New spark plug, new oil, new air filter..and it quits?

[bzimpfer]

Hey folks....I have owned a "Yard Machine" mower, I purchased from Home Depot about three years ago. I have changed the oil each year, but this year I also changed the spark plug and air filter. Man! It fired up right away.. and strong. I mowed for about ten minutes and began to cough and sputter and finally quit. I checked the tank, it had plenty of gas. I let it sit a while, primed it and tried to start it several times. I got a few little sputters, but it never re-started. I don't know that much about small engines. This is a good Briggs & Stratton. Could there be a busted fuel pump in this small engine? Or does it have one? My closest lawn mower repair shop "robbed" me on an earlier mower repair a few years ago. I won't go back. Your opinions and advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks. Bob

 

[ILENGINE]

What engine do you have on your mower. Could be a Briggs, Kohler, Honda, or the dreaded MTD engine. Have seen new plugs foul out after a few minutes so make sure that you are still getting spark. Had an entire case of J19LM plugs do that a few years ago. Would work for about 10 minutes and would die. Replace plug and would start back up and would run about 10 minutes and quit again. Could be fuel related also. Possible water in the fuel. due to eithanol/water combination.

 

[Carscw]

He said it is a Briggs. I agree look at your spark plug

Sent from my iPhone using LMF

 

[Old_Brewer]

Try replacing the fuel filter. Typically the gravity flow fuel systems have a coarser (larger micron size), and the systems with a fuel pump have a smaller micron size fuel filter. If your filter is clear, you might be able to gauge the fuel flow, but replacement is the best test.
About the fuel pump: Follow your fuel line from the tank to the filter, then the fuel line will either directly go into the carb, or into a fuel pump. The fuel pump will usually be located higher on the engine than the carb, and have a total of 3 hoses on it. One will be the fuel inlet. One will be the fuel outlet. The last one will be a vacuum line that goes into the engine, usually near the valve cover area. Can you provide us with the B&S model number or "Yard Machine" model number? I am willing to look it up for you & see what the manufactures say about the fuel system, pump or not & what type of fuel filter required.
Also, did you run the mower immediately before changing the oil, plug & filter? Is the spark plug the same as the original? Usually the spark plug gap is about right out of the box, but is should be checked with a gauge.

 

[Hoser]

I have a low end Troy Bilt Bronco tiller with a Briggs Intek 190 on it. Wouldn't start. Changed plug and confirmed spark. Replaced carb, but didn't replace old fuel line. Started right up but quit after a few minutes on full throttle. Local shop says dirt from old line or tank probably got in new carb and the bowl can't keep up with the consumption. Removed and cleaned what I could. I let it run on low idle for a while and it's getting better (runs much longer on full throttle before quitting but still punks out after a while.) I also changed out fuel line and added a filter. All i know is there is much to be said for stabilizing fuel. When I forget to do so and store a machine long term, I get problems. Cleanliness is Godliness too! BTW, the tank was replaced too, as the Bronco decided to buck in to a tree and cracked the seam on the tank, which is not protected for rodeos!
:smile:
In short (no pun intended), check for spark, then go after fuel system.