Lawnmower trouble

I have 16 some yr old sears brig's Stratton push mower, did some last summer but not get air an lately worse, I clean air filter more once an change an clean plugs an oil as dirty from to much gas , now it runs out gas before lawn cut an runs rough miss until nearly all lawn cut an then runs normal , it was run good finally when lawn cut an then run out gas, so it not get air is what symptom , refill an start an immediately run rough , at first I thought I flood it when prime as very touchy but no prime it when run out gas an refill an moss , I try take off air filter an run without an still miss , I appreciate any ideas on what do , I try take off what look like vent hose carb an see clear an nothing , I hate thought spend more new lawn mower as this one probly good , take it to shop , there absolutely crazy on repaired , buy 2 new ones for what charge , I went true value for recoil thing on rope an want $50 for part so put new rope on for $5 an rewind it fingers

Maybe you should just cry "uncle" when it comes to anything that runs on an internal combustion engine. Electric might be better for you.

its 16 years old. its time for a new one. stuff wears out.

https://www.amazon.com/Yard-Machine...push+mower&qid=1628980037&sr=8-8

Follow Danny's advice, Dave.

Does it have a primer button you push to prime? I've seen those go bad and they will lose their prime causing it to run out of gas. I recently repaired one for a customer with same symptoms. After replacing primer ball, cleaning carb and replacing plug it runs fine

I would suggest a rotary push mower.

Get a goat

ya it has a primer button an works , I was thinking that trouble as ever since own, when new , the primer button very touchy , it get to much gas an when lawn close done , it runs normal , wierd , get to much gas an foul plug , turn new oil black , thinking try take carb out an look but no idea what look for , the primer button works though

You win. Nessmuck likes sheep but it is same idea.

Why would you remove the carb if you don't know what your looking for.

Throw it away. Its had a good run. If u get to extreme nw IA or into SD i have a self propelled craftsman u can have. Ran like a top when i quit using it. Got an acreage dont need it

Elecitrickity is the devil.

Or a reel mower…..

https://www.amazon.com/American-Law...&hvtargid=pla-343143228714&psc=1

You can thank me later, Coonman.

Best lawn mover I’ve evah had

Lawnmowers should be coming on clearance next month at the big box stores. Menards, Lowes, Wal Mart etc. should have sales on them.

Round up.

https://www.amazon.com/Concentrate-...28986191&sprefix=round+up&sr=8-4

Get an old reel type push. You provide the horsepower.

Get the skidoo out and do a few donuts on the lawn.

Drain the oil, start the mower, let it run until you hear a pop and it stops running. Then take it to the dump and go buy a new one.

Goats eat grass and weeds. Lawnmower and weedeater in one.

It must have been used too much when it was new!

Just get yourself a 2nd JOB!! and buy a BRAND NEW John Deere X758. It will last FOREVER!!!

Dave is Amish. I forgot.

I just blew $500 plus radiater an repair bills bfore plus always stuff need home an future keep come up buying , not look forward new lawnmower , cheap plastic junk Walmart for $350

Ottawa be able to pick up a push mower at a yard sale for twenty bucks, fourth at most.

You could move up here Dave, I haven't had to mow the grass since mid June

I doubt it nowadays

I thought lots rain there ? We had heavy downpours in severe storms twice last week or would Bern no grass cut , unless rains , no grass cut till then , it dry up hard ground

Wonder if not use primer an pour gas down carb would get it go ok as maybe primer is flood it out an not use it , get to much gas an can smell it or not enough air but I took off airbox an did same thing , run rough

Minnesota is a long state north to south Dave.

Dave, you can buy cheap, working mowers on Craigslist. There are free working mowers in the free section pretty often too. Just select the city you are closest to. The link lists a bunch of cities in Iowa.

https://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/ia

Ames, which is the first on the list, has working push motors for as low as $40.00 to $60.00 each. Try the mower before you buy it.

Keith

I think you should go to church and pray for some miracles to happen in your life. Nobody deserves the problems you continually have.

Another bad car wreck...can't not look !!

Just had a co worker sell 2 working push mowers for $50 a piece. Both had honda engines too. He switched to an electric mower and he loves it. It's lighter and easier to push according to him.
I don't have Facebook but my wife does. Check out the marketplace on there if you've got it.

