Craftsman/B&S 37034 mower <40 hrs. use won't start

[lousyscrew]

Hi all,

First time poster, so don't beat me up if I mess up.

I own a Craftsman Model 37034 walk-behind mower with a Briggs&Stratton engine, Sears Model 126M02-6863-F1. Mower mfg. Dec 2011; I purchased April 2012. Have used it less than 40 hours on city lot. This model does not have an external primer or external choke.

Used it a max of 6 times last Summer. Fuel drained, mower stored in a freeze-proof garage last winter.

This Spring, I replaced the Champion RJ2YXL plug with the RJ19LMC the Sears counter guy suggested, changed oil, air filter. It worked fine the first 6 times I mowed this summer.

Now, it will occasionally start for @ 10 seconds, if at all, then die. No smell of gas; doesn't seem to be flooding. Even though they were just weeks old, I drained/changed gas/oil/plug/air filter (plug was carbon-fouled). Checked fuel line. Has spark. Blade control working. Still won't start.

Cannot believe a Craftsman/B&S died this quickly. Would appreciate any info, since the warranty of course expired in April and I'm not thrilled about paying someone else to fix a mower with less than 40 hours on it.

Again, if I left anything out/missed giving critical info, it's because I've never posted here, and not because I'm female, so have a heart!

Thanks. Jaye

 

[EngineMan]

Make sure that the choke is working, and clean the carb.

LAWNMOWER REPAIR: briggs and stratton auto choke repair-john deere - YouTube

 

[lousyscrew]

Make sure that the choke is working, and clean the carb.

LAWNMOWER REPAIR: briggs and stratton auto choke repair-john deere - YouTube

Thanks for responding! I knew I was leaving out a couple of the steps I'd taken.

I did take the engine cover off and try propping the choke with a stick, so the valve on the carb was wide open. Didn't help. Without removing the carb completely, I did clean it with spray cleaner and make sure it was opening/closing with ease. The first pull after I spray carb cleaner on it is the only time it will begin to sputter to life, but this lasts about as long as it takes for the cleaner to burn off.

Thanks again,

Jaye

 

[Carscw]

Thanks for responding! I knew I was leaving out a couple of the steps I'd taken. I did take the engine cover off and try propping the choke with a stick, so the valve on the carb was wide open. Didn't help. Without removing the carb completely, I did clean it with spray cleaner and make sure it was opening/closing with ease. The first pull after I spray carb cleaner on it is the only time it will begin to sputter to life, but this lasts about as long as it takes for the cleaner to burn off. Thanks again, Jaye

It starts with carb cleaner so we know it runs and is not getting gas threw the carb.
First thing I would do is make sure gas is getting to the carb. If it is get a carb kit and clean and rebuild the carb