This is part 2 of a 2 part series. A modern Craftsman mower with automatic choke won't start. Thanks to Boo (below) he explains that is the the wind vain that takes the choke off.
I just realized another good thing about inline fuel shutoff valves??? When running the mower for the last cut in the cutting season, shut off the fuel valve and let the mower carb run out of gas. Then push the mower in the garage for the winter months...Done! Next, I'll install a dash fuel shutoff valve on my Sears 5hp Snow blower, Wherever I can install an inline fuel shutoff an any ground equipment I'm doing it. But, one Spring it took me an hour to find why my tractor wouldn't start. I forgot I install a fuel shutoff valve. Ha-ha-ha! But hey, I'm a 73 yo. These videos from Bruce taught me a lot since retiring, and Bruce puts quality in his work guys. I like that!
@@BrucesShop I've never had a 2-cycle that started on the first pull. It's just the engine type. Well, you could use starter fluid if you wanted a one-pull start.
Thanks Sean. I guess you just have to keep taking parts off until you find something wrong. Missed you on Sunday Chat. I am sorry. We got back from our trip---- 2000 km's in 3 days Way to much for me.
No worries on missing the show, although, it was a great one. Everyone throwing one liner jokes here and there. Was a good time for sure and Miss. Zippo was in attendance! Hopefully we'll see you next weekend. Sean~
Bruce, you saved my security deposit! My problem was not the carburetor either. It also wasn't the auto-choke. It was what you said at @7:00. I took off all of those engine covers and checked too see if the ground was separating from the coil when I pressed down in the bail... nope! Somehow it got bent. I took some pliers and bent it so that they separated when I pressed the bail down. Thank you again!!!!
Thank you for the most comprehensive and clear explanations. I am working on the exact same problem right now. Just finished cleaning the carburetor and having same problem. Will be checking the choke next; mine also momentarily runs when gas sprayed into carb then stops. Fingers crossed! BTW: You are correct about the over tightened bolts; another video says proper tightness is 7.5 fp . That is about one little sinch for those without a torque wrench.
Thanks for this series. I picked up a Brute (MTD) with the same B&S motor. Diagnosed a missing choke vain spring and spark plug not gapped correctly. Cleaned out the carb while I was in there. Got myself a new self propelled mower now for spring!
thanks, after watching both videos, I took the carb apart and cleaned it like you showed - it went from not running to first pull full power - very good
You are a bad man! Well done sir! They don't make'em like they used to. I learned everything from watching pops. These young'uns would rather A let the grass grow high or B buy a new one.
Great job again Bruce. I was recently given a machine almost identical to this one. It has several issues and my friend chose to buy a new one. Lucky me.. I am anxious to check it out. Glad you worked on this one!
Good for you. Carb blockages (brass bolt in the bottom) ---- Choke like this one, -----rewinds, ----Stuck cables. Other than that the motors never quit.
Thank you so much for making this video. My problem was the exact same as yours. Once I fixed that, the thing finally started right up. All I have to do now is get my blades sharpened.
Yay, the Craftsman/B&G mower I worked on ripped the gasket when I removed the air filter and it's the same part number! NOW I feel like I'm on the right track here! My gasket was majorly stuck to the carb, took much work to get all of it off.
Great demonstration. I observed by moving the carburetor blade choke could give a clue that if it feels loose, the auto choke might be disconnected. Thanks.
Great job good sir, Watching you taught me so much about mowers Because of your vids I was able to fix my mower. Thank you so much, you saved me from spending hundreds on a new mower. God bless and thank you again for your content. You got me to sub, now I'm binge watching all your vids😉😉😉😉
Nicely done video., i have a electric start similar to this craftsman B&S that won't start. I last had it running a few years ago and it was hard starting then. I have a few new ideas now and so thanks.
nice job. I believe the ready start engines spec a .020 gap on the plug. I have run them at .030 and have not had any issues. Sometimes at .020 the engine skips.
