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I have a Poulan Pro 22 horse, PP 22 VA 48 aprox 450 hours
It works very good but now I have a problem and will only start with help of a Starter Fluid Aerosol.
What should I check?

In addition to that when has started the first minutes it does not run constant but the rpm are oscillating, goes up and down.

Any tips?
Thanks!
Freedom

Hello F.,

The first thing that comes to mind is the fuel shutoff solenoid is not working or has a bad connection. It is located on the bottom of the carburetor fuel bowl.

What engine does this have? If it is a Briggs and Stratton, we need the numbers that are stamped into the top of the valve rocker cover.

Also, it helps us to know the product label information on the label under the seat.

Have you made sure that the choke is closing all the way on start up? Cables will move after time not allowing the choke to fully close. Simple adjustment.

Rivets said:

Have you made sure that the choke is closing all the way on start up? Cables will move after time not allowing the choke to fully close. Simple adjustment.

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And very common with the Poulan/Husqvarna/917.xxxxxx Craftsman mowers.

An engine that must be started with " Starter Fluid Aerosol" has a problem that needs to be sorted out.

You risk further damage with the habitual use of a starter aerosol (mostly ether).

I do not like starter fluid. If you have to use something to start it with I use Gum Out carb cleaner it will not blow the engine up. I will tell you why. I had a customer that wanted to sell me a mower. Told me over the winter it got water in the engine and busted a one of the heads. Thought got water in it and busted a head. I think no way for that to happen unless the piston is on top dead center where the piston cannot move up and down. Well I bought it. Pulled the head and it was clean as it could be no sign of water or rust. It was a Generac 33 hp. We had several junks sitting around, so I took a good head off one of them and fixed it. Still running today. Next time I saw him I ask him how much starting fluid he sprayed in it and he said not much. But enough to bust the head.

It may be time to remove/dismantle the carburettor. Clean with carburettor cleaner & compressed air. Make sure all jets/aperture's are open/free from gum. Reassemble/fit and try again.

Put you hand over the air intake horn and try to crank it. If it fires up, the choke is the problem.

MParr said:

Put you hand over the air intake horn and try to crank it. If it fires up, the choke is the problem.

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I guess you mean the lack of adequate choke.

Note: I have had an engine repair, where it would only run with the choke on - this is a classic carburettor blockage symptome.

Skippydiesel said:

I guess you mean the lack of adequate choke.

Note: I have had an engine repair, where it would only run with the choke on - this is a classic carburettor blockage symptome.

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I had a Gravely with the Kohler ZT740. It would crank and crank but never fire. I checked everything over except the the actual butterfly. Everything checked out. I put my hand over the intake horn and it fired right off. The choke linkage on the carburetor butterfly was broken.