I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.

"Phil" wrote in message ...
I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly
for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs
more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does
get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem.
Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a
new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove
the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.

I think you answered your own questions. Ran out of gas, sucked up dirt,
now it won't suck gas. The primer bulb is a seperate gas circuit, it'll
never blow the dirt out. Pull the fuel bowl, check the jets for dirt,
carefully blow it out without damaging the float, and it will probably start
working OK. You may want to do the fuel tank while you're at it.

HTH, Lefty

On Oct 13, 2:05*pm, Phil wrote:
I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing..
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.

Sounds like it is not getting gas. Somewhere a line is broken or
clogged. Primer bulbs usually have their own line into the tank.

On Oct 13, 11:05*am, Phil wrote:
I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing..
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.

I just had a similar problem with my 30 year old King-O-Lawn front
throw.


I empty the gas tank as best as I could, filled it up completely with
fresh gas, noted the idle (or maybe it was the mixture screw(?)
position)
unscrewed a couple turn, a couple pulls & it was trying to start. Re-
set screw position and it started & ran fine.


no trip to the lawnmower shop

cheers
Bob

Lately mowers do not come with fuel filters. This clogs the carburetor!

Install a fuel filter if you do not have one and clean the carburetor.


"Phil" wrote in message
I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly
for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs
more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does
get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem.
Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a
new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove
the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.

On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:05:55 -0400, Phil wrote:

I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.

Might have water in the gas.

On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:05:55 -0400, Phil wrote:

I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.


A dirty filter won't help. Use fresh gasoline. Blow out the gas
lines, clean tank. Check spark plug/gap. Do a cleanup with
kerosene/toothbrush. I'd avoid physical messing with the carburator,
maybe carb cleaner spray will help.

On Oct 13, 2:05*pm, Phil wrote:
I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing..
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.

Ideas on what? You have the perfect situation. Wife asks, "Did you
mow the lawn?" and you say, "I did as much as I could. Are you going
to the store? Get some beer. Thanks."

R

Try primer 2 times, instead of 10. You're likely flooding
the engine badly. Unscrew the spark plug, and pull the rope
a couple times, and then try two pushes on the primer.

I'm remembering a boy I knew years ago. Had one of those
little micro tiny scooters. He primed it about a dozen
times, and when it wouldn't start, would prime it a couple
dozen more times. No matter how much I talked at him, he'd
be pushing and pushing the primer. I finally quit and left
him to his futile efforts.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Phil" wrote in message
...
I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few
times. Nothing.
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower
runs strongly for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again.
It never runs more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the
primer does get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have
this problem. Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as
before, not a new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad,
then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement
to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or
else I'd remove the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.

"Phil" wrote in message ...
I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly
for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs
more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does
get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem.
Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a
new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove
the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.


Not the same mower, but I

Had the same problem.. removed the lower cover over the float... where the
center screw came out, farther in there was a jet which I screwed out.

It was plugged, blew it ot with air, reassembled worked fine. except lack
of power which turned out to be plugged air filter

Phil wrote:
I push the primer about 10 times, then pull the cord a few times. Nothing.
When I repeat (it's about 60 degrees here today), the mower runs strongly for
only 1 or 2 seconds. Then I have to repeat all over again. It never runs more
than 2 seconds, and seems to run longer with more priming.

I expect it's a clogged fuel supply somehow, even though the primer does get
fuel to the engine.

Crafstman 15 yr old, self-propelled, 143.955500 engine

It ran out of gas the last time I used it, and now I have this problem. Maybe
some particles of something got into somewhere. Same gas as before, not a new
bad batch.

Air filter is not new at all, but I'd guess if it was bad, then the mower
would never start. (I already took the mower to the basement to work on it
away from the gnats, and it's partially disassembled - or else I'd remove the
air filter anyway to see how it runs then.)

Thanks for any ideas.

thanks for all the suggestions and comments. FWIW, here's how it ended up. I
did locate more than a couple videos on youtube, of all places. Some were
pretty good.

So I removed the float nut (though it'd seem better to call it a float bolt).
It was clean and not clogged. Next I took off the float bowl. It was as clean
as could be inside. I worked the float up and down a few times - it seemed to
work as it should. Next, I verified that gas was getting from the tank to the
float bowl - it was, so the rubber line and the brass screen weren't clogged.

So I figured I'd reassemble & try to start it before I took the next (big)
step of removing the carburetor. It was cool out, so I primed it a lot, and it
started. And it continued to run. It's fixed. Why? I guess I'll never know for
sure Maybe I dislodged some dirt, or the float had been stuck. Neither
seems likely but that's all I can think of.

(I had last week started it at least 6 times, when it would stall after 1-2
seconds.)

Thanks again.