Stop in for a cup of coffee

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6:00 pm.
7563CE35-D48A-4CD0-ADE8-F32B4482AE45.jpeg
 
straightlinespeed said:
My neighbor stopped me a couple nights ago and asked if I had any starting fluid. I asked what for and he said he was having trouble with his lawn mower. I grab a can and head over. He says that the lawn mower has been trusty and started every year since they had it on the 2 pull. He then says I put in fresh gas and a new plug. So I watch him pull it a couple times and nothing... So I pop the air filter cover and I see the air filter.. Holy hell! Its black, oily, full of grass and other nastys and complete junk. I toss it to the side and said you need to buy a new one. So I spray the starting fluid and nothing, not even trying to fire. He said he would let it sit because he thinks he flooded it. About 20 minutes later I hear him pulling away and nothing. He yells over and asks me if I would look into it. I said sure when I had time and he pushed it over to my garage.

Fast forward to tonight, I finally have time to look into this thing. First think I do is pull the plug and check spark.. Wait.... This plug is just as black and oily as the air filter... From what I can tell its still the original plug, but why all this oil? So I clean the plug the best I can and put it in the boot and pull it over. Good bright spark! Good, but wow is that plug nasty, and no way new. So I put that back in and pulled it over. It fired and popped and kicked a few seconds and died. Im thinking the carb needs to be cleaned. I proceeded to take that down only to find a odd plastic carb body that Briggs is starting to use with no adjustments and not much to clean. I get it off and drain the gas out of the bowl and my fingers are oily... I check the gas and he has mixed gas in this thing, which explains the black soot on the paint, from years prior and probably why the plug is nasty. The carb looked good and clean so I put everything back together, dumped out the mixed gas and put in straight gas. Tried starting and nothing but a couple small pops and a backfire through the carb. I pulled the plug cleaned and repeated about another 5 times. Still nothing.

So my question, and I've never seen this. If a plug shows spark could that change once installed and under compression?? The plug is always wet when I pull it so I know its getting gas, but doesnt even want to fire. So Im going to stop and buy a new plug tomorrow after work, but kind of stumped why its not firing. I have good compression and seems to be getting fresh gas now.
Click to expand...
Yep, won't fire under compression. Fresh gas, new plug, new air filter. Good to go.
 
Thanks guys, I'll check the oil closer. I pulled the dipstick to see if there was some on there, but didnt look close. For sure picking up a new plug and filter. I'll report back after that.
 
straightlinespeed said:
Thanks guys, I'll check the oil closer. I pulled the dipstick to see if there was some on there, but didnt look close. For sure picking up a new plug and filter. I'll report back after that.
Click to expand...
One more thing. I have seen on more than one occasion where centre electrode has become dislodged.
When you inspected plug, you held it with electrode up i bet.
Flip plug over, electrode down and maybe give it a gentle tap on a hard surface.
Thats when i figured out spark plug was screwing with me...
 
When a small engine like a lawn mower sputters and back fires with good spark and fuel, my experience has always been either the carb flooding or the valves sticking. I fought more sticky valves in engines that I can count.

I did small engine repair for nearly 5 years back in the day. It eventually came to the point where for the price of a head gasket, I would tear it down and check the valves nearly everytime once fuel and spark were confirmed.

Small engines that were found with with oil in the cylinders were a sure bet.
 
Ya,and it was me...

Looks like a few nice days coming up,and weather looks decent for the swap meet.
 
What will happen when the boxes run out of space for more numbers? Lol
 
First by the way, stuck on shift due to bs, Gawd I hate the f$&&&8!& Army. 20 hour shift and counting
 

Was going through the meters I fixed yesterday. Hell I easily can fill a pallet three feet high. Carlisle will be interesting for sure. I forgot I was putting them in the sun cabinets last year!:lol:
 
I think if you have a little something set up so you can show how and that it does work they'll sell like hot cakes.
 
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