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I would like to canvas the wisdom of the membership on the following problem. I have a 286707 engine in an old snapper 28" RER which just runs beautifully. Always starts on the button or with a gentle pull on the rip cord. When she is cold full choke and away she goes, in summer sometime no choke from cold and she'll fire right up. Sometimes though, it will not start and when it does finally start it is so rich from all the excess full dragged in to the piston from trying to start it that I feel confident this is not a mixture issue. When it is having a moment, the fix is really simple, one of these two things cures it every time without fail. 1. Remove the plug cap and replace it. 2. Remove the plug as well as the cap and replace it all.

So is it a new coil time? Is the lead. Clearly all I am doing it agitating ignition lead by removing and replacing it. The lead is tight on the spark plug so I don't believe it is an electrical connection problem at this point. I have not had the blower cover off except for cleaning a year or so back so before I do that I wanted to get some ideas on this perplexing matter.

The guaranteed repro of the problem is fire up from cold on the starter or the rip cord, doesn't matter, run for about 5 mins and then stop it. If it's going to do it then next start will be the one where it does not fire up. If it does fire up, it will be fine all day.

Thanks !

I suggest you check Parts Tree for a replacement coil. You will need the rest of your numbers stamped on the starter cover.

Ok, thanks for the answer.

I forgot to ask... Are you turning the fuel off after shutting down? The fuel needle in the carburetor is not meant hold fuel back when not running. Only the fuel valve at the bottom of the tank does this job. Also, non-Ethanol fuel is best in these engines, if you can get it in your area.

I still have an '87 Snapper RER 30 inch cut with the original B&S Flat head 8HP. Those riders are some good, reliable basic cutting machines.

Auto Doc's said:

I forgot to ask... Are you turning the fuel off after shutting down? The fuel needle in the carburetor is not meant hold fuel back when not running. Only the fuel valve at the bottom of the tank does this job. Also, non-Ethanol fuel is best in these engines, if you can get it in your area.

I still have an '87 Snapper RER 30 inch cut with the original B&S Flat head 8HP. Those riders are some good, reliable basic cutting machines.

Click to expand...

Yeah I have yet to see anything as reliable or with the kind of lifespan of a snapper on the market today.

After the oil pan filled with fuel one time I learned that the hard way, so now I religiously use the inline fuel tap I fitted thereafter.

On another topic, my starter eats the plastic pinion for breakfast. I replaced the clutch drive last year and fitted yet another new pinion. But already after like 30 starts that pinion is now sticking because it's internal shape has worn. So another one fitted today, I've been buying them five at a time.
Any ideas, switch to genuine only?

p.s. I having trouble getting my replies to post, this one was stuck as a draft forever.

Some starters have metal pinion gear option, but it has to have the correct tooth count.

The other suggestion is to replace the entire pinion assembly because the spiral section wears also and that will also increase gear teeth wear.