Toro recycler with 7hp Briggs hard to start

L

Lyndmc

Member
I’m working on this Recycler 20334 with a 7hp Briggs, not an OHV engine. It usually starts pretty well on the rope, but not the typical 1 pull start. This mower has an electric start too. I usually will start on electric, but it cranks and cranks and cranks.

I’ve removed and cleaned the carb, I replaced the battery, I replaced the air cleaner, replaced the plug, I ran some Seafoam spray through the intake, I put Seafoam in the tank, and I changed the oil. None of this made it start easier. Based on videos that I’ve seen, the starter speed seems right, it just doesn’t light off like it should. The mower seems like it might have a mild, almost unnoticeable miss sometimes while not under load, yet it runs and cuts just fine. The only thing that hasn’t been touched is the coil and the valves.

Any suggestions?
 
Adjust valves to specs. with engine cold.

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Please post the units serial number. With it I will be able to identify which engine you have. With what you posted so far, I doubt it you have a coil or valve problem.
 
"The mower seems like it might have a mild, almost unnoticeable miss sometimes while not under load,"
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A vacuum leak can cause that . There is more vacuum at low speed . Check hoses , carb mounting etc .
 
The mower is a 20334 with a Briggs 7hp, SN 10 0428 56 29693, build date 04/10. So far I've pulled the carb and cleaned it, replaced the plug and air cleaner, removed the muffler to be sure there was no clogged screen, pulled the top of the motor and cleaned the flywheel magnets and coil, made sure that the choke was working properly, then adjusted the gap to .010, sprayed seafoam in the carb while running, put Seafoam in the tank, and replaced the battery.

When cold, the mower will crank and crank and crank trying to start but won't... as if it's turning over too slow but it's not per the YouTube videos I've watched. If I pull the rope, it fires right up, unfortunately the owner is elderly and can't pull as hard as me. Once the motor has run, it usually starts on the electric starter. When I watch YouTube videos, these things light right off. The only thing that I haven't and most likely won't do, is get into the valve adjustment not being an OHV motor.
 
Please post the mowers serial number as I don’t remember Toro installing a 7hp Briggs engine on their steel deck mowers.
 
First, this is a 2010 model. When you cleaned the carb, did you replace the float needle and seat, plus adjust the float level? I’m guess that being that old the seat has swelled and it is resulting in a lean starting and running condition. I normally set the float level slightly rich which results in easier starting.
 
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