Export thread

If the engine will not start, or runs very poorly, try this.

#1

T

Tornadoman

I see questions about starting all the time. Here is a mystery that had me baffled. The B&S engine on our rider was not starting. It had fuel, spark, compression. Everything an engine is supposed to have to run. I was dumbfounded. I removed the cover from the top just to have a look. As I was closely examining it I noticed the cutouts for the flywheel key and crankshaft did not line up. So I pulled the flywheel off, and surprise! The flywheel key had sheared. New key, and the trusty old B&S is still running ten years later.


#2

P

platefire

You must have smacked something pretty hard o_O


#3

T

Tornadoman

platefire said:
You must have smacked something pretty hard o_O
Click to expand...
That is why it was such a mystery. It didn't hit anything. Might have been a backfire when shutting down.


#4

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

Tornadoman said:
I see questions about starting all the time. Here is a mystery that had me baffled. The B&S engine on our rider was not starting. It had fuel, spark, compression. Everything an engine is supposed to have to run. I was dumbfounded. I removed the cover from the top just to have a look. As I was closely examining it I noticed the cutouts for the flywheel key and crankshaft did not line up. So I pulled the flywheel off, and surprise! The flywheel key had sheared. New key, and the trusty old B&S is still running ten years later.
Click to expand...
Rarely does the flywheel key shear. I mean almost never.


#5

T

Tornadoman

Tiger Small Engine said:
Rarely does the flywheel key shear. I mean almost never.
Click to expand...
Probably true, but it happened. If you do not know it is a possibility how will you know to check for it?


#6

D

Diwali

A few years back I had a similar issue with my B & S on a lawn tractor. The key was distorted (not sheared) in the keyway causing backfiring. It baffled me for a while until I read a post on here. A quick check and a YouTube video soon had it resolved. It’s amazing how much these forums help an ordinary bloke like me!


#7

T

Tornadoman

Diwali said:
A few years back I had a similar issue with my B & S on a lawn tractor. The key was distorted (not sheared) in the keyway causing backfiring. It baffled me for a while until I read a post on here. A quick check and a YouTube video soon had it resolved. It’s amazing how much these forums help an ordinary bloke like me!
Click to expand...
Yes, strange malfunctions can cause a lot of consternation! Are you Australian?


#8

D

Diwali

Tornadoman said:
Yes, strange malfunctions can cause a lot of consternation! Are you Australian?
Click to expand...
Well, not exactly. Part time Sandgroper yes!


#9

G

GearHead36

Tiger Small Engine said:
Rarely does the flywheel key shear. I mean almost never.
Click to expand...
I've run lawnmowers for 35 yrs, and I've yet to shear a flywheel key.


#10

S

slomo

Tornadoman said:
It had fuel, spark, compression. Everything an engine is supposed to have to run.
Click to expand...
How about
1.air
2.fuel
3.compression
4.spark, at the correct time.


#11

S

slomo

Tornadoman said:
Probably true, but it happened. If you do not know it is a possibility how will you know to check for it?
Click to expand...
See above this post.


Footer Links 1

Top