Have the lawn paved

Clean the carb. Make sure you pull off bowl and clean out needle valve

Buy some goats.

I'd say dumping gas straight into the carb would be worse than using the primer ball. You are basically doing the same thing.

I bought a used 22 inch cut push mower for $70. Good you could fix it for $5 I have never bought a new lawn mower push or rider.

Bryce

I am here for the helpful comments and suggestions which will be ignored by coonman

When you're broke and driving a junk vehicle, have not maintained your home, stuff around home, or lawn mower it is inviting trouble to show up regularly.

Things break or wear out and then it's an 'emergency'

No old can carb cleaner , got brake fluid cleaner , ancient old can , would that be ok for spray into carb ?

And the beat goes on...an on...an on!

There must be a couple backyard mechanic buddies who will get your lawnmower running for a case of beer ?
I'm no whiz when it comes to mechanical stuff,other than basic mainenance,but if something needs more major work I get it done locally mostly thru barter.

Check it out Dave... 0$

Ya, my neighbor who sit around drink beer all time , has not cut grass since June an so other neighbor came over with one like in pic that kinda lawnmower an cut his grass, neigbor has lawnmower but cut it lil an quit an back beer , so neighbor use the self propel from other neighbor an hit brush pile an almost roll on side , I watch , no idea what doing but could got hurt bad , I think he on drugs bad az been watch him an not like him , neigbor on other side me is in 50 s an live with sister an her husband an has disability sticker on rearview mirror but for what , a dies us walk in n out with cases beer all hrs an hair down to waist

.. what kind of beer does he drink?

I'm only half kidding here Dave, but maybe you can buy his mower for a case of beer or two?

that firestone looks pretty sweet too.

Good idea.

Probly just buy new cheapy Walmart

I spray ton carb cleaner in it an everthing clear, still same problem , except after run 30 min that come out it an run normal , I change oil again as gas an it carb cleaner got from upper into crankcase, , now got but another quart 30 w, , maybe lawnmower on sale in fall , no rain an be 2 weeks at least bfore cut again , do the new push mowers still use 30 w oil ?

10w30

Yes, my push mower uses sae 30.

Dave I do mechanic work on the side. Got a couple push mowers I intended to give to a kid wanting to earn money, or an elderly person. If you're ever passing thru Mississippi, I'll give you one. Never met anyone on Tman in person. Would be cool.

.. I don’t know... if the mower ended up breaking he’d be in here talking about what a sorry hand you are giving away bad mowers and such lol

You pay shipping and this baby is yours.

A reel mower is less than $100 and doesnt fail.

I prefer brake cleaner to carb cleaner.

Maybe adjustment screw for air fuel mixture but can't find where, it get way to much gas until after run 30 min or so then normal

Clean the carb and put a new primer bulb on. Piece of cake

The gas cap vent may be plugged. Take the cap off the gas tank and blow through the hole in it. If air passed through then it's ok. If not, push a skinny wire through it.

There 1 hole open , in cap.out 3, Iran it without cap an misfire

If you swing by Greene County, VA you can have one of my push mowers, Dave. Good luck.

Go take closer look later Tonite but I think no adjustment screws on carb for that , if so that none, might well buy new lawnmower sometime , not lot fun use like that , possibly make it thru season an some kind sale on new ones, the primer works ok as see it squirt gas, just to rich fuel mix or no air even with gas cap an filter off, an after 30 min s normal run, some kind carb trouble

you get the grass cut yet?

Kinda sounds like a choke problem. Is the spring hooked up to the choke lever? Does the choke move freely from open to closed?

Yes it moves freely

Mudtracker might be on to something. The choke spring might be weak or missing allowing the choke to open and close. Id wire the choke open and try it that way

Pawn shops here are over loaded with push mowers. en e enough in the season bet some be willing to deal.

Yep, just bought one to mow my ditch..25 bucks...its a Bolens.

I mentioned for him to watch yard sales too. Second hand push mowers are easy to find if get out and look for one.

Finding one was the easy part, I just came in from using it this morning and I hate them! lol

Carbs do wear out too. Replacement ones are cheap on amazon if you can find the right one.

it'll run better then what you got now!

