old gas, new gas.
38-Inch Steel Deck 15.5 HP Briggs & Stratton I/C Engine With…

Experienced gardeners share their insights in answering this question :
Briggs and Stratton engines are very good in general. Did you store it over the winter and are just now trying to start it?

Troubleshooting Points from their manual:

Engine out of fuel, engine not choked properly,engine flooded, Bad Spark Plug, Dirty Air Filter, Dirty Fuel Filter, Water in Fuel, Loose or Damaged Wiring, Carburetor out of Adjustment, Engine Valves Out of Adjustment.

Did it work last year?

How to Identify and Fix Common Gardening Problems ?

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Gasoline that contains alcohol has a tendency to ignite easier, which can cause afterfire. Small engine muffler type and manufacture. Carburetor adjustment may not be properly set for correct engine performance. Anti-afterfire solenoid may not be working properly.
Low fuel pressure can cause a backfire when there`s too much air and not enough fuel in the combustion chamber. This can be rectified on lawn mowers with speed settings by simply increasing the speed and thus increasing the fuel supply. Another possible cause is a failing fuel pump or even an old fuel filter.
Clogged or Dirty Air Filters

Dirty air filters are one of the most common reasons lawn mowers sputter. Dirt can be present in the apertures that lead from the carburetor and the fuel filter and interrupt the flow of fuel supply to the combustion chamber. You want to be sure to clean or replace dirty air filters.

Loose, Dirty or Disconnected Spark Plug in Your Lawn Mower: Check it out, clean off debris, re-connect and tighten. Dirty Air Filter: Clean or replace. Fuel Not Reaching the Engine: Tap the side of the carburetor to help the flow of gas. If this doesn`t work, you might need a new fuel filter.
Backfiring in internal combustion engines occurs outside of the combustion chamber, and is typically the result of an improper air to fuel ratio. An overly lean air-fuel mixture (i.e. an overabundance of air) can lead to a failure to ignite in the combustion chamber, also called a “misfire”.
Excessively lean carburetor settings can contribute to backfiring. If the mixture is too lean, it may burn very slowly and unevenly. This condition, in turn, may result in burning mixture remaining in the cylinder until the beginning of the next intake stroke when it can ignite the incomming air/fuel mixture.
A sputtering engine may just mean you need to have your fuel filter replaced. All vehicles have a series of vacuum hoses that create the fuel pressure. If one of them leaks or is damaged in any way, you will lose significant fuel pressure. The vehicle`s exhaust system can greatly impact the engine`s performance.
Working Too Hard. Your lawnmower may backfire simply because you are working it too hard, either by cutting grass that is too long or running it with dull blades. This can slow the movement of the piston, which falls slightly out of phase with the firing cycle of the spark plug.
Stale fuel, dirt, and debris are the most common cause of outdoor power equipment not starting or running properly. If you store equipment with untreated gas in the tank, it can lead to engine damage.
Another possible cause of your backfire is a spark plug refusing to “spark” when the exhaust valve opens. If the air/fuel mixture has become too rich, unburned fuel is left in the exhaust system. The misfired spark plug ignites the rich air/fuel mixture, causing a loud “bang” in the tail pipe.
On the other end of the spectrum, a bad fuel pump, vacuum leak, or clogged fuel injectors could cause an air-fuel ratio that`s too lean; that is, it has too much air and not enough fuel. Though this is the opposite problem, it can also cause a backfire as vapor escapes into the exhaust and combusts there.
Explanation. Common causes of backfire are running rich (too much fuel going into cylinders) or faulty ignition, possibly a fouled (dirty) spark plug, coil, or plug wire. Pop-backs are usually caused by problems with timing.
Another possible cause of your backfire is a spark plug refusing to “spark” when the exhaust valve opens. If the air/fuel mixture has become too rich, unburned fuel is left in the exhaust system. The misfired spark plug ignites the rich air/fuel mixture, causing a loud “bang” in the tail pipe.
The main difference between a misfire and a backfire is that a misfire occurs when an engine`s cylinder fails to fire (incomplete combustion) whereas a backfire occurs when complete combustion takes place outside the cylinders.
Another possible cause of your backfire is a spark plug refusing to “spark” when the exhaust valve opens. If the air/fuel mixture has become too rich, unburned fuel is left in the exhaust system. The misfired spark plug ignites the rich air/fuel mixture, causing a loud “bang” in the tail pipe.
On the other end of the spectrum, a bad fuel pump, vacuum leak, or clogged fuel injectors could cause an air-fuel ratio that`s too lean; that is, it has too much air and not enough fuel. Though this is the opposite problem, it can also cause a backfire as vapor escapes into the exhaust and combusts there.
The problem with the Holley power valve is that it is the most sensitive circuit in the carburetor. The little rubber diaphragm has a tendency to tear or just plain fail at usually the most inopportune times. It is especially vulnerable to engine backfires.

