Briggs 450e hard to start

[guitarsnlikker]

Briggs 450e runs well when I get it started. Complaint is it is very hard to start (20 pulls) when dead cold after priming, even if I spray starting fluid in carb. When warm it can still take a few pulls (7 or8). When it does fire up it starts very very slow RPM sputter, and then takes a few seconds to get to proper RPM. I noticed by using a drill to turn engine over to look at spark that it seemed to take a high RPM to achieve a decent spark fwiw.

Here is what is OK:
New champion plug RC12YC
Have swapped out good coils no change. (coils read 6.3Kohms)
Coil air gap is good, magnets seem to pull well.
Oil filled to proper level
Clean air filter
Head bolts are tight
Flywheel key in place not sheared
Valve lash at 0.005 in for both
Carb is clean
Gas is clean
Tank is clean
I am running out of things to check here.
Thanks.

 

[Rivets]

More than likely the main jet in the carb is partially clogged. Experienced tech can disassemble and clean, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a novice. I recommend you just replace it with Briggs & Stratton 597304.