Won't Start

texan2021

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Jun 26, 2021
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I have a push mower with a Briggs and Stratton 300E engine. When you try to start it will fire up once for about two seconds and then die. I took the carb off, took it apart, cleaned the jets with carb cleaner, sprayed out the bowl, put the needle back on the bottom of the float, put it all back together, filled it with new gas and got nothing. I then took out the spark plug and cleaned it really well with carb cleaner and put it back on, still nothing. I drained the oil and replaced it with new. Nothing. One thing I have been noticing is that when I press the primer button, I get nothing, it just sounds like air. Where should I go next?
 

Rivets

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Remove the carb and check to see if there is fuel in the float bowl. While you have it off check to make sure the float level is set properly.
 

texan2021

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Remove the carb and check to see if there is fuel in the float bowl. While you have it off check to make sure the float level is set properly.
I know next to nothing about repairing these. To remove it and clean it earlier I used a youtube video. How exactly do I know if the float level is set properly?
 

texan2021

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Remove the carb and check to see if there is fuel in the float bowl. While you have it off check to make sure the float level is set properly.
Was able to remove the carb and there was fuel in the float bowl. I used the videos that were posted originally to take the carb off and all they say is to make sure the float is level when you put it back in. I made sure the needle was hanging down from below and that the float was level and the pin was popped into place. What does the fuel being in the bowl tell me? What should my next step be?
 

texan2021

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Nevermind, pulled the carb off and gave it another good cleaning with carb cleaner. Got all the jets cleaned out and rinsed the bowl. Put it all back together and it still sounded like the primer button was just blowing air, but it fired right up and works like a charm.
 

slomo

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Nevermind, pulled the carb off and gave it another good cleaning with carb cleaner. Got all the jets cleaned out and rinsed the bowl. Put it all back together and it still sounded like the primer button was just blowing air, but it fired right up and works like a charm.
Remove the air filter. Look inside the carb at the bottom center area. When you hit the primer bulb, you should see a small squirt of fuel jump up out of the fuel bowl. This will let you know the primer is working. Only need 3 primer pumps on a functional primer.

slomo
 
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