggestions? If I'm going to use starting

fluid, do I spray it straight into the carb or into the cylinder?
Thanks....


jh

Ah, but DO you have a spark? Pull the spark plug wire off, put it
about 1/4" from the block, and give the sucker a spin. You should see
the spark jump to the block. DON'T hold on to the wire, as it is very
easy to give yourself a nasty shock!

wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks in advance for any replies. I have a Bolens mower with a Briggs
and Stratton 4.5 hp engine. And, you guessed it, it won't start. I have

a giant cottonwood tree in my backyard, which, at this time of year,
sheds all its cotton, leading the the clogging of my mower. After
taking the time to clean it out, it will not start at all. The air
filter is clean, the spark plug is new and is getting gas (after
priming, it is wet and smells like gas)......And the mower has a tank
of clean, fresh gasoline. Any suggestions? If I'm going to use starting

fluid, do I spray it straight into the carb or into the cylinder?
Thanks....


jh

Into the carb intake...might be able to spray it on the external surface of
the filter and get it to work. When you cleaned the underneath of the
mower, did you tilt the mower deck up so the carburetor was on the bottom or
top. If on the bottom, crankcase oil can run down into the intake manifold
and carburetor and cause some problems in starting.

Tom G

Tom G wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks in advance for any replies. I have a Bolens mower with a Briggs
and Stratton 4.5 hp engine. And, you guessed it, it won't start. I have

a giant cottonwood tree in my backyard, which, at this time of year,
sheds all its cotton, leading the the clogging of my mower. After
taking the time to clean it out, it will not start at all. The air
filter is clean, the spark plug is new and is getting gas (after
priming, it is wet and smells like gas)......And the mower has a tank
of clean, fresh gasoline. Any suggestions? If I'm going to use starting

fluid, do I spray it straight into the carb or into the cylinder?
Thanks....


jh

Into the carb intake...might be able to spray it on the external surface of
the filter and get it to work. When you cleaned the underneath of the
mower, did you tilt the mower deck up so the carburetor was on the bottom or
top. If on the bottom, crankcase oil can run down into the intake manifold
and carburetor and cause some problems in starting.

Tom G


I tipped it back to about a 15 degree angle.........I'm about to use
Liquid Wrench in place of carb cleaner. Is that a safe idea? This same
thing happened last year when the cottonwood tree bloomed, and after 3
weeks it started right up.......

professorpaul wrote:
Ah, but DO you have a spark? Pull the spark plug wire off, put it
about 1/4" from the block, and give the sucker a spin. You should see
the spark jump to the block. DON'T hold on to the wire, as it is very
easy to give yourself a nasty shock!

I tried it, bt am seeing no spark. Please tell me this is an easy fix.

If no spark its likely the coil or ignition module, its not a quick fix,
Confirm no sparkk, remove spark plug, put your finger in the spark
plug cap, be sure to touch the electrde , hold the block while some
pulls the cord, report back on what happens.

"m Ransley" wrote in message ...
If no spark its likely the coil or ignition module, its not a quick fix,
Confirm no sparkk, remove spark plug, put your finger in the spark
plug cap, be sure to touch the electrde , hold the block while some
pulls the cord, report back on what happens.


You are mean!

Bob

wrote in message

I tipped it back to about a 15 degree angle.........I'm about to use
Liquid Wrench in place of carb cleaner. Is that a safe idea?

Just squirt a little gas into the carb. For me, it works as well as starter fluid.

If it fires at all, your spark is probably OK.

Bob

Into the carb.

On 14 Jun 2006 07:09:25 -0700, wrote:

Thanks in advance for any replies. I have a Bolens mower with a Briggs
and Stratton 4.5 hp engine. And, you guessed it, it won't start. I have

a giant cottonwood tree in my backyard, which, at this time of year,
sheds all its cotton, leading the the clogging of my mower. After
taking the time to clean it out, it will not start at all. The air
filter is clean, the spark plug is new and is getting gas (after
priming, it is wet and smells like gas)......And the mower has a tank
of clean, fresh gasoline. Any suggestions? If I'm going to use starting

fluid, do I spray it straight into the carb or into the cylinder?
Thanks....

Into the air cleaner or the air cleaner inlet. No need to take
anything apart.

I wouldn't use liquid wrench. It's only advantage is that it is in an
aerosol can. I don't know that it would do harm, but it has all
kinds of ingredients that aren't in gasoline. A can of starter fluid
is only a dollar or two.


jh

m Ransley wrote:
If no spark its likely the coil or ignition module, its not a quick fix,
Confirm no sparkk, remove spark plug, put your finger in the spark
plug cap, be sure to touch the electrde , hold the block while some
pulls the cord, report back on what happens.
Man, that's vicious. I'm glad I know a bit (albiet very little) about
engines......