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I have a Grasshopper 329B with the Vanguard. Just purchased it this past late spring. It currently has 39 hours on it. I have run nothing but 93 octane in it. For about the past 15 hours I have been noticing when I first start it up after it sits for a week it has been getting harder to start............until about 3 days ago. I could not get the thing to start. My usual routine is to full choke and 1/3 - 1/2 throttle. After about 10 seconds of cranking, I reduced it to half choke. Nothing. I let the starter rest in between cranks so I would run into no issues there. This went on for about 15 minutes and I could tell the battery was about done so I hooked the charger up to it for a few hours. Tried again about 4 hours later and had no success. I then pulled both plugs and found there to be not one drop of fuel on the plugs. Checked the spark. Both plugs had a strong spark. I put the plugs back in and gave it another whirl..........still nothing.

I did a little reading online and found out at one point n time, Briggs had a issue with their mechanical fuel pump. If let sit for so long, they would more-or-less allow the fuel to drain out of them and back into the tank. The fuel pump would lose it's prime and the engine would take forever, sometimes never starting until fuel was introduced into the intake track. The other issue I read was concerning vapor lock.........that of which I feel isn't my problem.

I spoke with the dealer and gave them all the above info listed and they double checked with Briggs. Briggs said they updated the fuel pump issue a year or so ago with a pump that has a check valve. Briggs told the dealership I should bring the mower in for further investigation.

Needless to say, I was not "ok" with that so I came home, tried starting it again with no success. I them pulled the clear plastic plug out of the top of the intake boot, dropped a small amount of fuel into the hole while simultaneously trying to start it and what do ya know........it fired up like nothing. I let it run for a little bit, messing with the throttle and it ran like tops. I shut it off and let it cool for about 3-4 hours and tried starting it again. Choked it with the throttle half ways and she fired up with no issues.

The current temperature here in Sothern Indiana is around 30 degrees during the day and in the lower to mid teens at night. The only thought I have on this is the fuel pump is possibly faulty. The other possibility I have heard to aid in helping the issue is to add an inline 1.5-3 PSI electric pump before the filter to keep pressure. I am not 100% sure that this is the issue though. Has anyone every had a similar problem or issue with their big block vanguard??? Thank you for any ideas or help you have to offer.

Ok so you have a plastic fuel pump on engine correct? Have you disconnected fuel line that goes into carburetor from fuel pump? Then while cranking fuel should come out if the fuel pump is working correctly. So you can rule out if it's getting fuel or not... I'd start with that..

Why would you be "needless to say not ok" with getting warranty service? You paid for it already. It sounds like you are dropping prime, so if they have fixed the pump and you can get it replaced for free, then seems like that's the way forward. Either way, under warranty why are you wasting your time, let them do it!

If its under warranty then let Briggs deal with the problem.

If they have asked the dealer to get it back then Briggs will be wanting to know what the problem for future reference.

The reason I said I was not ok was the mower was dead in the water. I understand the mower sis under warranty and it will be fixed. I was going to pull the mechancal pump off and have them swap me out for a new one. I was told they cannot just throw parts at it. I'm trying to save myself a trip for something small like this.

Warranty repairs do not work that way, the customer cannot come in with the diagnosis and demand a free part to see if that fixes it......

GUYS.....................I am aware that this is a warranty case and will be handled. I did not ask anyone anything about warranty. I simply asked if anyone had an issue similar to this and if so could you chime in with any ideas. We are getting off course here. I asked this question in hopes that someone has had something like this happen to them. Maybe I should have thought twice before trying to get ideas on the net.

what is your problem then? A fuel pump failure is about the easiest failure to isolate..... You just want to trash/discuss a problem that would be covered under warranty?

Its been a few years back but as I remember when I worked on snowmobiles they put a one way valve in the fuel line to prevent this from happening. just maybe you can find one of these valves? if you don't want to change the fuel pump.

What ideas are you phishing for? You just want to dick the mower shop around a bit?????

It's December and if Indiana is anything like PA, you're not mowing now so it would be the perfect time to let the dealer take a look at it and fix it....

intake might be warped had one this summer i cleaned carb ran dropped it off next day no start took it back flushed fuel sys cleaned carb again ran took it back 3 days later no start changed gas cap no start took carb apart and took it off the intake manifold it was warped changed works great now

briggs said:

intake might be warped had one this summer i cleaned carb ran dropped it off next day no start took it back flushed fuel sys cleaned carb again ran took it back 3 days later no start changed gas cap no start took carb apart and took it off the intake manifold it was warped changed works great now

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Fish---Your way off base. I explained a problem I had, my thoughts on what the problem might be, and then asked for anyone who has had similair problems to chime in with some of thier thoughts......like briggs just did along with a few others. I'm not trying to dick anyone around but think what you want.
I went back out tonight and choked it and hit the key and it started right up. I think I might look into an inline check valve...sounds like a good idea.

So your not going to take it to the shop to get it fixed?

Carscw said:

So your not going to take it to the shop to get it fixed?

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His mower and money, so what in the world different does it make. I know I can be the same way because it can be just a hassle to go back to the dealer for warranty work when its just easier to fix it yourself which I have done before. The only different with me would be that I would of just fixed it and said nothing.

reynoldston said:

His mower and money, so what in the world different does it make. I know I can be the same way because it can be just a hassle to go back to the dealer for warranty work when its just easier to fix it yourself which I have done before. The only different with me would be that I would of just fixed it and said nothing.

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But the difference is you know what you are doing.

I don't care what he does with it I was just curious to what he is going to do.

reynoldston said:

His mower and money, so what in the world different does it make. I know I can be the same way because it can be just a hassle to go back to the dealer for warranty work when its just easier to fix it yourself which I have done before. The only different with me would be that I would of just fixed it and said nothing.

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I guess I didn't come out and say it like this but this sums it up. I am roughly an hour from the dealer. I did not start this thread to have people tell me its under warranty.........I'm fully aware of this. If the motor was blown.....understandable. Any other serious issue......understandable. I got the motor started. Pump priming has to be the issue. I was looking for nothing more than any info anyone had to offer on a similiar problem. Like stated by another member.....I will take care of the issue next time and leave it at that. Thanks to all who have gave an answer to the original question.

Carscw said:

But the difference is you know what you are doing.

I don't care what he does with it I was just curious to what he is going to do.

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I am curious. Do you know jewing3227????

hntrsr said:

I am curious. Do you know jewing3227????

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I know he is not in the small engine repair Business.

Drop by any mower shop and get a plastic inline fuel shutoff, and install it before the pump..... Shut it off when you are done mowing, open it the next time you mow....

Costs a few bucks.....