I think the choke is what make it accelerate faster normal preset idle as I play it last wkrnd , spring work , but open it up run faster an still miss , I have under tarp cellar an if time look sat , or sun, not sure cut grass depend on rain, everything junk out, have a 16 yr old big snow thrower with auger gear box broke , buy a new one for price repair, if fix myself if can still $250

Don't confuse choke with the govener. Pulling the govener will make it speed up

That what I was doing, I have Google an see if I can even find choke, look at it , I can't

I just read that if a primer bulb that no choke , so primer is just for start engine an it works ? Hmm, something else wrong , try adjust any screws on carb while run it

I think that's been mentioned. Or maybe I was just thinking it. I know you think the primer ball is good but it only takes a small hole or crack in the ball or diaphragm behind it to cause the problems you describe. And I know that was mentioned 3 pages ago. Lol. And if you have been running ethanol gas in this mower for 16 years I'd buy a new carb and primer if they don't come together.

What make and model of a mower is this?

If someone brought a 16 y/o mower in my shop to me that wouldn't run, 1st thing I would do is put a compression gauge on it. You need about 180 psi to reliably fire off and work well. 5 pulls and it doesn't score somewhere close to that, it's scrap or parts. I ain't gonna get no pay if I put parts on a mower with a used up bore/rings.

Grp. Are you sure about that compression number? That's pretty high in my experience

Dave, I think you are right about no choke if you have a primer bulb. Been a long time since I had one like that. If that has the carb that sits on top of the tank, I have had to replace the gasket when the engine wouldn't run right.

It just sears craftsman , rear discharge with 4.75 Briggs Stratton , I try dickering it tomma, not lot fun use it when overloaded gas, it funny that after 30 min run it normal , did same thing last summer an would clean air filter an seem help an if run rough, for not as long last summer an come out it an run normal like does now after half hr , worse now,overloading gas in upper cyl runs down crankcase an change few times this summer , if keep the crap in oil would maybe ruin motor, so change oil , I read primer is just for starting but even so, I can't see how it comes apart or off, maybe non replaceable, never like sears all that much as got junk freezer from them an other can with warp lid an weigh down as of now to seal, should find stuff put freezer an get start an leave run

didn't read the posts but have tried a new sparkplug

Yes, wire brush the black stuff from overload gas every run an usslly in fall bfore put away a new plug

Do you run nonethanol gasoline, Dave? Yes or no?

Ya just the cheap gas, it say that supposed use owners manual

Try running it on half choke
Had an old snowblower that a guy gave me that only ran on 1/2 choke.
Ran that way for years.

Thanks for the answer.

I don't know much about lawnmowers but look carb again an call shop, say can look up price in new carb if wanna, that only thing can do , I see

Dave, If you have the time, check on Amazon for a new carburetor. I found one there for my wife's garden tiller for less than $15.00. It was easy to put on and it even worked without any major adjustments.

I was just go look into best place to get carb, some are $35 but some pricey, get up to $80 plus shipping an need blade an plastic wheels by bearings worn out for years, not worth a carb if much money, blades used be $10, by now ?

Take a lap around town and stop at yardsales. Sounds like the whole thing is wore out.

You know what, you're right. I just rebuilt a UTV engine, and that was the spec for it. Briggs won't tell you a spec, just says if you hand spin flywheel, and it springs back from compression, it's ok. I think Briggs are low ratio engines, like 7:1 or something. So at sea level you're looking at 14.7x7=102.9 psi. Mea culpa. Don't think my advice is going to be heeded anyway.

Briggs Stratton want $50 carb ship, Amazon a better deal an fuel tank with it, but noway I can find right model.an code no at Amazon online , I doubt customer service has the info

Briggs Stratton want $50 carb ship, Amazon a better deal an fuel tank with it, but noway I can find right model.an code no at Amazon online , I doubt customer service has the info

why drop $50 into a 15 year old push mower?

Sunk costs...time to move on if it's my mower

It to much for that dinky carb , try contact Amazon but doubt help, no idea if gas tank an carb pic well fit, probly but ? , $30 total for tank carb ok, Briggs Stratton want $65 for tank sperate, ridiculous plus shipping

I finally found right carb an gas tank assembly amazon I think an wheels that bearings are out or worn , $26 for gas tank an carb, should do it , if that works a new blade, hopefully not blow by engine cause it but to much gas is carb trouble an got cut grass now 1 more time , not good when oil get dirty from gas, maybe skip cut grass till get new carb an gas tank, siphon out gas back into gas can now, run like that has got be hard on oil in crankcase, just change it an dark color if run motor

Let us know how it turns out Dave

Dave, some people have a bad tendency to get attached to inanimate objects and continue to put to much time, worry and money into fixing them, when they would be better off junking them. You have that tendency with your vehicles, your mower and in some weird way with your jobs.

