My John Deere D140 on the first run of the day needs ether to start, after that is will start up every time without ether.
I have replaced air filters, fuel filter and spark plugs and it still needs to be started with ether on first startup of the day.
Yeah on both of my older Kawisaki engines I have to "slap" the choke closed with an abrupt pull on the lever to get them to start cold. If they aren't closed 100 percent, and I mean 100 percent, they won't start. They also need an excellent battery to spin them fast enough. Rrr, rrrr, rrrr doesn't cut it.
Thanks! I suspected the choke but that carb is so hard to get to.
I do not like starting any engine with ether so today I tried just
gas and it fired right up and would start anytime for the rest of the
day without any "prime".
Over time the throttle cable gets loose and moves in the mounting so the choke does not fully close.
So loosen the cable and move it so the choke fully closes when the throttle is fully on .
Then check the choke is off by the time the throttle lever has come back to the detent position for full speed running ( if your mower has one ).
