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Hi,

New to this site and after looking around a bit, didn't find the help I need ... hopefully, I can explain the issue and get it fixed! As the title states, I own a Craftsman 7.25 Platinum which has been serviced by Sears until last year. This year, I've been using it just fine about three times already and thought I'd go to a 'free' community site to have it serviced. The person checked the spark plug and air filter and sharpened the blade. He sprayed something into the carb that caused it to smoke, but it started and ran. I brought the mower home and started mowing and everything's fine. I stop it to dump the grass and it wouldn't start up again, no turn over no nothing. I checked the spark plug and i think it was swapped because the numbers don't match the manufacture's. Purchased a replacement spark plug no luck. checked the air filter and that was swapped too - purchased a new air filter - no luck still no turn over. I did notice the new spark plug was wet and smelled of gas and oil ... what do I do now? Sorry for the long post - thanks in advance for your help!

Why not take it back to that free community site and see what they'll do for you?

cpurvis - I'm not sure I understand your comment ... are you suggesting I take my lawn mower back to the people who stole my air filter and spark plug to see what else they can do??? It was running just fine before I took it there, I asked them to service the mower and sharpen the blade. Not sure that was reason enough to steal from me?!?

So this place you took your mower to is in the business of stealing spark plugs and air filters? Sounds very lucrative.

Here's what I'm suggesting:

Take the mower back to the 'free' community site and tell them that you brought your mower in "X" days ago and had work done on it. It had been running fine before they worked on it; now it won't run.

They'll either say, "Let us take a look at it" or they'll tell you to "Get out of here!" and steal the whole lawnmower, in which case you won't be out much.

My guess is they'll say, "Let's take a look at it."

:welcome:

Sounds like some bad luck.

I'm going to move this thread over to our Craftsman section to see if anyone over there might be able to help.

cpurvis said:

So this place you took your mower to is in the business of stealing spark plugs and air filters? Sounds very lucrative.

Here's what I'm suggesting:

Take the mower back to the 'free' community site and tell them that you brought your mower in "X" days ago and had work done on it. It had been running fine before they worked on it; now it won't run.

They'll either say, "Let us take a look at it" or they'll tell you to "Get out of here!" and steal the whole lawnmower, in which case you won't be out much.

My guess is they'll say, "Let's take a look at it."

Click to expand...

I know right - why would they take an air filter and spark plug?? I watched the guy remove 'my' air filter and it was in pretty good condition with a little discoloration and some debris and I didn't really watch him put it back after he came out of the 'shack' ... and so, when I checked it before I started this thread, the one I now have is about 5 years old and completely black and dirty ... yeah, weird stuff...so No, I won't be returning there for any more help.

Now that I think back on it, the mower DID run for about 7 or 8 minutes when I used it, then it stopped and wouldn't even turn over. And, I was using last summer's gas, but the thing is, I was on my second tank of last summer's gas, is it possible the stale gas is the problem? Could it run on last summer's gas for a little over a tank and then just stop? Also, the spark plug smells of gas and oil, could that be because the 'fixit' guy had my mower on it's side while sharpened the blade? if so, am i doomed?

Thanks for the help!

Catherine said:

:welcome:

Sounds like some bad luck.

I'm going to move this thread over to our Craftsman section to see if anyone over there might be able to help.

Click to expand...

Thanks Catherine! How will I know if there are any comments?

OK, not going back. Gotcha.

After you brought it home, it ran until you shut it off to dump the grass. Conclusion: The spark plug and air filter they put in did not cause it to fail to start.

But you've replaced both of them anyway, and the mower still won't start.

Question: How did the new spark plug get wet and smell of gas and oil? From trying to start it? If so, sometimes spark plugs get fouled, regardless of how new they are. Get another new spark plug (get two; they're cheap) and try again, following the starting instructions for your mower exactly.

If it does not start, remove the spark plug again and check it for gas, oil. Check to see that the blade brake/kill switch lever is being pushed far enough forward to allow the engine to run. I don't know if this is a common problem, but I've seen it before on a Craftsman mower. Of course, this assumes that you have a Briggs and Stratton engine similar to the one that was on the Craftsman mower I worked on.

