Lawnmower won't start?

Question

I have a craftsman with a briggs & straton engine...I pull the cord and the engine starts up, but then dies...I pull the cord again and it won't start up, everything looks fine...I change the oil, plenty of gas, sparkplug looks fine and is connected

any ideas?

Thanks

Answer 1

Try the air cleaner. I think its a flat-ish rectangle with one s***w in the center. There might be oil in it, espec. if its a 4 cycle engine.

How old is the gas? Old gas will do that too.

try and look at the fuel supply line, it may be clogged.

Answer 2

Check your actual lid to the petrol tank isn't on too tight, i used a honda engine lawnmower once and that was the biggest problem was after filling the tank i tightened that lid too tight!!

Answer 3

Sounds like fuel.  Make sure the gas is flowing to the carb.  Also, pull out the spark plug and check it.  I pulled one of my mower that has half-eroded away.  Good idea to take a wire brush to the carbon build-up around the bottom.  

If it was flooded, it should start again in 5-10 minutes.  Keep the faith. It'll start.

Answer 4

maby their is a mroblem with the carb,, take it to a small engine repair shop or if it is new take it back to the place you bought it, if its sears they will take it back and have them fix it they have no choice but to.

Answer 5

every combustion engine requires 3 things to run, fuel, air, and spark. air is rarely the problem on a lawnmower, but check the air filter just to make sure it's not full of junk. check that you are getting a good spark. just unscrew the spark plug but keep it plugged in, then hold the electrode end against the engine block and have someone pull the cord. if you see a spark, you're fine, if you don't, then you may have to replace some parts under the flywheel. if it's not the spark, then it's the fuel. could be bad gas, or something plugged in the carburetor. if you didn't winterize it, possibly the fuel gummed up in the lines somewhere.

Answer 6

cheek the air filter you may need a new one

Answer 7

maybe its time to get a new one!

Answer 8

It sounds starved of fuel. It could be the fuel line filter is clogged, or it could be it needs new carburetor. You'll need to get is serviced.

Answer 9

maybe you flooded the engine

Answer 10

I have a similar one to this I think (at least it's a Craftsman, not sure about the B&S).  I know when I start it, the gas primer tells you to push it in 3 times.  If I just do it three times, I can pull on it all day and it will never start.  If I push on it 10 times (don't go to far or you'll flood it), it starts pretty quickly that way.  Maybe try priming it 5 times and go up a little to see if that helps.  If it doesn't then you'll need to get it serviced as everyone else says.