Help!

[kosherkajun]

Hi, just joined and looking for help. I bought an old craftsman riding mower for $20 from a guy who couldn't get it started. I cleaned the carb and changed the battery and voila, new riding mower. It cut well for a few months and I let it sit during the cold season. I tried to start it again and I saw white smoke and oil coming out of my muffler, but no start. I replaced the head gasket, spark plug, oil, and cleaned the carb again, but still no start. No oil in the muffler anymore, but I just don't get any fire.

What do I do? I don't know if I'm losing compression elsewhere or how to ground the spark plug wire to check if I'm getting spark. Is it possible a valve is bad??

I don't want to take it to a repair shop as the lead time is 3 weeks this time of year..

The engine is Briggs and Stratton 289707-0154-01.

Any ideas?

 

[bertsmobile1]

If you have a spark try some gas down the throat or in the plug hole.
f it got then it is back to the carb for a better clean

 

[mechanic mark]

https://www.briggsandstratton.com/us/en/support/manuals/results?NTT=289707-0154* manual & parts list engine

http://www.ccdist.com/_serviceManuals/briggs/276781.pdf your engine repair manual, see troubleshooting section.

 

[kosherkajun]

https://www.briggsandstratton.com/us/en/support/manuals/results?NTT=289707-0154* manual & parts list engine

http://www.ccdist.com/_serviceManuals/briggs/276781.pdf your engine repair manual, see troubleshooting section.

I figured it out!!! I sprayed some starting fluid into the spark plug port and gave it a try with the same results. I grounded the spark plug and saw that I was getting no spark so I tried messing with the gap to see if that was the issue. Then I removed the red cover from the engine and saw that the wire coming from the starter was disconnected from the ignition coil!!! :confused2: I reconnected it, pulled the choke and turned the key and an hour later I had a fresh cut lawn :smile::smile::smile::smile:

Thanks for your help guys