To answer your question: Question: How did the new spark plug get wet and smell of gas and oil? From trying to start it? If so, sometimes spark plugs get fouled, regardless of how new they are. Get another new spark plug (get two; they're cheap) and try again, following the starting instructions for your mower exactly.

I believe the spark plug got wet from trying to start it. I removed it, wiped it off and put it back in and again it came out wet. I'll get a new one or two as you suggest and try again.

Yes, it's a B&S engine.

How do I check this: Check to see that the blade brake/kill switch lever is being pushed far enough forward to allow the engine to run ?? I did notice that when I pulled the bar back to the handle to start, it didn't feel right. It felt as if there was nothing moving, just the bar and now I'm wondering if your comment above might have something to do with this, so how do I check to see if the lever is being pushed far enough forward?

Thank you!

Trace the cable from the bar you have to hold up to allow the mower to run, all the way to its end. Then watch the end of this cable as you squeeze the bar to its running position. You should see the shroud of the cable move a lever forward. It was on the left side of the mower I worked on. On that mower, the end of the small cable which runs inside the shroud was anchored to a solid mount. It was the exterior of the cable which was doing the work.

Got any pictures?

I have a 50 sec. video but can't load because it's a MOV not bitmap or other ... any idea how to get it to you? I followed the cables one looks like a ground wire and the other goes to a box underneath where the blade is do I need to unscrew that box to see the cable? I took the video because it shows the 2-3" play in that bar now where there wasn't before...the fixit guy secured the rubber attachment that kept the cables from getting tangled and now that attachment comes off when I pull the bar to start the motor.

Let me know if I can email you the video rather than attempt to load here.

The cable going underneath the deck probably goes to the self-propelled unit.

The cable I'm talking about is above the deck and goes to the left side of the engine.

I don't know if I can play a MOV or not.

Get rid of the slack in that cable and try to restart.

.MOV is iPhone's video, let me know if you want me to email. I've attached 2 pictures. One is the cable location - it doesn't look like it's on the engine? the second is the 'clamp' that near the handle / bar. the fixit guy secured that clamp with zip ties - one of the zip ties broke and I removed the second - now that clamp doesn't stay in place does this even matter? The slack is in the handle not in the cable...does this help? I can send other pictures if you need.

thanks again for the help!

That's the cable. Yes, all that slack matters. It needs to go. That cable serves two functions--it controls a kill switch and a blade brake. It is supposed to kill the engine and bring it to an abrupt stop if you let go of the handlebars.

IIRC the cable end is attached to a solid bar and the cable housing is what moves the lever which sticks out from the engine. It has to go forward to a.)open the kill switch and b.)release the blade brake.

Get the cable anchored to the handlebars using tape, zip ties, baling wire or what have you. Then see if you can adjust the slack out of the cable with the knurled plastic nut at the other end of the cable.

If you run out of adjustment, you may have to get a new cable. Sears carries them. That's what I had to do.

I removed the zip tie from that clamp because the clamp was coming off every time I pulled that lever. I just tried to hold onto that clamp and either the bar/lever won't move or the clamp comes off so I'm not sure what to do with that. I've attached three photos of what I believe you are referring to in the comments about the end of the cable are any of those what you reference? Do I need to get under where the blade is to check if it's in the forward position? I tried moving some of them and I'm not sure I was doing anything...How do I know if the cable can't be adjusted anymore? Obviously, I haven't adjusted it before ...

Your picture #1--throw it away. That cable is for the self propel mechanism. It has nothing to do with your problem.

Your picture #3--that cable holder has to be reaffixed to the handlebars in its original position. Someway, somehow it has to get anchored or replaced with a new cable.

See my picture. Red circle--IIRC, this is stationary. Blue circle--this is the part that moves. That plastic nut is how you adjust the slack in the cable.

You may be in over your head on this. A lot of this should have been obvious.

Correction: I should have said *I* may be in over *my* head. I don't possess the communications skills necessary to talk first-timers through repairs.

