Trying to get 190cc Briggs & Stratton to start - with video

[seagiant]

Hi,
Strong spark is next.
Might check the gap at the coil and flywheel.

 

[DaveTN]

Welcome to the LMF. Just wondering how much compression it has? Do you
have good strong blue white spark? With it popping like that, it sounds like its
out of time somehow. Shop costs more than buying a good used mower. Save
it for parts if you get a used mower like it.

 

[moparjoe]

Hi all,

I picked up a 2013 Toro Timemaster with 190cc B&S engine yesterday. The seller said it ran fine for years, but it hasn't started in a year since it wasn't winterized in Fall 2022 (there was old gas in it). Price was right so I decided to take a gamble.

So far, I've done the following to try and get it to start:
- drained the old gas and replaced with fresh
- dropped the carb bowl and cleaned the bowl and bolt with carb cleaner
- sprayed some carb cleaner into the carb hole (circled in linked picture)

When I pull to start right after spraying carb cleaner, it makes a short popping noise and blows a little smoke like it wants to start, but I haven't been able to get it to turn over. After a few pulls, nothing happens, not even smoke/popping noise. Video linked below is first pull after spraying carb cleaner with air filter removed.

Video and Carb photo

Would appreciate any help or suggestions! I'm thinking next step would be to order a new carb and possibly spark plug, but really just guessing here.

Thank you!

Take the spark plug out and connect a plastic coated wire to the end of the plug wire and hold the end and pull the starter cord to check if your coil is good.

 

[johnny7]

Hi all,

I picked up a 2013 Toro Timemaster with 190cc B&S engine yesterday. The seller said it ran fine for years, but it hasn't started in a year since it wasn't winterized in Fall 2022 (there was old gas in it). Price was right so I decided to take a gamble.

So far, I've done the following to try and get it to start:
- drained the old gas and replaced with fresh
- dropped the carb bowl and cleaned the bowl and bolt with carb cleaner
- sprayed some carb cleaner into the carb hole (circled in linked picture)

When I pull to start right after spraying carb cleaner, it makes a short popping noise and blows a little smoke like it wants to start, but I haven't been able to get it to turn over. After a few pulls, nothing happens, not even smoke/popping noise. Video linked below is first pull after spraying carb cleaner with air filter removed.

Video and Carb photo

Would appreciate any help or suggestions! I'm thinking next step would be to order a new carb and possibly spark plug, but really just guessing here.

Thank you!

I've been fixing small engines now for just a couple of years as a hobby and have picked up lots of things along the way. With the problem that you are having, here is what I would do in this order
1. the very first thing I check for is the oil to find out what condition it's in or if any exists (yes, worked on a mower with no oil)
2. check for spark
3. if spark, then check compression
4. if both are good, then a shot of Ether (starting fluid) into the cylinder(s), plugs back in and start it up.
Did it fire up?
At this point I should be able to determine the next course of action based on those 4 steps.
As so many have stated before, all you need gas, air, spark (and I like to add compression to that list)
In reading your checks, I don't believe you've answered some of these steps.
For the compression test, if you don't have a tester, then step 4 will cover that as Ether is very volatile and should create that small explosion in the cylinder with low compression.

 

[smallenginerepairs]

Thanks - I went a step further and got a new carb in, unfortunately still doesn’t run

Sometimes after trying time and time again to start the engine on choke, the fuel washes the cylinder clean of the oil film it needs for proper compression. I've sprayed oil into the cylinder with the spark plug out and pulled repeatedly until the oil is pushed out of the spark plug opening. Be sure the carb choke os off. Replace the plug and try to start. If it does not start pull the plug and inspect it for oil on it . Clean the plug with staryer fluid and replace it. Hit the carb with a shot of starter fluid or carb cleaner and try to start it. I've been successful on many non-starting issues doing this. However if compression does not increase enough to fire, the rings are probably shot.

 

[mechanic mark]

Results

www.briggsandstratton.com

Adjust valves to specs. in owners manual.
Intake .003-.005 exhaust .005-.007.

 

[Joed756]

I've been fixing small engines now for just a couple of years as a hobby and have picked up lots of things along the way. With the problem that you are having, here is what I would do in this order
1. the very first thing I check for is the oil to find out what condition it's in or if any exists (yes, worked on a mower with no oil)
2. check for spark
3. if spark, then check compression
4. if both are good, then a shot of Ether (starting fluid) into the cylinder(s), plugs back in and start it up.
Did it fire up?
At this point I should be able to determine the next course of action based on those 4 steps.
As so many have stated before, all you need gas, air, spark (and I like to add compression to that list)
In reading your checks, I don't believe you've answered some of these steps.
For the compression test, if you don't have a tester, then step 4 will cover that as Ether is very volatile and should create that small explosion in the cylinder with low compression.

Gas, air and spark need to be timed correctly via the flywheel key.

 

[johnny7]

Gas, air and spark need to be timed correctly via the flywheel key.

Yes, for sure and at that point, in my diagnostics, where it doesn't fire, is where Step 5 would be, to pull the flywheel and check the key.

In my pre-diagnosis, before I do anything, among other items I look for, I check the condition of the blade. If I see a big divot out of it, and the mower doesn't work, I might go straight to the flywheel key to check that first.

 

[etbrown4]

You don't know if you are lacking spark or fuel yet. The following 2 steps work 90% of the time. (forget about engine replacement or a shop just yet) On the spark, your best bet is a $5 spark tester from ebay or amazon. Get the kind with the adjustable gap. Set it low at about 10mm for lawn mowers. If upon pulling the rope you see spark then move on to gas.

There's an easy test for gas as ScrubCadet said. Try a quick shot of starting fluid or carb cleaner on the air filter. It should start on the first pull and will likely die.
Next time do the quick shot and be ready to do some successive quick shots to keep it running.

 

[MNnewbie]

Thank you everyone for the replies - a lot of great info here to digest and try. I brought the mower into our trusted local shop last week for a $25 diagnostic (1-week turnaround), so waiting for their response - once I get the mower back (assuming they don't say there is a catastrophic problem), I'll bring it back and start checking all of the steps outlined here (oil, spark, compression). Updates to come soon, sounds like it'll be a fun winter project now that mowing season is pretty much over here in Minnesota

Thank you again all!