Toro B&S won't start on grade...

My neighbor has a 21" Toro Recycler with a 190 B&S engine. It won't start on any type of grade. Starts fine on level ground - runs/cuts... Does anyone know if that engine would have an in-tank fuel filter - chainsaw style? He towed it up his hill to my place and I gave it a shot of starting fluid - nothing. An hour later it started right up. I keep thinking it's a fuel issue - but no fire with SF makes me wonder... Any ideas?

Let’s see if I understand this correctly.
1. It’ll only start on level grade
2. You moved it an it wouldn’t start with starter fluid?

To me I suspect no spark or no compression. Big 3:Spark at the correct time, compression, and fuel.

If you hit it with starter fluid it should have fired off if you have spark and compression.

I’m thinking failing coil.
I’m thinking bad gas and/or water

I’d dump out the fuel tank and drain the carburetor bowl. Then I try it with fresh fuel.

If still an issue, then I’m thinking the coil is failing

The only theory I can come up with that could explain all the symptoms you describe is that the ignition was grounding out due to a loose or chafed kill wire or kill switch. When the mower was not level, the wire drooped and touched metal so there was no spark to the plug. Eventually it wore enough that by the time the mower was hauled to your place, the wire was in contact to ground regardless of the attitude of the mower. Pull the kill wire off the coil and see if it starts. If it does, you have your culprit.

Does this happen only when hot or will it replicate when the motor is cold?

Hello G.,

I recommend you remove the upper cover then the fuel tank and take the fuel line off. Some had a "pencil filter" shoved into the line while other had it shoved into the fuel tank nipple. Cleaning the fuel tank would be my first step and test for flow out of the line nipple.

If you do find the screen filter, do not punch through it with anything because that would defeat it from doing what it is supposed to do. There is barely any room to try and fit a small inline filter on these.

Alot of these problems start with people using dirty fuel cans that have never been inspected much less cleaned out from time to time.

Back in my youth, I was told to never shake a fuel can or pour it out empty into a mower. Why? All of the trash and often rust of a steel can would come out and cause problems. People would simply keep refilling their dirty/ rusted fuel cans that they have had for many years.

rednucleus said:

Does this happen only when hot or will it replicate when the motor is cold?

Click to expand...

He said temp makes no difference. He's up at his cabin with tons of company. But next week I'll go down there and we'll try to track this thing down. I really appreciate all the comments. The starting fluid got me - but you guys have written a few things that can explain that. Thanks... I'll let you know how we do.

First off pusher mowers are not meant for serious grades or hills. Most are splash lubed and will run the engine oil slinger out of the oil. Summation lack of lubrication.......

Next would be the main jet is uncovered not getting any fuel. This carb probably doesn't have a pilot circuit. Engine most likely is a single speed like 3600rpm ALL THE TIME.

Pull the carb and look at the float height. Might be set too low. Again on the slope uncovering the main jet starving for gas.

Think most pushers are to be used at a max of like 10 degrees or very close to????

Not like full sized tractors mowing the dam at the lake darn near tipping over. Those engines are full pressure lubed with real oil pumps and filters. THOSE engines can go over 10 degrees for example.