Mower won't start

[calabresi]

I know, I know, generic title... sorry about that.

I was getting my mower ready for the season a couple of weeks back and need more help than I realized. The pull was stuck, and I managed to free it by going underneath the mower and removing the dried grass from around the blade and spinning the blade manually a few times. Now the starter pulls, but the motor doesn't catch -- it sputters repeatedly but never 'fires'.

We're full on oil and we have enough gas -- it looks like when I attempt to start it that there is some gas shooting out of the silver cylinder on the side of the motor (it's a Briggs & Stratton). Not sure what the cause of that is or if it's an easy fix. I took the mower in to a pro at the beginning of last season because it wouldn't start and he mentioned that oil was somewhere it shouldn't have been, then charged me $60 for the fix. If fixing my mower at the beginning of each season is going to be the norm, it's something I'd rather learn how to do myself.

Mower is a couple of years old, I only get to use it once or twice a season due to heavy drought, so I'm not sure where to start.

Any help would be appreciated. Pictures attached.

Thanks,
MC

 

[wjjones]

The carb float could be stuck causing it to flood, or its not firing so its oveloading, and blowing it out of the muffler. Try to start it with the choke on a few pulls, and then release the choke you might want to drain the oil change it, and get some fresh gas. I would put in a new spark plug to while your at it, and check the air filter if you are mowing in dry conditions it is most likely clogged, and needs cleaning, or replacing.