Briggs 223 Motor totally dead

[duffcon]

Hello,
I have a Toro Timemaster with a 223 Briggs motor with about 20 hours on it. About 4 years old. 2 weeks ago I pulled it out for the first time this year and started it up, warmed the oil and changed it. Ran it for about 40 minutes after checking the oil level. Fresh gas as my can was out. This is a California mower, stored in a shed. Shutdown mower with kill switch, everything normal.

Pulled out 2 weeks later, totally dead, won't start. Engine pulls but it doesn't even attempt to fire.

I've tried:
Pulling Kill Switch
Pulled spark & replaced, and it does short with about a 1/4" gap to ground, so we have spark
Checked fuel filter, and tried starter fluid, nothing
Pulled carb bowl. Clean as a whistle and jet was also not clogged
Checked Flywheel key, it's fine.

There is some minor oil weeping around the head and bottom end, not sure if its an issue.
I don't have a compression tester, but I guess that's the next step.

I can't help but think there's something really wrong, but there was really no indication of any issues when it last ran; no smoking, sputtering or anything.

 

[hsherm]

Oil seeping? Make sure your head bolts are tight, preferably tightened to proper torque. If they are tight, you may need to replace the head gasket. Remove the plug and place your thumb over the plug hole. Then with the spark plug wire safely out of the way, ask someone to turn the flywheel. You should feel a good amount of suction on your thumb. If not, you may have a valve that's not seating, bad rings, a bad head gasket or a combination of any of them. It's not as good as a compression checker, but it will give you an idea about the amount of compression. Also, look for oil on your thumb and the spark plug.
A quick way to trouble shoot a non-starting engine is to remove the plug and spray carb. cleaner directly into the cylinder head. Replace the plug and, if it's manual, give the rope a couple of pulls. If it starts, and you have a small particle plugging the fuel line, it will most likely pull it on through. If it starts but doesn't keep running, disassemble the carburetor and make sure all holes are cleaned out and that the seals and needle are seated properly then reassemble the carburetor and start the engine.

 

[bertsmobile1]

Try a nice new plug
Modern plugs will condense fuel on the insulator nose then the spark runs down the electrode rather than jumping the gap .
Sparking iin air means nothing as the resistance of the compressed charge is around 60 times bigger than at atmospheric pressure.

 

[duffcon]

Thanks for the tips, I did try a new plug, no love. I’ll try the tips and report back. If nothing works, a direct replacement engine is $230, are the replacement engines already tapped for mounting bolts?

 

[duffcon]

The starter fluid in the cylinder worked on the first pull! Changed out fuel/air filters, and new plug, ran it for 30 mins. Will try again tomorrow.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

does that engine have a primer or Autochoke/ choke? choke may be stuck open.

 

[Born2Mow]

This is a California mower, stored in a shed. Shutdown mower with kill switch, everything normal.

Welcome !

There's your problem right there. Your mower simply wants to move to Texas. ?