You can buy another, better used mower for about what you can get parts for this one for. After you fix this mower, it's still going to be a worn out piece of junk.

You would have more time, less stress and more money if you could learn to leave things and move on to something better.

Keith

Lot bad reviews on Amazon on part, hope fits ok, reviews sound like cheap junk, likely is, Briggs Stratton. Mfg for much higher price, would been better as it ask for code, it just went by model no on Amazon, an say it fit 50 some other models, the pics of it on Amazon, look identical but complaints on gaskets an bolt holes an threads an throttle or governer linkage hole, lots, might have get small drill bit

I just opened the crankcase on a honda eu 2000. I thought I had all the parts for a rebuild. The governor weight holder was laying shattered in the bottom. I shall endeavor to persevere. What is my next move coonman?

Finally got lawnmower go, got fuel tank an carb together , wheels don't fit an return free ship , Menards wheels no work an if want , got blow another $40 ship at sears , put new blade on an start 1130 with gas tank not fit right an bend bracket an got go but new tank leak out gas , cheap junk , had tank an carb off 4 times an look an finally swap an took of new carb an put old tank an had gasket on but didn't prime an realize an forgot u got have rubber gasket I forgot on new tank on cork gasket an finally got it as spring on bottom carb keep push of rubber seal an got together an no leak gas an run ok , Amazon well not refund the gas tank an carb , unless return both an explain them the fuel tank bad an swap carb on old tank an can't ship an stink like gas an new fuel tank theads on bolt holes are not right size but work an had bend bracket get fit, also had drill but drill bits for chole linkage as to small hole in carb , Amazon refund wheels an free ship back but not carb an give me $5 credit after talk superviser all , amazon I think cheap Mex made junk , or from china, don't pay buy trash cheap , so after returns I have $58 in it an drill bits , 2 sizes left plus extra gas cap an old carb an rubber seal an spring in it if need, not sure but wheels for another $40 an maybe live it, not worth it if mower junk out in year again , a cheapy new one Walmart if even got with tax is close $200 , I think what possum say about bad primer on old carb is what all trouble may been

Sounds like you got her running (I think). Hopefully it will get you through the rest of this year.

If it doesn't work there are several on Facebook marketplace pretty cheap. Even looks like someone fixes them and sells in Peosta.

Good luck coonman

I hope it works well for you.

I took my own advice and bought myself a new one. Husqvarna zero turn. My old craftsman lawn tractor broke down again. I am tired of fixing it. Gave it to a neighbor. I suspect he is going to repair and sell it.

Glad you were able to figure out your mower problems Dave. Good job!

Decide order wheels an additional $39 for 2 rear wheels shipped so have about $90 in lawnmower,, sears is not good as some parts are not universal like wheels an have get sears , I could spent $110 more an got cheapy after tax at Walmart but probly had order another Walmart an have ship, the plastic where axle at wears out an bad wheel wobble

Got new wheels for push mower an nice even cut, so yesterday I had prime the primer on new carb like 25 times to squirt gas into intake, I took off air cleaner an watch it , I thought it wasn't prime good when got it , junk carb like gas tank from Amazon ? Why is Amazon stuff so cheap ? Junk ? Should order carb from Briggs Stratton

Now, if you are really set on a push mower. This is the best on the market.

The Honda mower is nice.

Ya maybe buy new sears mower in winter an have 2 mowers

A new spark plug doesn't cost much. I would put a new spark plug in it and try it again. Be sure to buy the right one for your engine.

Good luck, Dave

I have different spark plugs lay around from years , when change end season , right plug an not spark plugs problem , junk amazon carb likely , work ok if can get prime , if hit primer button 30 times it well an run good

Did you ever breakdown how much that mower cost you up to the point you started putting money into it? If you got 10 or 15 years out of it, it doesn't owe you anything.