Thanks for the step by step,... here in Austin tx, we have bulk trash about twice a year, it amazes me how nice of mowers that people throw away, I got 2 weed eater brand mowers I'm working on now, they have the Briggs motor with plastic carb, do you have a videos on how to hook up the 3 tiny springs to the throdel & gov , it's such a fine setting, got the first one going but wants to run wide open, I even have the second one to use as a refrance, ....just need to keep tinkering with ...thanks again, what type of oil do you like, it looked very clear ( if you give them a plug, they may send some goodies;)
Ok if it is the older plastic carb like the following video watch the hook is nice and loose that goes into the wind vane hole and also at 19:33 in the following video (not the one above) you should see the springs ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-napEqitOk7c.html
Do you have a drain plug in the bottom of your mower? My lawnmower is 3 years old and no drain plug on the bottom of my mower it's all sealed in on the bottom as of a Briggs & Stratton. I have to use a suction hand pump to pump the dirty oil out of the base by where you fill it up. My mower will not run as of the choke plate will not open and I have to stick a screwdriver in to hold the round choke plate open to get it to run. So an idle spring must be broken or some other connection. After watching your video I will check my mower out as of what you have done.
I mower blades are sharp to a fine edge when you hit anything harder than grass the edge will fold over easier. If it is blunted just a bit they edge will hold better and last longer. When you buy a new blade the edges aren't that sharp for that very reason.
I will check that next. I swapped carbs, didn't think about the round rubber gasket, did look for cracks in the intake tube though. Too many projects, to little time!!!
Well... I did the carb spray test, no change, the 6.75 is running with a miss that won't quit. Is it possible that the coil could be my problem. I checked the flywheel key, it's right on the $$$. It's got to be something I'm overlooking? 🤔
Seeing the bowl of warm oil has got me hungry for a bowl of warm oatmeal with warm maple syrup drizzled on top of it.....it is a rainy morning here nasty out side
My question how does sand get inside. I did leave the spark plug out all winter is it possible for something to have brought the sand in like a 🐝 bee. Confused in Montrose.
Bruce one more question the handle that we pull down to start and let go to stop does not work on mine. Sometimes I don’t even have to pull down to start. And to stop engine I have to carefully remove spark plug wire.
The stop cable that moves the lever by the engine must be sticky. Remove that and see if it can be loosened. Go careful and if you take your time it may be able to be lubricated.
@@johnhouli3450 Right This video may help. It is not mine but may get you to the area you need ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cD0tdiiwD4Y.html
I’ve got an Ariens Mower with a B&S 6.75 (same motor pretty much) I’ve done all of this, including cleaned the carb twice, my auto choke was also messed up, got that back in line, and adjusted the settings between the marks. Still runs rough on start, RPM up & down, but if it stays running long enough (10 some odd minutes) it ends up running well. New filter, plug, oil, flywheel key is good,,, I’m completely lost, and about to go over everything again and hope a mystery fix plays, or I catching something I missed! Got any opinions??
Thx, I’m gonna have to go over it again. I also have a theory the auto choke is malfunctioning. It opens way to fast. When I manually push it back a bit, it runs perfect! But if the auto choke was malfunctioning, wouldn’t it not open at all?
What way can you take the blade plate off of a victa 4 stroke with out stripping the bolt please.I've tried but the ring scanner slips after a bit of tension.
I have never worked on a Vista mower by that name. I think they are a Briggs and Stratton. An air or electric impact may be the way to remove the bolt. I think they are a standard direction thread??? Have a look. For example are you tightening it buy going to the counter clockwise direction Most likely not. I did find this video but the blade is off and he is taking of the adaptor or boss. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CdLyCd9xv5Q.html
Could it have been running choked due to the auto choke malfunction? That would explain the wet plug, perhaps. By the way, is "zooba" some sort of highfalutin' technical term?
Bruce. I swapped out two different carbs on a 6.75 briggs and stratton mower yet it still has a miss to it & the plug is white at the tip. What hat to look for? Nice mower just not running smoothly.
A white tip means it is getting too much air. So---a seal near the carb, loose carb, manifold seal. You can spray carb cleaner on the joints. If it changes RPM that is your weak spot. Just note carb spray is flammable.
Also along the lines of an air leak, sometimes the plastic air filter cover can warp especially when over tightened like this mower. I have seen double gaskets between the carb and air box to remedy the leak there.
