Briggs engine on Toro recycler mower is possessed

[Rivets]

This style of gas cap has been used for years and vents through the threads. Just like caps with a hole in the top they do go bad or get plugged. I question whether the choke rod has been bent unless you have been playing with it. Finally, why are you secretive about supplying us with the model and serial numbers. Makes me think you may be in over your head and need us to bail you out. Either way it would have been a lot easier if you would help the technicians with those numbers. Wait, I’ll stop my rant about DIY guys who know more than I do.

 

[bwright1818]

Point taken. I will post the actual engine numbers later today. For now, when I looked up parts under the TORO number, it says the engine used on the mower is 104M020010F1. That's the number I used to look up a cap. As for being a DIY guy, I would love to bring it to a shop and have someone fix it, while I sip a margarita. But just rolling this thing into a shop would already exceed the used value of the thing. And I certainly can't afford $500 for a new one.

 

[StarTech]

Ready choke check and adjustment procedure. Note this is done on a cold engine.

 

[bwright1818]

Thanks for the diagram!! While I didn't actually measure, I am sure that gap range is about what I accomplished. I was given this mower, which seemed really clean but was reported to have a running problem. Today I looked over the cap and even pried it apart. No vent. No apparent vent in the threads. Interweb shows a similar tank with a vent to the intake, but this mower doesn't have that. I don't think there is a vent in either the tank OR the cap. If the new cap doesn't have a vent, I will just drill a tiny hole or two in the cap in a good place.

 

[Rivets]

No matter what you say, the cap is vented through the threads. Now I know you are a DIY guy who is in over his head when you say I’m going to drill holes in your cap. For your information 104M020010F1 is the engine numbers. 104M02-0010-F1, just missing the code number.

 

[bwright1818]

Yup, you bet, this is way over my head. I am such a moron. You're right. On a free lawnmower, it's really kinda the shallow end of the pool, though, you know? Not really worried about it.

 

[StarTech]

There is actually two OEM versions of this tank. The caps use on one of right side are not vented hence the tank vent. One on the left has external threading and the one on right has internal thread which is not actual threading. I do have the cap here in stock and there no way it can vent.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Thanks for the diagram!! While I didn't actually measure, I am sure that gap range is about what I accomplished. I was given this mower, which seemed really clean but was reported to have a running problem. Today I looked over the cap and even pried it apart. No vent. No apparent vent in the threads. Interweb shows a similar tank with a vent to the intake, but this mower doesn't have that. I don't think there is a vent in either the tank OR the cap. If the new cap doesn't have a vent, I will just drill a tiny hole or two in the cap in a good place.

Hello B.,

Remove the air cleaner and operate the governor rod on top by hand. Watch the plastic lever end for hitting or hanging on the left side (looking at the carburetor inlet opening end). B&S had a shop bulletin on this a while back for this carburetor design.

 

[bwright1818]

Hello B.,

Remove the air cleaner and operate the governor rod on top by hand. Watch the plastic lever end for hitting or hanging on the left side (looking at the carburetor inlet opening end). B&S had a shop bulletin on this a while back for this carburetor design.

Thank you. I will do that!
As for the tank, the pictures are interesting. It looks like the internal-thread tank has the vent nipple to the air cleaner housing. My engine has internal threads but no nipple.

 

[wink89801]

I have also found that all of the mowers no matter the brand that have an auto choke have a tendency for the butterflies to close whenever they want even if the mower is warmed up. And if the mower has a kill when you empty the bag it can be quite a hassle to pull the breather, stick something in the carb to hold the butterfly open to restart it. To combat this, I take a stiff piece of wire (like a pin flag) cut and bend it to roughly 90°, attach it to the carb mounting screws and use the bent end to hold the butterfly open. Yes you may have to pull the rope a few times extra to start it cold, but after it's warm..no problems. I have owned a lawn care company for 17 years and started with Toro Recyclers as they were cheaper, and had that problem with all of them. Have since swapped them out with Hondas. They had the same problem. I despise auto-chokes. Used the same trick, they run like crazy.
Not saying that this is your problem, just something to consider. Good luck.