Discover Relevant Questions and Answers for Your Specific Issue

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Wont start new carberator, new fuel lines w/filter, new spark plug and air filter.

It ran like a champ. I put it away and a week later it wont start. Acts just like it did before I changed everything

ANSWER : If the same fuel is in it try draining and re filling with fresh fuel, if no better to rule out an ignition issue, spray some fuel oil mix straight down the carb throat, if it fires up it is still a fuel issue.

I have craftsman 18.5 horse riding mower when i turn key its like battery does not have enough power to turn engine over,was wondering if it could be the starter cause battery is good.

Doesn’t act like it is getting gas. Cranks but wont start. Will start if I pour gas in carboretor but won’t stay running. Changed gas filter and fuel pump.
ANSWER : Hi: I sounds like it is not getting gas, it probably need the carburetor cleaned out. but first make sure the gas is turned on, tighten the carb . I you have left it for a long time with out running the gas out it most likely needs the carb cleaned Good Luck I hope I was of some help

Ride on lawnmower lr35 just clicking and wont start
ANSWER : Check battery and starter cables for tightness and corrosion. also battery voltage.

I cannot start this mower. It has not been started for a very long time. I just changed the spark plug, air filter and added 4 oz of MIB to 2.5 gals of fresh gas, then put it into the mower. I sounds lie it wants to turn over the first pull, but after that, I’m pulling just to pull, Istopped when my hands started to bleed. Can you assist?
ANSWER : Pull your carb off and clean it out,, If it has set along time it is probably varnished up inside

I have a 2007, 6500 Craftsman tractor with 26 hp engine (kohler) that won’t start. The tractor was running (old gas) when we got off it for a few minutes then went back to start it again but it would not start. It turned over but never would try to start. I drained old gas, put in new. Same situation. I put in new spark plugs same result.
verified gas was pumping correctly, it was. Oil full, gas full, new plugs, air filter clean. Only has 85 hours on tractor.
ANSWER : First check fuel shutoff valve on bottom of carb . Disconnect and remove , clean witn carb cleaner and be sure there is power at wire when the key is on . Also clean carb jets and bowl …..

Chainsaw stalls Chainsaw is 4 years old and has a history of moderate use. After I ran the saw about 1 minute on plain gas (grabbed the wrong gas can – ouch) the chainsaw sputtered and stopped.

It didn't seize, and the pull starter never became more or less difficult than normal. The engine would continue to start if I pressed the prime bulb and engaging the choke, but stall again after 10-20 seconds. The temperature that day was about 50 degrees F and I was running the saw with the “cold plug” installed (per warm weather running).

When it refused to keep running I did the following:
Flushed the fuel tank (that's when I saw the gas had no oil in it).
Ran hardware wire through all of the fuel lines.
Replaced the fuel filter and spark plug.
Cleaned the air filter with a nylon brush and compressed air.

Same behavior (start then stall in less than 20 seconds). I made at least 20+ attempts to start it.

I removed the carburetor and, though it looked perfectly clean, I took off the top and bottom covers then sprayed everything with automotive carb cleaner and blew out the passages with compressed air. The gasket and diaphragm looked new. No pinholes in the diaphragm when held against a bright light. I reinstalled the carb but got the same behavior (start then stall in less than 20 seconds). I again made at least 20+ attempts to start it.

I disassembled the short block and saw that the piston has some slight scoring on it. The ring is clean and I verified that the piston ring has .001 clearance between it and the piston ring groove all the way around with the ring held tightly in place (I was thinking that the piston might have become deformed if it did indeed get too hot when run without any oil premix).

The cylinder wall has no scoring and there isn't any signs of melted aluminum anywhere. The crank is clean as was the inside of the crank cover.

I reinstalled the crank cover using permatex non-hardening gasket goop and torqued the cover bolts to 10 inch pounds. I reassembled everything else per the exploded diagrams in Echo's “parts manual” for the CS400.

During assembly I took note that both the carb gasket and intake boot look like new.

Still the same result: press prime bulb once, engage choke, pull a few times and it starts but stalls after 10-20 seconds.

I'm stumped.

ANSWER : Not sure what to say other than its fuel starvation, if not already done replace the fuel filter in the tank, if no better i would suspect a massive air leak, so replace the crank seals, if there is no primary compression in the crankcsae fuel will not pull through the engine, good luck.

Lawnmower sat up for a season would not crank replaced sparkplugs air filter fuel filter hose fuel pump is pumping gas to carburator but still will not start unless you pour some gas into the carburator or spray some carb cleaner into the carburator but will not stay running as if it is not getting any gas what should i check next?
ANSWER : If it will start when you pour gas then its a fuel problem on some of these they have a screw at the bottom of the carb remove that and see if you have bad fuel. If that does not work then remove the carb and service it may just be a stuck float or something