Thanks Raymond. I just did that on an older one. ( I used a used one and a new one haha) Although it is the carb that mixes the fuel and these are upstream of the carb.
Wow I thought I saw this video Oh Well .............. Ok I guess I will give you a lil info on the auto choke system on those ............. At 6:20 into the video you mentioned that the muffler thermostat opens the choke. A lot of people think that way... In no way shape or form I am talking bad about you OK Mon Ami ..... When the engine is cold the choke is closed / working. In fact the air vane opens the choke up so when the engine starts it can run right....... The fins on the flywheel blow the air on it to do that .... Then the thermo on the muff keeps the choke open after the engine warms up, as in when you stop the engine to pick up a few sticks in the yard or take a COLD one out the ice chest..... LOL Then when you shut down for the day, the engine and muff gets cold and closes the auto choke for the next cold start....... Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!~!~!
Yes, yes, yes. Exactly right. The thermo lever part of it is to allow an open choke for the next hot start. Also, most related videos do not mention the adjustment method for the thermo lever. The square U end of the plastic lever that surrounds the end of the thermo lever has two marks on the side and two marks on the front. The thetmo lever end should be between these two marks, side and front. Easily adjustable by bending the end of the thermo lever.
I just typed this into google part # for Briggs quantum autochoke here is what I got remember google is your friend. Just try it. www.ebay.com/itm/Briggs-and-Stratton-carb-carburetor-799866-auto-choke-128T02-Quantum-engines-/333151571093
I really love your videos but I bet you walk two miles (3.2 kilometers ) while you’re making one. For the love of God bring your tools to the work that’s why you have a tool car man!
Well once again I challenge a person who hasn't made a video while fixing something to just make one. I went to your channel and saw you have not made a video. This isn't TV. I don't have a producer, editor, cameraman, script writer. or a director. I don't cheat with a take 2. Think about what you say before you say it. If you delete this I understand but remember there are real people making You Tube videos.
@@theebalz Well if it has a spark it should fire unless the timing is off. So this is the order . There could be more issues I am not there. Is the machine new to you? 1 Spark at the plug if not a bad spark plug or Coil issues??? 2 Prime it with fuel should run for a few seconds 3 Compression, Hold you finger over the spark plug hole and feel a puff. If low cmpression--rings or valves 4 Check flywheel key Good luck I can't do any more for you.
Great 2 part series Bruce. Interesting seeing how that auto-choke works. Nice fix. Another happy customer, and also another happy subscriber! Thank you sir!
Bruce it sure looks good. So I would say it was that choke arm. Because she started on first pull. I too have a 2012 self propelled she runs great until this year. I was cleaning her up and a ting spring went missing the vane spring. Will I found it but it took me hours to figure out how to connect. All done now. I need to get a float pin mine seem to have taken off last year so I put a small paper clip in its place. It seams to be not working this year. Gas pouring out of filter area. I will take apart soon and hopefully I can buy a pin locally. I sure don’t want to use a mail order place. Thanks for all your help.
Brilliant video as usual. Very nicely done. One suggestion Bruce if you don't mind. I have the same Lift as yours but I have made the wooden platform a few inches wider than yours. This helps to put the tools and the screws, bolts and any other parts on the platform so you don't have to walk to and fro to your work table to put the tools, screw, bolts and other parts on your work table. I hope you don't mind the suggestion. Keep up the good work. Thanks
Yes I have thought about it. My benches are 24 inches so this lines up with the edge of my benches. I do need the bigger width sometimes though, like bigger snowblowers. Thanks Shiraz.
This video helped a lot. I have a pressure sprayer with the auto choke. I found it wrong like yours. I found out how to put it correct with this video. Bruce you are awesome. THANKS!!!!
I have a craftsman, pretty much like yours. It's doing exactly the same thing. I now feel like I might be able to tackle the problem, hopefully with the same outcome.
