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

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.