Carb issue, won't run umless gas is poured into carb

[ArdenK]

Hi All,
Iwas given a craftsman mower with a briggs and stratton motor. The previous owner did not drain the gas when he put it away a few years ago. Now won't run umless gas is poured into carb.

Do I need to rebuild the carb or only clean it?

Thank you for your assistance,
Arden

 

[jeff]

Try a very good cleaning first.

 

[wildbill]

Agree. Take the carb off, or at least remove the bowl. The bowl will be nasty with old varnish deposits, and the main jet will need cleaning. This is normal for mowers that sit for a period of time, and with the cheap regular gas we have nowadays, it happens even in a couple months of not being used.

 

[gb6906]

Hi All,
Iwas given a craftsman mower with a briggs and stratton motor. The previous owner did not drain the gas when he put it away a few years ago. Now won't run umless gas is poured into carb.

Do I need to rebuild the carb or only clean it?

Thank you for your assistance,
Arden

After a year of sitting gas turns to varnish and will gum up the ports and ruin the parts inside the carb. Rebuilding is the only solution unless you buy a new one. The reason the gas has to be introduced is because the needle isn't allowing fuel into the float bowl.