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I bought a Troybuilt with a Briggs 190 eng. Self propelled mower 21 inch. Bought it at the beginning of last season. Worked well for that year, then put it up as I have with every mower I have ever owned since 1979. I took it out and would not start. Had spark no gas. I took the carb off cleaned it and it started but would not stay running. I took it into the local SE shop and was told it was needing a new carb or rebuild. It was 90 bucks either way. The mower is 259 on sale at the local box store new. I asked why this happened and was told that the way they are making them they are very susceptible to gas evaporation and gumming up. I can not see putting that kind of money into a mower every season. I guess you could drain off the gas and let it set for the season an hope it does not gum up. I bought a Ryobi electric mower and it seems to work very well, no oil, gas or noise. Anyone else sick of gas garbage?

As to what you are saying that is the fuels fault not the mowers. If you can get by with a electric mower it sure sounds like the way to go. My lawn a electric mower wouldn't work for me. I have been thinking about getting a electric chain saw because I don't cut wood in the back 35 acres anymore, a gas engine can be a pain at times.

Many recommend that you find a station that sells non-ethanol fuel in mowers, etc.

Also, it has long been recommended to at least add stabilizer to fuel during extended non-use or to drain it.

I'm guessing there's an additive that will clean/flush the system.

Sure worth trying vs $90.

For our customers we have found two things which work most of the time, I'll never say 100%. First, we recommend non ethanol fuel. Second, if the unit will sit for more than 60 days, drain all fuel from the unit. I know that I'm going to get some grief every time I post this, but it works for our customers.

I have numerous gas engines on my l&g equipment. Kohler, Briggs, Techumseh, Stihl, Mac, Weed Eater, etc. The best are those with gas shut off valves. The Cub Cadet snow blower, the 8hp Troy Bilt chipper/shredder. I always shut the gas valve and let them run dry. Never had any problem with those. Never empty the tank in the winter/summer, just run them dry and that clears everything out each use.

The others with no shut off valve, I try to run those dry before the season ends. For my chain saws, I try to run them dry for each tank. I have endless piles of wood to cut so that's not a problem.

I have a suction pump that I use to empty the rest (if I remember) at the end of the season.

The only other motor I never have to worry about is the Cub Cadet 1320 Hydro with the 3 gallon tank. Never had any carb issues with that. Haven't touched the carb since new in 1990s. The tank is so big, it can't all evaporate and it keeps the carb full.

Letting any kind of gasoline evaporate leaves a tough varnish behind that clogs up the jets and valves. And it's hard to get rid of that varnish in the jets. Seems odd but gasoline won't dissolve it. Carb cleaner will but you have to disassemble everything to really get in the jets and float valve seat.

Personally I despise the latest Briggs engines with no choke or primer bulb. "Guaranteed to start on 1 or 2 pulls or we fix it free" What rubbish. Those have been the worst engines I've ever encountered and I've sold off any I got stuck with.

My own wing nut theory is the latest bunch of Asian made equipment is subject to ethanol issues. The older USA made equipment seems to work with it just fine. The auto industry went through a period of adjustment but they figured out what plastics & rubber compounds to use. Perhaps the Chinese will learn some day.