Engine Briggs 26 HP won't start...

[eldowdy]

Engine has 40 hours on it. It's on a Z445. I just thought I'd start it and bring it up to operating temp. Kind of a mid winter check. It spun just fine but just flooded. Never did fire. It has treated gas in it. I was tempted to hit it with a little shot of starting fluid, but this thing is NEW! I don't mind doing that to my 16 year old Dixon. But hesitate to a machine that's still under warranty. Any thoughts?

Ed Dowdy
Fithian IL USA

 

[ILENGINE]

You said that it flooded, did you pull the plugs to see if they were wet, or just assumed it flooded because it didn't start. Most of the new engines require more cranking then the old ones due to leaner fuel mixture settings to meet emissions, especially in cold weather. I have seen new mowers that wouldn't start below 30 degrees without dumping a little extra fuel in the carb first.

 

[eldowdy]

I assumed it flooded because I could smell raw fuel. It must have been somewhere in the 30s that day. I'll wait till it warms up and try again. I've never had any trouble starting in warm weather. Thanks for the info. I don't imagine a small shot of starting fluid would hurt it. Would it?

Ed

 

[reynoldston]

The newer starting fluids won't hurt your engine at all.

 

[eldowdy]

Thank you very much!