31707 0129 E1 Runs for a few seonds, then dies

[lefty2cox]

After reading the initial post, I would have guessed clogged fuel cap vent and thought someone would have mentioned it. I'm trying to learn by reading posts so any reasoning behind why it wasn't, would be helpful to me.

Thanks.

 

[TylerFrankel1]

After reading the initial post, I would have guessed clogged fuel cap vent and thought someone would have mentioned it. I'm trying to learn by reading posts so any reasoning behind why it wasn't, would be helpful to me.

Thanks.

I had similar thoughts. Fuel cap vent, or maybe dirt in the tank outlet or lines. Maybe even fuel pump issue if it has one. The way to rule out fuel here easily is to get it to start and then continually feed a small amount of carb cleaner spray or starting fluid thru the carb and see if it stays running on that (will have to push lightly on the spray so it doesn't choke out, fine tune it by finger pressure). If it stays running that way you know for sure there's at least some issue with the fuel system. Sounds like there's issues elsewhere too if it's cranking hard.

 

[PTmowerMech]

Sorry to hear that.
Know exactly where you are coming from
The RA that flared up last year had me crippled to the point that shoes were not an option. crawling to the dunny on all fours then having to run a hose through the bathroom window cause there was no way to use paper .
Glad to see you are back on your feet.
keep up the physio , I still can't feel tensions properly so the torque wrench gets used for everything , boy does that slow things down.
Was seriously looking at registering for the age pension , but that is behind me now ( hopefully ) and with some effort it will be behind you as well .
If you have not done so yet put a temporary ill health message on you phone.
I did and ended up having customers come in & pay me for supervising them fixing their own mowers & I sold down a lot of the inventory which I am slowly bringing back .

As for the engine , if the starter is hesitating then either the valves are too loose or the cam is worn down or the ACR is faulty .
That is always my quick & dirty test when servicing a mower, iff the starter hung or was pronounced lumpy then I did the valve lash.
When finished there was always at least 1 hour of mowing an if the starter hung after that the I knew there was a cam / head problem

I'm thinking the cam may be worn. Accidentally used my left arm for pouring milk the other day, and can't hardly raise it without it hurting, so I haven't been back to the shop to do anything with it. But I'll check the rise on it. Sure wished I still had my dial indicator to see just how far ir comes up. But I do still have a scale, so I check it that way. Something is making it hard to get over that compression stroke, unless the battery is fully charged and the jumper is on it. But I can see it the rocker bump just before TDC.

 

[PTmowerMech]

Carb spray is not some kind of magic, wonder juice. It does NOT work miracles by being near the carb or sprayed into the carb.

You must completely disassemble the carb. When the carb is completely disassembled, and spread all over your work bench, THEN you can use it to spray down various holes and passageways in the carb body to check that the passageway is clear. Carb spray WILL NOT clear blockages, you have to do that with small wires and probes, such as dental tools.

ONCE compressed air can make it down ALL the passageways, THEN carb spray will finish the job by removing the varnish-like coatings and trash left behind that may still restrict the passageways.

Capish ?

I'm wasn't trying to clean the carb. Just keep it running when it shuts down. Carb spray does just that. And more.
In fact, it's almost magical the way it will keep an engine running and clean the carb after it's dismantled. In fact, it'll allow an engine to run, even without a carburetor.
Magical. LOL