Re: Bolens 38" cut will not crank with spark plug in, take it out, turns over fine.
Well, here is what happened. I guess I got lucky. I removed the hood etc to get to the valve cover. Removed the four bolts that held the cover and took it off. There were the two lifters with a nut. I couldn't see a set screw and if I did see one, it was a star with a hole in the middle which I didn't have anything like that so I put my wrench on each nut a gave it a little turn or maybe a little Turn. More than just a little but not enough to break something. Turned the key without the plug and they seemed to be rocking to and fro just fine. I put the cover back in and the plug back in, sat in the seat and hit the starter and it started right up. It was late, cut it off, next morning nothing same old thing. So it has to be the battery. I took it to Advance and they said it needed a charge. I swapped batteries with another mower I have and I have been mowing ever since. Thanks for all your help. I don't think I did much but I learned a lot and it didn't cost much.