I realize I may be in over my head -haha but I have no choice. I'm broke (that's why I went to the 'free' community place) and my lawn just keeps growing ... so, honestly, I do appreciate your help.

So, if I loosen that nut you circled I should be able to secure that clamp near the bar, is that right?

You don't have to loosen anything to secure that cable holder to the handlebars.

OK - I went back out there and watched the end of the cable you circled while I held onto the clamp and noticed that it comes out of the engine ... just a little bit ... when I move that bar. But, that clamp will not stay in place even when I hold it in place with my hand...so securing it will have to wait until I can figure out how to adjust the cable...I tried turning it with my hand lefty loosey like and don't see any movement - how to I adjust that cable?

thank you!

Oh I think you're doing just fine

I hope I'm communicating ok though ... thanks for your help

Thank you.

As a preliminary, if you have a pair of vice grips, clamp them on the metal bracket in my blue circle. Then see if you can make that bracket move forward. That will give you a feel for how this thing works and also confirm that it isn't locked up.

Pliers will work, too.

I've attached two pictures each clamping a piece of metal in the blue circle, are either of these the metal bracket you mention? I tried to move both of those towards the front of the mower towards my left, is that what you mean by forward? I have the feeling I'm going to get this very shortly and all will be good!

thank you!

Yes. Picture #2. See if it will move forward, if you haven't already.

Yep, I tried to move towards the front of the mower and no movement - what does that mean?

OK. Keep in mind it is not going to move easily; you're working against a spring. There's a lot of mechanical advantage built into that handle. Probably 4:1 if not more.

Also, put the pliers on the object circled in RED in my photo and see if it will move toward the rear of the mower. Maybe this mower is different than the one I worked on, although it looks the same.

I can move that whole thing out away from the engine and it's tough to do, but it won't move towards the front. did you mean to attach a photo with a red circle or should i refer to photos you marked up earlier in this thread? I didn't see any other photos from you...

I WD40 the whole thing too, just in case it was stuck - no luck

Either the item circled in red has to move toward the rear or the item circled in blue has to move toward the front of the mower. I don't know which it will be, but one of those two things has to happen for your mower to run.

If either one of them moves perpendicular to the axis of the cable, there is something haywire.

And yes, we are talking about the only photo I posted.

I was able to move the item circled in blue towards the front of the mower, as I said it was hard due to spring, but yes, I can move the metal bracket blue circle forward.

I now understand you were referring to my photos that you made the red and blue circles.

Next steps?

Next step is to anchor that cable in the correct place and get IT to move that bracket forward. You've got to be able to see that bracket move forward when you operate the handle on the handlebars.

When that is done, I'll bet you lunch that it will start and run.

I hope you're right! I'll look for a bolt and nut since that's how it was secured in the first place...I'll let you know how it goes!

Great. I hope tomorrow brings resolution to your mower problem.

Update: called Sears for the part numbers found out the closest Sears Parts store is too far away so went to Ace Hardware they had one part but not the other a bracket. purchased the screw and tried to fix the cable holder clamp and realized there's a piece INSIDE the clamp that broke off so the screw won't work because there's nothing inside to attach it to... just finished a chat session with Sears Parts who will happily sell me the entire cable assembly but not explain why the piece inside the clamp broke off. I don't believe under normal use, this piece should have broken since it isn't a moving part. Ace said they have a heavy duty adhesive I can purchase, I'm going to do that. I think I've attached a picture of the inside of the clamp here for reference...is this normal wear and tear and just my lesson to learn? As always, thanks for your help!

I agree, parts should be designed so they don't break under normal use, but sadly that is not always the case. We just have to pick up the pieces, so to speak, and go on. I hope the adhesive works but have my doubts that it will. I've never had much luck gluing things back together.

You can always order parts here, provided they're not discontinued: http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/brands/Craftsman-Parts?sid=aff:shareasale&ref=sas#

Just put in the Sears part number of your mower and you should be able to find what you need.

okay dokey - livin and learnin thanks for the link I'll check it out.

thank you.