hello all!
ive been searching forums left and right today. about 9 hours into this thing so far. heres the story:
i got it a few days ago from my brother who had always had issues with it, so he just hired a lawn guy.
well i load it up and find it was bone dry. so on the way we filled it up with gas (lucky enough to have 91 no ethanol), got home, let the battery charge for about 2-3 hours and tried to start it...nothing.
ok, maybe the battery is dead. hook i up to the wife car (beetle) and after about 10 seconds of spinning she fires in to life!! YES I THINK YES!! no. it died within seconds.
again, this is a Troy Bilt, Bronco riding lawn mower with a Kohler Courage 20 engine.
side track - i get a troy bilt push mower from my dad about a year ago, with the same symptoms. starts then dies. so, i take apart the carb, clean it out, clean the spark plug and fill her with gas...off she goes! and no issues since. so, i says to myself, sounds like the same issue!
as i dismantled the carb on the Riding mower, the gaskets (bowl and carb) just crumble. theres your problem! i says. no. after a quick trip to napa for an O ring of size, no go. spins great when i turn the key. i took off the air filter and i can see it shooting gas. ok, spark plug!! pull it out and test it...VERY weak. head to Napa..get a new one, test it, seems like a stronger spark. put it in andd nothing.
i CAN hear the fuel cut off at the bottom of the carb click on and off when proper battery is applied. and, although it is very controversial, i did try a bit of starter fluid and that did get her into life, all but briefly.
so, what now? i know i need a new battery, but cant i get it started and mow my lawn with out it? i checked the starter solenoid (which i assume is the thing coming right off the battery) and that seems in tip top shape, no corrosion or anything to be noted. i also tried starting the engine with my car battery right at the starter, which did not work. although each time i get plenty of spin, just doesnt want to spark?
i just push mowed a walking path in the back yard and my bones are aching. gotta get this thing fixed, provided it isn't going to cost me as much just to buy a new second hand one!
thank is advance - OH! model number: 13AV60KG011288804
~joseph
ive been searching forums left and right today. about 9 hours into this thing so far. heres the story:
i got it a few days ago from my brother who had always had issues with it, so he just hired a lawn guy.
well i load it up and find it was bone dry. so on the way we filled it up with gas (lucky enough to have 91 no ethanol), got home, let the battery charge for about 2-3 hours and tried to start it...nothing.
ok, maybe the battery is dead. hook i up to the wife car (beetle) and after about 10 seconds of spinning she fires in to life!! YES I THINK YES!! no. it died within seconds.
again, this is a Troy Bilt, Bronco riding lawn mower with a Kohler Courage 20 engine.
side track - i get a troy bilt push mower from my dad about a year ago, with the same symptoms. starts then dies. so, i take apart the carb, clean it out, clean the spark plug and fill her with gas...off she goes! and no issues since. so, i says to myself, sounds like the same issue!
as i dismantled the carb on the Riding mower, the gaskets (bowl and carb) just crumble. theres your problem! i says. no. after a quick trip to napa for an O ring of size, no go. spins great when i turn the key. i took off the air filter and i can see it shooting gas. ok, spark plug!! pull it out and test it...VERY weak. head to Napa..get a new one, test it, seems like a stronger spark. put it in andd nothing.
i CAN hear the fuel cut off at the bottom of the carb click on and off when proper battery is applied. and, although it is very controversial, i did try a bit of starter fluid and that did get her into life, all but briefly.
so, what now? i know i need a new battery, but cant i get it started and mow my lawn with out it? i checked the starter solenoid (which i assume is the thing coming right off the battery) and that seems in tip top shape, no corrosion or anything to be noted. i also tried starting the engine with my car battery right at the starter, which did not work. although each time i get plenty of spin, just doesnt want to spark?
i just push mowed a walking path in the back yard and my bones are aching. gotta get this thing fixed, provided it isn't going to cost me as much just to buy a new second hand one!
thank is advance - OH! model number: 13AV60KG011288804
~joseph