My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that won't stay running. I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in, and used a little ether to get them started. They run for a bit, then die. They won't start on their own, without ether. I try priming them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

On Tue, 3 May 2016 09:36:43 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that won't stay running.
I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in, and used a little ether to get them started.
They run for a bit, then die. They won't start on their own, without ether.
I try priming them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.
Any ideas would be appreciated.


... turn on the gas valve ?

On Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 11:36:47 AM UTC-5, wrote:
My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that won't stay running. I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in, and used a little ether to get them started. They run for a bit, then die. They won't start on their own, without ether. I try priming them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Remove the air cleaner and see if fuel is spraying when you press the primer. When cold sometimes after starting, you need to prime it until it can run on its own.

On 5/3/2016 12:36 PM, wrote:
My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that won't stay running.

I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in, and used a little ether
to get them started.

They run for a bit, then die. They won't start on their own, without
ether. I try priming them,

but I'm not sure they are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Old mower, I used to help by adding carburetor cleaner to the gas.

My newer Honda is hard to start but whiff of carburetor cleaner or ether
gets it started with one pull and it runs fine thereafter.

On Tue, 03 May 2016 12:40:22 -0400, wrote:

On Tue, 3 May 2016 09:36:43 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that won't stay running.
I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in, and used a little ether to get them started.
They run for a bit, then die. They won't start on their own, without ether.
I try priming them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.
Any ideas would be appreciated.


.. turn on the gas valve ?

... remove the air filter (clean it, or change it)

-- loosen the gas cap (clear the vent hole with paper clip)

-- check for a clogged fuel filter

... check for a dirty / fouled plug

Do they stay running after either is used?

You need fuel, spark and oxygen.

Thank her and her husband for their service and sacrifice.
--
"We recommend using your hand to replace the fuse as it will take much longer using your knee."

writes:
My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that won't s=
tay running. I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in, and used a li=
ttle ether to get them started. They run for a bit, then die. They won't st=
art on their own, without ether. I try priming them, but I'm not sure they =
are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Make sure the vent hole on the gas cap isn't plugged.

wrote:
My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that
won't stay running. I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in,
and used a little ether to get them started. They run for a bit, then
die. They won't start on their own, without ether. I try priming
them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Pull the line to the carburetor. Is gas flowing/dripping?

Pull the air filter. If you can spray fuel/starting fluid into
the carb and it continues to run, you're clogged in the
carb or in the line.

On Tue, 3 May 2016 14:15:31 -0400, "83LowRider" wrote:

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Pull the line to the carburetor. Is gas flowing/dripping?

Pull the air filter. If you can spray fuel/starting fluid into
the carb and it continues to run, you're clogged in the
carb or in the line.


I had, in the past, a carb butterfly choke stick in the carb throat.
I'd be spraying that carb really well, check the needle valves and
float operation. Sunken float keeping the float valve open?

.... fuel / spark / oxygen

On 5/3/2016 12:36 PM, wrote:
My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that won't stay running. I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in, and used a little ether to get them started. They run for a bit, then die. They won't start on their own, without ether. I try priming them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.


Walk behind, or riders? Engine size? Self propelled?

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

On 5/3/2016 1:24 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
writes:
They won't st=
art on their own, without ether. I try
priming them, but I'm not sure they =
are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Make sure the vent hole on the gas cap isn't plugged.


The symptoms are consistent with bad gasket
between the carb and the engine body.

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

On Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 2:36:15 PM UTC-5, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 5/3/2016 1:24 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
writes:
They won't st=
art on their own, without ether. I try
priming them, but I'm not sure they =
are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Make sure the vent hole on the gas cap isn't plugged.


The symptoms are consistent with bad gasket
between the carb and the engine body.

You say the same thing every time!

On Tue, 3 May 2016 15:36:11 -0400, Stormin Mormon
wrote:

The symptoms are consistent with bad gasket
between the carb and the engine body.

No. Not always.

On Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 11:36:47 AM UTC-5, wrote:
My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that won't stay running. I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in, and used a little ether to get them started. They run for a bit, then die. They won't start on their own, without ether. I try priming them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Several years ago, my housemate's lawnmower would not run. It had a spark and a little gas squirted in the carb would run it for a few seconds. I got on line and found a new OEM carb on eBay for $20. It was easier to get a new carb because the rebuild kits were about the same price. New carb solved the problem. ^_^

[8~{} Uncle Mower Monster

wrote:
My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that
won't stay running. I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in,
and used a little ether to get them started. They run for a bit, then
die. They won't start on their own, without ether. I try priming
them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

I find dripping gas into the carb while starting it, and continuing with more
bit by bit to keep it running longer will often get them working. I have had
some luck using a small plastic tube with one end in the tank and the other very
near the choke butterfly will suck in gas. Move the choke end away/closer to
vary the flow. Or just use some kind of squirt bottle.

On Tue, 3 May 2016 16:31:00 -0700, "Bob F"
wrote:

wrote:
My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that
won't stay running. I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in,
and used a little ether to get them started. They run for a bit, then
die. They won't start on their own, without ether. I try priming
them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

I find dripping gas into the carb while starting it, and continuing with more
bit by bit to keep it running longer will often get them working. I have had
some luck using a small plastic tube with one end in the tank and the other very
near the choke butterfly will suck in gas. Move the choke end away/closer to
vary the flow. Or just use some kind of squirt bottle.


Just don't let the engine backfire or you can be on the menu for a
bar-b-q.

Get a can of sea-foam. Put some in each tank. Get them started a few
times. Let sit for a couple hours and try again. Blow gently into the
top of the tank to pressurize a bit to help get gasoline into the carb
if necessary. (a piece of mountain bike inner tube stretched over the
filler for you to blow into helps)

The Sea-Foam works pretty good at hetting the crud disolved out of
the jets and float bowl.

On Tue, 3 May 2016 20:28:56 -0700, Bernt Tass wrote:

On 5/3/2016 4:31 PM, Bob F wrote:
wrote:
My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that
won't stay running. I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in,
and used a little ether to get them started. They run for a bit, then
die. They won't start on their own, without ether. I try priming
them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

I find dripping gas into the carb while starting it, and continuing with more
bit by bit to keep it running longer will often get them working. I have had
some luck using a small plastic tube with one end in the tank and the other very
near the choke butterfly will suck in gas. Move the choke end away/closer to
vary the flow. Or just use some kind of squirt bottle.




I know a guy that wound up in the burn ward and later died because of
stupid **** like that.

Buy a new carburetor, it's is a lot cheaper than a trip to the ER.
Fixing it right can be a lot faster and cheaper than a new carb -
and you know this carb ran previously - the new one is a totally
unknown entity.

As far as the burns - it was stupidity of exactly that type that got
me my first teaching gig - when the primary instructor burned himself
severely.

On 5/3/2016 4:45 PM, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 3 May 2016 15:36:11 -0400, Stormin Mormon
wrote:

The symptoms are consistent with bad gasket
between the carb and the engine body.

No. Not always.


That's why troubleshooting guides list several
possible causes. I listed one. You going to do
some thing useful like tell the poor guy some
of the other things to check? Naah, just post
critcisms. So much easier to be a critic. BTW,
you're a lousy critic.

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

On 5/3/2016 4:31 PM, Bob F wrote:
wrote:
My neighbor (female with deployed husband) has two lawn mowers that
won't stay running. I drained the old gas from them, put new gas in,
and used a little ether to get them started. They run for a bit, then
die. They won't start on their own, without ether. I try priming
them, but I'm not sure they are getting gas.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

I find dripping gas into the carb while starting it, and continuing with more
bit by bit to keep it running longer will often get them working. I have had
some luck using a small plastic tube with one end in the tank and the other very
near the choke butterfly will suck in gas. Move the choke end away/closer to
vary the flow. Or just use some kind of squirt bottle.




I know a guy that wound up in the burn ward and later died because of
stupid **** like that.

Buy a new carburetor, it's is a lot cheaper than a trip to the ER.