I had a 1997 craftsman lt1000 with a 18 hp briggs and straton intek motor. When I try to start it the flywheel turns about a half turn then stops just put a new battery on it. Any ideas on what it is?
Ok update. I pulled the head off the check the values and piston. And the enitre motor cylinder and value cover was full of gas well over a gallon or more. Is that normal? If nit what would cause that and could that prevent the motor from turning over?
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You can NOT compress a liquid... Raw fuel in the cylinder will not leave any room for the piston to travel.
You need to DRAIN the engine OIL & replace the Oil filter... Refill with Fresh oil. and then fix the float needle/seat in the carburetor ... it is not closing off the fuel and it is allowing it to "flood" the cylinder with raw gasoline.
If it runs okay and you do not want to remove the float bowl, you can just install a fuel shut off valve in the fuel line. But you will have to remember to turn it On before you start the engine AND turn it OFF when you stop the engine. Do not forget as it will contaminate the engine oil, and that will lead to a Lot of engine damage....:smile:KennyV
I've worked on a customer's 12 HP Craftsman rider off and on for the last couple of years. It's one of those problem mowers that's always giving trouble. At various times the needle wouldn't seat and let gas pour down into the cylinder, past the rings and valves and into the crankcase. I recommended to put a fuel shut off valve on it and she stalled around several times and finally let me put one on it. Like the previous mechanic said..."Don't FORGET to turn it OFF when you stop the engine!" She forgot it many times and it would flood out again. Then she blames me with it flooding out and one day she got ticked and had her boyfriend haul it to another shop and they charged him $200 to put a needle and seat and fuel line on it. I won't work on the mower any longer. I tell her boyfriend. "Why don't you take it to the $200 / hr mower shop down on the highway?" Well...by the time they picked it up, hauled it to the shop and back it was over $200. I usually charge them about $20 to work on it and I go to their house!!
Thank you guys for the help. So the gas in the oil is no more than it leaking in past the rings while the mower is off? I thoguht maybe the rings were fired or something worst. Ok. Got the mower back together and im changing the oil and see how it does.
Thanks motoman. I kinda thought the same thing. Need to make sure I run it for awhile before I really start mowing with it too so all the gas burns off the motor.