This was exactly what was wrong with my lawn mower. I changed out the carburetor for a new one and still wouldn't start. Thanks for making this video!!! You're the Best👍🏽
I have the Troy Bilt version of this mower that a neighbor tossed out. It would not fire at all with either gas or starting fluid. I disassembled the carburetor and found gray sludge in fuel bowl and center port of 1/2” nut plugged. From what I could tell all passages were clear. Tested with known good plug, tested coil, checked gap, still no joy. I lost track of how many times I dis & re assembled that mower, wondering what I was missing. I checked the kill wire at the mechanism and then pulled the bail. The brakes were releasing but it didn’t move far enough to break the ground connection. I bent that tab up just a bit and the mower started first pull. Still runs a bit rough but now I have a spare /loaner mower!
Another video showing repairs being done to a filthy lawn mower. Do none of you guys every clean power equipment before or even after effecting repairs? Blowing it off with an air nozzle just does not do a good enough job. Our equipment is soaped and washed after every use. Lawn mowers to rototillers and chainsaws to gas water pumps. All look like new even though they are all over 10 years old and only one has ever been in a repair shop. Look after your tools and they will take care of you.
Hey Bruce, I have this same mower and had it running and then it suddenly stopped dead. I cannot get it to start now. I have cleaned the carb, checked the spark, checked the compression and checked the choke and everything appears to be good. Any ideas that would help me hear? Thanks for your help in advance!
I’m assuming the needle is not seating in it’s place. Do you want to hear what I found just a day ago went to pull start and it locked up I was lost now what I do. So make a long story short sand was in the pull area took top cover off and 1/2 a cup of sand came out. Checked oil and grease gas and she started up on 5 pull
Hi Bruce thank you have the same lawn mower it starts and then I shut the lawn mower off the choke doesn’t close so now I need to order the thermostat piece in order for it to restart
I love your videos I have a question , I also have auto choke craftsman that I used for only 6 weeks, it's been nothing but trouble My question is can I disconnect auto choke and install briggs air cleaner assembly WITH PRIMER BULB
Thank u Bruce I have a regular carb briggs and stratton also Same size motor I'll put that one on with all new gaskets and primer housing Thank u very much Keep up the great videos
Why didn’t you check the flywheel key when you were in there? A partially sheared key from the blade hitting an obstacle will create all sorts of problems because the ignition timing will be off. I just repaired my craftsman mower. All that was wrong was an obstructed carburetor bowl bolt. Mine was equipped with the primer bulb, and had no choke. I’m going to section in a cheap plastic inline fuel filter, as I don’t see anything that keeps crud from getting into the carb.
This is a Briggs and they tend to NOT shear the keys. Tecumseh's do however. On the gas filter, there is a screen filter in the tank which is as good as the red ones you can put on. here is one from amazon www.amazon.com/Inline-Filter-Briggs-Stratton-RocwooD/dp/B01HR32OPG
Great Video again ( Encore' ) Non'c Bruce........... 3 things I want to mention to you and your viewers ............ 1st... Yes the ratchets you use are the best for us small engine guys.... The Craftsman and Snap On type round heads are the fine click type used by Aviation technicians and other types of Techs for tight fitting and small areas where a few clicks makes a difference......... 2nd... That gasket on the air box you used is more pricey than the other gasket that comes in the 498260 carb kit from Briggs...... The gasket with no primer bulb hole and the holes for the air box tabs goes on the mower you worked on.......... That way you can save the pricey one for a minor repair........ I don't remember the part number right off the bat....... 3rd... The spark plugs on the 6.75 and a few other models are supposed to be gapped at 25 thousand instead of 30........ Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!
Another interesting job. It's always nice when you find something. That's why I like the way to try everything before you start into the repair. Then you know what was what before you start to disasemble and troubleshoot. Well done!!! Take 'er easy!!!
Nice one Bruce. Informative and some good humor to boot! Canadian Mowers are so clean and well Maintained from what I can see. Not like here in GA. They are ran for months and serviced when they totally fail Repaired (Hopefully) On - the -Cheap!!! -Bob. Athens. GA
Excellent in so many dimensions, good on the repairs but I found more value on the work setup and all the tricks, you find ways to work comfortably, I love it, nice garage, silence, peace and quiet, perfect way to work, seems like you have paradise and heaven where you live, I hope it is on the country side.
Thanks for the videos Bruce. Had an old lawnmower given to me and was having all kind of issues getting started even after the replacement carb. Turns out auto-choke was in front of the lever as well.
