I have a Murray lawnmower with a Briggs and Stratton 6.0 HP engine
that dosen't want to start. I tried new filters, spark plugs, fresh
gas and checked the primer pump. I just pull the cord and nothing
happens. When i had the filter off I noticed that there is a spring
which connects the throttle lever to the carburetor choke plate which
looks pretty worn out. When i move the throttle lever, nothing
happens to the choke plate (although I can move it manually). Could
this be the reason for the thing not starting? Or does anyone else
have any better suggestions?

on 8/24/2007 10:04 AM said the following:
I have a Murray lawnmower with a Briggs and Stratton 6.0 HP engine
that dosen't want to start. I tried new filters, spark plugs, fresh
gas and checked the primer pump. I just pull the cord and nothing
happens. When i had the filter off I noticed that there is a spring
which connects the throttle lever to the carburetor choke plate which
looks pretty worn out. When i move the throttle lever, nothing
happens to the choke plate (although I can move it manually). Could
this be the reason for the thing not starting? Or does anyone else
have any better suggestions?



Unless you have an automatic choke, the throttle lever does not move the
choke. The choke lever moves the choke plate, whether the engine is
running or not. Perhaps you are flooding the engine. Try a little
starting fluid (or choke cleaner) sprayed into the throttle before starting.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

On Aug 24, 7:18 am, willshak wrote:
on 8/24/2007 10:04 AM said the following:

I have a Murray lawnmower with a Briggs and Stratton 6.0 HP engine
that dosen't want to start. I tried new filters, spark plugs, fresh
gas and checked the primer pump. I just pull the cord and nothing
happens. When i had the filter off I noticed that there is a spring
which connects the throttle lever to the carburetor choke plate which
looks pretty worn out. When i move the throttle lever, nothing
happens to the choke plate (although I can move it manually). Could
this be the reason for the thing not starting? Or does anyone else
have any better suggestions?

Unless you have an automatic choke, the throttle lever does not move the
choke. The choke lever moves the choke plate, whether the engine is
running or not. Perhaps you are flooding the engine. Try a little
starting fluid (or choke cleaner) sprayed into the throttle before starting.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

You need fuel, air and spark, if starting fliud does nothing remove
and groung the plug and pull the cord to see if its electrical

On Aug 24, 10:04 am, wrote:
I have a Murray lawnmower with a Briggs and Stratton 6.0 HP engine
that dosen't want to start. I tried new filters, spark plugs, fresh
gas and checked the primer pump. I just pull the cord and nothing
happens. When i had the filter off I noticed that there is a spring
which connects the throttle lever to the carburetor choke plate which
looks pretty worn out. When i move the throttle lever, nothing
happens to the choke plate (although I can move it manually). Could
this be the reason for the thing not starting? Or does anyone else
have any better suggestions?

Check for spark. Pull the plug, stuff the wire back on, and lay the
threaded end against a head bolt on the engine. Pull the cord. If it
sparks blue, you've got spark. $20 says you don't have any spark.

Did you hit anything with the blades recently? I don't know if they
still do this, but the flywheel used to have an aluminum key that
would shear if you hit anything too hard. Instead of twisting off the
crankshaft, the flywheel shears the key.

On Aug 24, 9:04 am, wrote:
I have a Murray lawnmower with a Briggs and Stratton 6.0 HP engine
that dosen't want to start. I tried new filters, spark plugs, fresh
gas and checked the primer pump. I just pull the cord and nothing
happens. When i had the filter off I noticed that there is a spring
which connects the throttle lever to the carburetor choke plate which
looks pretty worn out. When i move the throttle lever, nothing
happens to the choke plate (although I can move it manually). Could
this be the reason for the thing not starting? Or does anyone else
have any better suggestions?

You might want to take the bowl off the carb. and see if it has any
'crap' in it.

If it does, clean it out, then remove the gas tank and clean it, too.
(this is where the crap accumulates)

This works for me and I hope it will help you.

Lewis.

*****

wrote

snip

I know about cars. Enough to do a valve job or change a crankshaft.

Lawnmower carburetors look to me like fine watches. Small precise springs.
Multiple bell cranks. Lots of little things that have to work together as a
fine orchestra.

I thought I knew enough to fix my own. It's just a carb, right?

Ended up taking it to the shop. The guy said it was a combination of old
gas, crud, and a spring that worked loose.

Fifty bucks later, I'm mowing my lawn instead of fighting a lawnmower carb.

Take it to a reputable shop. If it don't run right, take it back until it
does.

Make sure that they say it's guaranteed to run.

Steve

SteveB wrote:
wrote

snip

I know about cars. Enough to do a valve job or change a crankshaft.

Lawnmower carburetors look to me like fine watches. Small precise
springs. Multiple bell cranks. Lots of little things that have to
work together as a fine orchestra.

I thought I knew enough to fix my own. It's just a carb, right?

Saw a cartoon in a medical magazine. Car mechanic looking at the part in his
hand as he says to the owner: "There's a lot about carburetors that science
still doesn't completely understand."

HeyBub wrote:


Saw a cartoon in a medical magazine. Car mechanic looking at the part in his
hand as he says to the owner: "There's a lot about carburetors that science
still doesn't completely understand."



About 40 years ago an auto mechanic told me that "carburetor" was the
French word for "Leave it alone."

--Steve