20HP Briggs & Stratton OHV - does not start

[Max P.]

Hello Community,

I have a problem with my 20HP Briggs & Stratton OHV twin engine (#407777-0167-E1) on a 42" Craftsman LT1000 mower.

Yesterday I was mowing the backyard and I was about to run out of gas (the engine started to lose power every few seconds) so I turned it off and refueled to about 2/3.
After that I wanted to start up again and continue mowing but the engine did not start anymore.

I can hear the solenoid upfront clicking when I turn the key. When I turn to start the starter kicks in and rotates the engine just fine but it doesn't fire up.
I can hear a "puff-puff" sound all the time and it becomes more dampened when I pull the choke and also a little bit dampened when I increase the throttle slightly from idle (but not as much as when I pull the choke).
I tried the same thing this morning with a cold engine with no difference in the result. I checked the fuel line since I drained the tank to the bottom (maybe something clogged it?) but everything including fuel filter is free.

Something that might be important: On Thursday when I was mowing my front yard I was going over a ditch quite brutally and after a few yards the drive belt came off but after reattaching it to the clutch pulley and drive pulley everything was fine again. Maybe something rattled lose here?

Let me know if there is anything else you would need to know.
I appreciate all help I can get.

Thanks a lot,
Max

 

[daddydoc]

Hello Community,

I have a problem with my 20HP Briggs & Stratton OHV twin engine (#407777-0167-E1) on a 42" Craftsman LT1000 mower.

Yesterday I was mowing the backyard and I was about to run out of gas (the engine started to lose power every few seconds) so I turned it off and refueled to about 2/3.
After that I wanted to start up again and continue mowing but the engine did not start anymore.

I can hear the solenoid upfront clicking when I turn the key. When I turn to start the starter kicks in and rotates the engine just fine but it doesn't fire up.
I can hear a "puff-puff" sound all the time and it becomes more dampened when I pull the choke and also a little bit dampened when I increase the throttle slightly from idle (but not as much as when I pull the choke).
I tried the same thing this morning with a cold engine with no difference in the result. I checked the fuel line since I drained the tank to the bottom (maybe something clogged it?) but everything including fuel filter is free.

Something that might be important: On Thursday when I was mowing my front yard I was going over a ditch quite brutally and after a few yards the drive belt came off but after reattaching it to the clutch pulley and drive pulley everything was fine again. Maybe something rattled lose here?

Let me know if there is anything else you would need to know.
I appreciate all help I can get.

Thanks a lot,
Max

There are several possibilities-- Anti-backfire solenoid on carb failure (this can be checked by removing the air filter priming the cylinders with a little bit of gas. If it starts, you likely have a solenoid problem) carb plugged, plugged fuel cap, no spark at the plug, or valve issues.

Hope this helps.

 

[Max P.]

There are several possibilities-- Anti-backfire solenoid on carb failure (this can be checked by removing the air filter priming the cylinders with a little bit of gas. If it starts, you likely have a solenoid problem) carb plugged, plugged fuel cap, no spark at the plug, or valve issues.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for the reply.

I was starting by taking the valve covers and spark plugs off. While I was putting a pencil into the right cylinder and spinning the motor by hand I found out that the piston did not move - so in addition to not starting I have a broken piston rod.
This tractor did good for 10 years and now I will sell it in parts.

We bought a new hydrostatic yard tractor with tight turn feature that they had on sale. Hopefully, it will last for 10 years as well.

Max