Lawn Mower Down! OT

[Bingster]

I am appealing to you guys for advice.

I was riding my Craftsman lawn mower with a Briggs & Stratten engine in it when it suddenly died. Thought it out of gas. Filled tank & would not start.

Checked the dip stick and yes, out of oil. There was some on the very bottom of the stick. Filled with oil but it would not start.

Somebody suggested the spark plug. I took it out and it was wet with gas and carbon. Cleaned it up, put it back and the engine ran very slowly "putt putt putt."

Took out plug. Wet again with gas. Cleaned, replaced and the engine sounded like it wanted to start but it only putt putted.

I'm getting a new plug tomorrow but I fear I've done something to the engine with no oil. A mechanic told me that he thought there should be a low oil safety feature on the engine and that it should start up once I filled the oil up. But no.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[55 Fargo]

I am appealing to you guys for advice.

I was riding my Craftsman lawn mower with a Briggs & Stratten engine in it when it suddenly died. Thought it out of gas. Filled tank & would not start.

Checked the dip stick and yes, out of oil. There was some on the very bottom of the stick. Filled with oil but it would not start.

Somebody suggested the spark plug. I took it out and it was wet with gas and carbon. Cleaned it up, put it back and the engine ran very slowly "putt putt putt."

Took out plug. Wet again with gas. Cleaned, replaced and the engine sounded like it wanted to start but it only putt putted.

I'm getting a new plug tomorrow but I fear I've done something to the engine with no oil. A mechanic told me that he thought there should be a low oil safety feature on the engine and that it should start up once I filled the oil up. But no.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Bingster you 'bad Boy", twice yearly change oil, check after evrey cut, before next cut, add oil as necessary, I use Shelll Rotella T 15W40.

Change spark plug every season, and it sure sounds like your problem, replace with an NGK, not Champion.

Clean air filter and replace it yearly, change fuel filter yearly or every 2nd year.

Change blades 1/2 way through season, and sharpen.

Today I pulled out my 2005 Sears Lawn Tractor, with a Honda 16.5 V Twin, it was running crappy, and sounded like only on 1 cyl, no power.

I pulled the plugs and isntalled fresh NGK plugs, and away she went, I had 2 or 3 seasons on those plugs, shame on me.................Fred

[41/53dodges]

you most likely deprived the cylinder and piston of lube, and the piston and rings either wore severely or melted, thus making the compression go out the window, thus explaining the "putt putt" it does not have the power to run unless you give it high RPM's and some ether and it may work

[Bingster]

Two new plugs & air filter got her going again. I seem to sense that in taller grass it bogs down a little more than before. Maybe I need to adjust the carb. Or maybe some damage was done. I can't seem to get the spin-off oil filter off. My auto oil filter tool is too big to fit around it.

[55 Fargo]

Two new plugs & air filter got her going again. I seem to sense that in taller grass it bogs down a little more than before. Maybe I need to adjust the carb. Or maybe some damage was done. I can't seem to get the spin-off oil filter off. My auto oil filter tool is too big to fit around it.

Are the blades sharp, longer wetter grass always slows down a mower when comparing to shorter drier grass, just the workload. Some of these carbs can be adjusted, and some cannot I believe.

The oil filter, can you get a big pair of channel lock pliers around it to remove?

[JIPJOBXX]

Use old lawn mower for yard art!

[Niel Hoback]

Poke a long screwdriver thru that oil filter and unscrew it.

[Bingster]

Thanks. I'll try that!