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Lawn mower ran for 40 minutes, now won't start

Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:08 pm
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
130100 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:08 pm
Hi guys,

I have an old mower that I use to pull a cart and/or my spreader. I did leave some gas in, but added stabil and ran it for a few minutes last fall.

Get it started the other day and change the oil and filter.

Yesterday, I started it and ran my 25 gallon sprayer for about 45 minutes. Ran fine. Then it seemed to choke like it wasn't getting gas and died.

Wouldn't restart. Would turn over, but didn't even try to start. It's a craftsman LS2000 with a Briggs Intek 20hp motor, probably 25 years old or more. No mower deck.

Same today, cranks, but won't start.

Does that sound like the carb? I wasn't sure since it ran fine for a while and just stopped. I made sure it wasn't a gas venting issue as well.

Any advice on what to check? Thanks for any advice.
Posted by UcobiaA
The Gump
Member since Nov 2010
3872 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:17 pm to
Checked the spark plug?
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
17921 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:21 pm to
quote:

Checked the spark plug?



Pull the plug to see if it's getting fire. If so, dump a small bit of gas into the cylinder through the plug hole, replace the plug and see if it starts that way.

If so, then it's a fuel issue and track it down from there.
Posted by The Torch
DFW The Dub
Member since Aug 2014
23423 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:34 pm to
It ain’t got no gas in it
Posted by Barneyrb
NELA
Member since May 2016
6131 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:41 pm to
Some have an electric solenoid on the carb and if it goes out won't let gas into the carb, see if any wires go to the bottom of the carb


This post was edited on 3/26/25 at 6:50 pm
Posted by upgrade
Member since Jul 2011
13951 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:46 pm to
I would assume a carburetor jet is plugged first.
Remove it and spray carburetor cleaner through every single crevice that you possibly can. Even better if you disassemble the carb as much as you comfortably can. Even with stabil, jets will gum up sometimes.
My next check would be fuel lines. They could have holes in them or they could be collapsing.
Posted by REB BEER
Laffy Yet
Member since Dec 2010
17069 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:53 pm to
Did you try to start it with starter fluid directly into the carb? If it runs on that, probably a clogged jet. Had that happen to a 4 wheeler that the air filter deteriorated and sucked a piece into the carb.
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
130100 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 7:26 pm to
quote:

Checked the spark plug?


No, but i will tomorrow
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
130100 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 7:27 pm to
quote:

Some have an electric solenoid on the carb and if it goes out won't let gas into the carb, see if any wires go to the bottom of the carb


It does, and if I barely turn the key, I hear it click, so I think it's okay, but I will double check.
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
130100 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 7:28 pm to
quote:

Did you try to start it with starter fluid directly into the carb?


I did mot, but will check that too
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
130100 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 7:29 pm to
quote:

would assume a carburetor jet is plugged first.


Kind of what I'm assuming, but wanted to ask. Was reading that cheap replacement carbs don't last, so I'm going to take it off and take it apart and see if I can clean it well.
Posted by REB BEER
Laffy Yet
Member since Dec 2010
17069 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 8:05 pm to
Just a word of advice, I went to use my edger last week for the first time this year. Would not start and I get it running on starting fluid and thought if I could keep it running long enough with quick squirts it might suck the trash out of the jet and start running right. Ran out of starting fluid, so I decided to just go ahead and mow the yard and go get more starting fluid afterwards.

I filled the carb on the edger with Seafoam and left it for about an hour and the Seafoam all soaked in and evaporated. The edger started on the first pull. Seafoam is a miracle worker IMO.
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
130100 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 8:30 pm to
I do have seafoam maybe I should try that
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
69073 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 8:31 pm to
quote:

Does that sound like the carb?


Is the fuel gravity feed or does it have a pump?

Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
69073 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 8:32 pm to
quote:

Did you try to start it with starter fluid directly into the carb?


Can also do with a rag soaked with gasoline by the air intake.
Posted by deltaland
Member since Mar 2011
96636 posts
Posted on 3/26/25 at 9:19 pm to
quote:

It ain’t got no gas in it


Dammit was coming to post this
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
130100 posts
Posted on 3/27/25 at 5:10 am to
Gravity feed. When I pulled the line off the carb, gas was flowing in, so that itself didn't seem to be an issue.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
69073 posts
Posted on 3/27/25 at 6:09 am to
Then it is either a spark or a carb issue. Whether or not it will pop on starting fluid should answer that question
Posted by Ol boy
Member since Oct 2018
3577 posts
Posted on 3/27/25 at 7:15 am to
quote:

Does that sound like the carb

I would bet that 98% of small engine issues are carb related.
Posted by duckaholic25
Member since Nov 2010
193 posts
Posted on 3/27/25 at 7:22 am to
Drain the carb and change the fuel filter.
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