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Hey All, new here and looking for help. I have a two yr old MTD with a 13.5 B&S on it. Would only run on choke so I pulled the carb and cleaned it. Put it back on and it will not start. New gas, new lines, bypassed the fuel filter and new spark plug. Nothing, rolls over fine, good spark when grounded to the head. Float bowl is full when removed. It has a solenoid fuel shutoff that is working at key on. I can prime the carb throat with gas and it'll fire up for seconds, if I place my hand over the carb's air inlet it tries to go. Got tired of fooling with it and bought new carb, not rebuilt, new. Same problem. Carb to head gasket is good and unit has good vacuum while cranking with airway blocked. Mower has two cutting seasons total so I don't think it can be worn valves. I've been doing wrench work for a good while now on push/riding mowers, an XVZ 1300 touring bike, a 250cc four wheeler, my vehicles as well as most of my families cars and trucks. This stupid mower is getting on my nerves. Any ideas? Thanks. Andy

Post the model number so we know what the engine looks like. Could be a valve problem though.

Will do, give me a couple of minutes. Thanks.

Mower is a MTD Yard Pro with "38 deck. Engine is a B&S 13.5, Nikki carb, PowerBuilt, engine family-ABSXS3442VM 279216, made in Feb of 2010. Battery is fully charged. It does have good vacuum when turning over and I don't think it has sheared a pin to jump time. I wonder if the electronic fuel shutoff has a problem that opens with key on but closes with engine start. Make any sense? Thanks again. Andy

Pulled valve cover and checked clearance at TDC. Measures .002-.003. Rolled engine by hand, they seem to be operating well. I'm befuddled.

Anyone have any ideas on this problem?

drew45 said:

Mower is a MTD Yard Pro with "38 deck. Engine is a B&S 13.5, Nikki carb, PowerBuilt, engine family-ABSXS3442VM 279216, made in Feb of 2010. Battery is fully charged. It does have good vacuum when turning over and I don't think it has sheared a pin to jump time. I wonder if the electronic fuel shutoff has a problem that opens with key on but closes with engine start. Make any sense? Thanks again. Andy

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Do you hear a click when the ignition switch is turned to the on position, if not take the solenoid off the carb attach one pole of a 9 volt transistor radio battery to the spade terminal and the other pole to solenoid case or black ground wire if so equipped . A sharp distinct movement of the plunger should be seen.

Thanks, yes the solenoid does activate on both old and new carbs. Bowl has fuel when I remove it.

drew45 said:

Pulled valve cover and checked clearance at TDC. Measures .002-.003. Rolled engine by hand, they seem to be operating well. I'm befuddled.

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Yes but did you do a compression test... if so what was it..? I do believe they have automatic compression release..! is that working..?

Thank you Gentlemen for your help. I was screwing with the mower again and decided to pull the bowl from the new carb. I found a piece of something lodged in the main jet. I'd not opened this carb yet because it is new and don't know how this junk made it's way past the filter and new fuel lines but it did. Mower runs like it is supposed to. I look forward to reading the forums and sticking my foot in my mouth on occasion. Thanks again.

Its running that's the main thing.:thumbsup: