Hi guys. I'm sure this question gets asked all the time on these forums. And I have tried searching on them, but my question is a little more specific then most. Okay, here goes:
I have a mid-90s Troy bilt mower with a briggs and stratton 5hp engine on it. I bought it off craigslist since I'm a young adult with not much financial backing. I live in a city so my yard (front/back) is probably 500 sq. ft. total. I noticed immediately that white smoke was coming from the exhaust/muffler. So, in all, I changed and replaced the oil. No more white smoke. After a dozen or so mows, my mower wasn't starting. I had read online that a dirty carb could be a major problem (especially since I bought my mower of an old lady who probably didnt keep up with regular maintenance). I cleaned the carb very thoroughly, and even took an elongated paper clip to clean the little holes. It looks brand new. I also just replaced the spark plug with a brand new one (old one had a dirty-black end). Today after doing all this I was excited because all the rain had my grass in the back yard about 10" high. NOW-the damn thing runs perfect and smooth for 10 minutes then stalls, like I have no gas in there (I do), then dies. I read online about a gas cap vent, so I took the gas cap off after letting it sit for 5 minutes, and it starts fine; it then runs for 10 minutes, stalls and dies. Then it is unable to start for another 5 minutes. What gives???! Sorry for the long post and thank you guys /gals sooo much!!
EDIT: changes oil, cleaned carb, new spark plug, new air filter. Mower runs for 10 minutes and dies.
EDIT 2: sorry for the errors, I'm typing this on my cell phone. Thank you.
I have a mid-90s Troy bilt mower with a briggs and stratton 5hp engine on it. I bought it off craigslist since I'm a young adult with not much financial backing. I live in a city so my yard (front/back) is probably 500 sq. ft. total. I noticed immediately that white smoke was coming from the exhaust/muffler. So, in all, I changed and replaced the oil. No more white smoke. After a dozen or so mows, my mower wasn't starting. I had read online that a dirty carb could be a major problem (especially since I bought my mower of an old lady who probably didnt keep up with regular maintenance). I cleaned the carb very thoroughly, and even took an elongated paper clip to clean the little holes. It looks brand new. I also just replaced the spark plug with a brand new one (old one had a dirty-black end). Today after doing all this I was excited because all the rain had my grass in the back yard about 10" high. NOW-the damn thing runs perfect and smooth for 10 minutes then stalls, like I have no gas in there (I do), then dies. I read online about a gas cap vent, so I took the gas cap off after letting it sit for 5 minutes, and it starts fine; it then runs for 10 minutes, stalls and dies. Then it is unable to start for another 5 minutes. What gives???! Sorry for the long post and thank you guys /gals sooo much!!
EDIT: changes oil, cleaned carb, new spark plug, new air filter. Mower runs for 10 minutes and dies.
EDIT 2: sorry for the errors, I'm typing this on my cell phone. Thank you.