Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I purchased a Scotts self propelled mower from an individual who had it sitting outside.  It did not start.

I replaced the spark plug, fuel line, sanded the magneto, emptied the old fuel and replaced with new fuel.

I cleaned out the carb as well as replaced the gasket the needle and the seating.

The engine will start but then stops.  I am puzzled at this point.  Does anyone have any suggestions???

dzton

I too am having this same exact problem.

Mine is with my father's old lawn mower.  I'm not sure if he had replaced the fuel line with an incorrect type of line, or if it was the original one - but either way, that line was totally turned to jelly.  It was like black tar, it just pulled right apart in my hands.   Needless to say, this didn't do much for the carburetor.

I took the carb apart and pulled as much as the black sludge out as I possibly could - slapped it all back together - still nothing.  

I pulled it apart again and really gave it a good cleaning.  I used a long,  thin wire to clean out any tiny holes I could find - I pulled the primer bulb off and cleane out under that.  I cleaned out the holes in the screw that holds the bowl to the carb.

I didn't bother with new gaskets or any new parts since I didn't have any.

I put it all back together (with a new fuel line of course) - and it ran perfectly.  I cut their entire lawn with it which took a good hour at least.   When I went to do the back lawn, it started failing again.

Same thing - runs for a second then dies.

I've taken the carb off again and tried cleaning it all out again, but I'm still having trouble with it.  I believe new carbs are only about 40 dollars for these engines, so I'm thinking I may be better off just buying a whole new one and calling it a day.

I also noticed looking in the gas tank that there's all sorts of stuff floating around in the gas - it looks like some kind of stew.  I'm sure this isn't helping matters.  I'm sure some of that junk could definitely clog the carb since there isn't a filter in the line.

By the way - SHOULD there be an inline filter?   I can picture my father leaving that out if he did in fact replace the fuel line at one time.

I may try to clean out the gas tank and give it all one more shot before I buy a new carb.  

I'll do my best to get back here with an update - but there's a good chance I'll never bother - so I figured I'd throw my two cents out there now while I'm here.  Cleaning out those little holes in the carb did help at one point.  Maybe that can get somebody else on the right path. 

If isn't a filter I'd definitely install an inline one.  Clean out that tank too while your at it. 

hey marshall you seem knowledgeable, I am having same problem, is there actually a fuel filter underneath the flywheel.  If so how can i get the flywheel off to get the filter out and change it.

Same thing happens to me on my scotts mower - in a fashion.

Mower ran fine and then it ran out of gas. I went to a local fly-by-night gas station for more gas - filling my jeep at the same time. 

Once i put the gas in the mower would start but then stop after a few seconds.   After reading the above posts i decided the culprit was likely the gasoline and i put a little gas dryer in the gas, loosened the nut on the float bowl to let the old fuel drain out and then retightened the nut. 

Mower ran fine from then on.

So perhaps the issue isn't as complicated as carburator rebuilds etc for some of you - it wasn't for me.

Good Luck

Dave Rimmer

Here's how I fixed mine.  (Actually a neighbor was throwing it away so I hauled it home to see if I could fix it.  I did!)  At the bottom of the carb bowl is a nut.  Empty the tank of as much fuel as possible and remove this nut.  I believe it was a 7/16 socket.  Don't lose the gasket.  The nut is part of a threaded bolt that feeds fuel to the carb.  There are 4 holes in this bolt  that I cleaned with a combination of WD 40, a pin, and compressed air.  2 holes at the bottom that line up with each other.  You should be able to see daylight through it.  One inside the hollow bolt that I cleaned with air and WD 40 and one other one that goes diagonal at the very tip of the bolt.  It is small but there.  Done deal!

i think your problem is a small filter at the bottom of the fuel tank just clean tht out now and it will run fine

DrBobDC2005 wrote:

This worked for me! My 13 year-old mower runs like new again. It is a 1/2" socket btw. Thanks for all the tips to get this mower running again!

the small orafices are for drawing fuel up thru the pilot circuit to supply fuel to the carb. if these are plugged or partially blocked the engine may initially start but the gas will not be drawn thru the correct circuits to keep the engine running.i have a 8 hp Tecumseh engine on my 1986 ariens snowblower that I periodically have to remove the brass nut and use a bread wrapper wire to clean these small passages.