I just picked up an older (1998 or so) MTD Yard Machines riding mower with the 2 cylinder Briggs and Stratton 42a707 engine.
The engine was not running when I bought it, but I was told that it was running recently -- I bought it off a kid who was going to convert it to an 'off road' mower. I'm more interested in mowing my lawn with it than off roading, but that's another story.
Anyway, it supposedly ran within the past year. The engine turns with the key but will not fire up. I confirmed spark with a spark tester. Replaced plugs with Champion RJ19LM, which supposedly cross referenced to the Briggs spark plug for this engine.
I've tried firing it up by spraying starter fluid into the carb, but no go. My thought is, if I can get it to fire up with the starter fluid, then I'll do a carb / fuel pump rebuild and have a good running mower come spring time.
What am I missing? What other diagnostics are needed? Would removing the carb and spraying starter fluid in the manifold work? Again, I just want it to fire up, then I'll work on the fuel issues.
Thanks,
Tom
The engine was not running when I bought it, but I was told that it was running recently -- I bought it off a kid who was going to convert it to an 'off road' mower. I'm more interested in mowing my lawn with it than off roading, but that's another story.
Anyway, it supposedly ran within the past year. The engine turns with the key but will not fire up. I confirmed spark with a spark tester. Replaced plugs with Champion RJ19LM, which supposedly cross referenced to the Briggs spark plug for this engine.
I've tried firing it up by spraying starter fluid into the carb, but no go. My thought is, if I can get it to fire up with the starter fluid, then I'll do a carb / fuel pump rebuild and have a good running mower come spring time.
What am I missing? What other diagnostics are needed? Would removing the carb and spraying starter fluid in the manifold work? Again, I just want it to fire up, then I'll work on the fuel issues.
Thanks,
Tom