In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

DR Field/Brush Mower Not Starting

Discussion in 'The DIY Room' started by Dumf, Aug 11, 2020.

  1. Dumf

    Dumf Banned

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    Late summer field clearing with a usually well running DR Brush mower. Today it won't start.It's been going well for a few days' cutting until now.
    New plug, air filter cleaned, fresh gas, some electrical contacts pulled and cleaned. This is a pull start B&S engine. This DR is self propelled w a 1/4" blade that will cut up to 2"-3" softwood for clearing.
    Suggestions ? The heat/humidity ?
     
    T.Jeff Veal, Warner, mat60 and 2 others like this.
  2. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Does it have spark?
    Does it have a low oil safety switch...or some other safety switch that could be activated? (or just plain failed)
     
  3. Warner

    Warner

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    Starting fluid?
     
  4. Screwloose

    Screwloose

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    Check for spark first. Like brenndatomu said so many interlocks and any one will kill the spark. If you have spark a dribble of gas in the carb will tell you if it's a fuel problem.
    Since it's a pull start it probably has 1 wire going into the engine to ground the magneto. Disconnect it and see if it starts.
     
  5. Warner

    Warner

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    Yeah I kinda use the starting fluid to check spark. If it pops there must be some spark. Kinda the lazy route:whistle:
     
  6. Screwloose

    Screwloose

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    A friends grandpa is an engine collector and he will without pause or concern grab hold of the wire and give it a spin. Even a magneto with a impulse coupling like a wisconsin or tractor. His doohickeys are made of brass....I cannot even for money take that zap intentionally.
     
  7. Warner

    Warner

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    Yeah, I hurt myself enough unintentionally. I do like the little doodad that you put inline of the plug wire with the clear lens. But, I can never find it when I need it.

    Did ya get her goin, Dumf ?
     
  8. Warner

    Warner

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    Could always bring it to Barney.
     
  9. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    That's nuts...and unreliable. You can have enough spark to give you a good jolt, but not enough to jump the gap, especially under compression.
    I like those testers too...but prefer the ones with an adjustable gap...I have one that flashes...but it will sometimes flash with voltage that is too low to spark when in the cylinder...don't use it much...unless I can't find the other one :hair: :rofl: :lol:
     
  10. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    I had a 3 wheeled go cart as a kid...the engine was right behind you. Sometimes when it was cold out I would take off with the choke on halfway...always in a hurry to get to my buddy's house, I would just reach around the back to shut the choke off, instead of getting off to do it...it was a 5 hp Briggs...with the plug right on top...and no rubber cap over the plug wire/spark plug...boy does that feel good on the inside of your bicep! :doh::startled::hair: :zip:
     
  11. Screwloose

    Screwloose

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    Same as seeing a sparkplug work in the open air and assuming that you have enough oomph for it to jump in a fuel laden compressed cylinder.
    I have a spark tester that has a screw to adjust the gap. Unfortunately the gap between where it's at vs where I am is usually to far.
     
  12. Warner

    Warner

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    Used to be an older Chevy 1 ton up at the Maine property. The hold down for the distributor was a bit stripped, the wires were shot. Sometimes you wold hit a bump and it would “adjust the timing”. Someone would have to get out and turn it, if it was wet you would get bit! Never any alcohol involved:whistle:
     
  13. Screwloose

    Screwloose

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    As a kid we coaxed another kid into peeing on a running lawnmower plug.
    Still brings a smile to my face.
     
  14. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Oh...that's not right! :startled::rofl: :lol:
    About like peeing on an electric fence! :faint:
    My sister got her long hair caught on the bottom barbed wire (electric) while crossing under one time...that was fun...not!
     
  15. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Wonder when Dumf is coming back...:whistle:
     
  16. Warner

    Warner

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    Perhaps the software on the Subaru had a miscalculation...
     
  17. Screwloose

    Screwloose

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    Maybe he tipped it on it's side to "prop start " it.
    That's always the next step if sucking on the muffler doesn't work.
     
  18. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    That would be a real dumf-ock thing to do! o_O :heidi:

    Suck starting best left to adult entertainment pro's! :whistle:
     
  19. Dumf

    Dumf Banned

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    Kicking and back...damm hot. Here's what solved the problema...
    No peeing ( Exceptional advice from the peanut gallery ! ) :hair:
    No muff sucking.:faint::faint:
    Good spark---new plug, gaped.
    All electrical connections cleaned.
    Carb cleaner sprayed in and out.
    Low oil switch checked out ( good idea Brenda )
    Yes ether in the hole ( another good suggestion from the crew).

    Finally had a friend ( in his 30's, electrician/ gas licensed ) who climbs with us.
    4 hard pulls, it starts.
    So.... Barney is long gone in the Whites of N.H.
    1. Too much choke.
    2. Too weak with heat and age.
    The end.
    P.S. For small engines, starting fluid ( ether) is the Semtex of care.
    Anyone ever lose eyebrows looking over a carb ?


    .
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2020
  20. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    What's that mean? :confused:
    I personally don't like to recommend ether for small engines (or any engine for that matter...emergency/last resort only!) just so many ways that things can go wrong when using ether...and sometimes, real wrong!
    When I started working on heavy equipment, this place had a can of ether on every machine...I locked the ether up and fixed the machines that could be fixed (or were worth fixing) so that they actually started properly, no ether needed...and if ether ever came out of the cabinet again, it was applied by a mechanic only!