Craftsman Push Starts Immediately Dies

[mulder75]

My daughter was given a Craftsman push mower by her landlord. He said it had sat in his garage for 2 years. He had hit a small stump and ruined the blade, but thought everything else was fine. Model 247.38529. This mower has no external controls except the kill handle. No throttle, no primer bulb. I emptied out the gas tank, poured in fresh. It would not start. Then I removed the spark plug, cleaned it (it look fine). Checked the gap, it was dead on. Removed the carg and flushed it out with gas (didn't have any cleaner at the time). Reassembled mower. It fired on the first pull but immediately died. Since then I have removed the carb and cleaned with carb cleaner. Pulled the bowl. cleaned it and flused the float area with cleaner. Again, fired on the first pull and immediately died. If I remove the air cleaner, hold open both valves and spray carb cleaner in, the pull, it fires and immediately dies. Looking for hints of clues on what to do next.

 

[ILENGINE]

since the original owner admitting to hitting something and damaging the blade, I would check the condition of the flywheel key. could be offset, or sheared.

 

[mulder75]

since the original owner admitting to hitting something and damaging the blade, I would check the condition of the flywheel key. could be offset, or sheared.

ILENGINE: Will do. I'm going to have to buy a new socket, biggest I have is 3/4. This looks to be 15/16?

 

[Rivets]

If the flywheel key is in good shape, I would pull the carb, clean throughly and install a new float needle and seat.

 

[mulder75]

If the flywheel key is in good shape, I would pull the carb, clean throughly and install a new float needle and seat.

This model has the auto-choke system. If the flywheel key checks out, I will be looking at the entire carburation set-up. I'm reading a lot on the internet where people have had starting problems with this set-up.

 

[grumpygrizzly]

Sounds like you're definitely not getting any fuel.. I think Rivets is dead on with the float needle..

One thing you might try that's worked for me a time or to is to find the spring that goes to the governor rod and wiggle the governor rod to make sure it's not stuck.. I'm calling it a governor rod for lack of anything else I can call it.

Basically, when your motor fires up, that rod and spring setup controls how much fuel the motor will get. If you're hitting tall or wet grass, it'll try to pull more fuel to make the engine run higher..

Another thing you might want to look at is any fuel lines.. Check for loose fitting or even cracks.. The motor might be getting too much air.

I've had that kind of problem with a bunch of weed eaters.. The Ethanol in the fuel will clog the lines, not letting enough fuel through, or it'll make the lines very brittle and just touching them might crack the lines.

If there's a primer bubble, see if it has any cracks in it.. I've seen those things crumble to the touch a few times..

"Sure it runs, just prime it a couple... Uhh.. Hmm, I wonder how that happened??"

 

[mulder75]

Re: Craftsman Push Starts Immediately Dies (FIXED)

It was the jet. The top hole was completely plugged. I did check the flywheel key and it was fine. Took the carb back off and disassembled it and found the plugged jet. I couldn't clear it with carb cleaner and wire. I was thinking of drilling it out, then remembered I had a carb from an older mower sitting in the shed. Same exact part (the jet). Mower fired right up. Put on a new blade and the mower is good as new. Thanks for all your help.