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I have a Troy Bilt riding mower. For a few weeks it was hard to start. I had to turn it over quite a few times before it would start.
As I was mowing, it died. It won't start. I've cleaned the carb and replaced the fuel filter. Replaced the spark plug. Still won't start.

:welcome:

Remove the hood and front cover the PTO belts, PTO Drive clutch and front engine pulley.
get undrneath and remove the rear drive shaft by undoing the 4 bolts at the Transmission flange then depress the locking pin on the front fork.
Push the tailshaft foreward till the flange clears the gearbox then drop it down and silp the drive shaft off rearward.
You may need to remove the deck to do this.

To do remove the deck undo the two bolts on the drag links under the PTO then fold them across the front of the deck.
Put some 2 x 4's under the deck long enough to slide it out to the right side.
Set the deck to the lowest height then activate the hydraulic deck lift to lower the deck.
Remove the two rear Nuts & Bolts on the deck lift, the R clips on the safety chain then the front nuts & bolts on the front lift arm.
Slide the deck out to the right.

Do this the get back to us
In the reply include the engine make and complete model number.
And the model number of the mower would be a good idea but that dose not really matter because I have 728 manuals so I will get you to try every one, one at a time till eventually the right one pops up.

With all of the problems that the ethanol gas has created, it my be something simple like a diaphragm.

Don't know what engine you have so can't give much more advice.

Mower model number 13AV60KG
Engine model number SV540S

Take out spark plug and put a little fuel in cylinder or use carb cleaner. Reinstall spark plug then try starting.

ozzman_71 said:

Mower model number 13AV60KG
Engine model number SV540S

Click to expand...

Excellent so you have a modern Troy Built Tractor with a Vari drive powered by a Kohler vertical engine.

So the easiest & quickest wat to work out wat is happening is to get a can of starter fluid and an inline spark tester.
Instal the spark tester crank the engine and squirt a SMALL SHORT blast of starter fliud down the carb.
Watch the spark tester for a consistant flash.
If the engine starts up keep on applying the same SMALL SHOTS of starter fluid down the carb.

If it keeps on running for around a minute shut it down.
You have just diagnosed a carb problem.


No flashes or eratic flashes
you have just diagnosed an ignition / electrical problem


Flashes but does not fire , dackfires, pops or other such nautiness.
You have just diagnosed a timing , or valve / cam problem.


When you get back to us , try to avoid phrases like "won't start " which is fairly well meaningless.
Cranks but does not fire, wont crant etc, a lot more descriptive.
You know what is happening we only know what you tell us.

Got it running. Evidently I didn't clean the carb good enough. Took it apart and took the
fuel shut-off solenoid off and clean them real good. Put it all back together. It started
right up. Thanks for the feed back.