Craftsman Model 247.371260 Dying after very short time

[ace38]

Hello all, I hope you can help me as I'm at my wits end. I have the above listed mower with a B&S Platinum 7.0HP engine. Last used about a week and a half ago, ran fine except for a period of about 10 minutes where it refused to start up. Once it sat for a bit it would start and run fine. Tuesday of this week I went and tried to mow again, the mower started, ran for about a 30 seconds to a minute and then died. It did this repeatedly. I thought maybe it was the air filter so I cleaned it, took off the shrouds and cleaned the engine out, same thing. I then thought maybe the fuel was bad (although it ran fine on the same gas the week prior), so I replaced it. Same thing. To make it even odder, if you dump the fuel out and then start the mower, it runs fine until the tank is dry.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[ILENGINE]

Try putting a new plug in it. Sometimes spark plugs can do strange things.

 

[ace38]

I'll give it a shot and report back. Thank you!

 

[ace38]

Now that we're out of the 100 degree temps, I've got that replaced...and the result is the same. Still runs for a few seconds and then stops.

 

[Fish]

Sounds like you have a layer of water in the bottom of your carb bowl. Take out the air filter, and turn the mower upside down over some old cardboard and dump out all of the fuel and oil, and leave it sit outside in the sun all day and let the heat evaporate all of that moisture. Then turn back over, add fresh gas and oil, and a new air filter if it needs it, and go mow.

 

[ace38]

I'll give that a shot and report back tomorrow, thanks for the tip!

 

[ace38]

Nope, situation remains the same as before. Runs a couple seconds, then dies.

 

[ace38]

UPDATE!! Went to start it today, and its running perfect. I guess it was the water in the carb bowl, and now its got a new spark plug as well. I so appreciate everyone's help!!