Lawnmower repair

[captexas]

I've got a 7 year old Sears Craftsman push mower that's giving me fits. Can't get the darn thing started and if it does start it only runs for a second or two. It was working just fine up until about 2 weeks ago. I'm engine illiterate and have messed with about as much as I can. Anyone here good with lawnmower engines or know of a decent/inexpensive repair shop on the northeast side of SA?

[txav8r]

Probably just varnish in the carb. I can look at it if you want.
Jack
210-215-9840

[JimD]

Cap, could be shmuck in the fiel line, look inside the gas tank, it might just be clogged..

[captexas]

Carb didn't look bad, had a friend help clean it out about a year or two ago. I was actually mowing the yards when it died. Got about half way across a pass when it clogged up on the thick gras. Flipped it on it's side to clean out the grass and then when I flipped it back, it wouldn't start for more than a second or two, kind of like it was burning up the gas in the carb and then it would die. I could prime it and it would do the same thing. Thought maybe junk got in the fuel line. Took it apart this weekend and blew out the lines, etc. and now I can't even get it to start at all. It gets gas from the tank to the carb, just something else not working right.

[txav8r]

Fuel, air, Compression and ignition are all it takes to make an engine run. Start by checking the basics. Is it getting a spark? Plenty of compression?
Some newer engines have a murphy switch in the crank case that will kill the engine if the oil gets too low. That switch can quit working.
It could have fouled the plug.
It could be a number of things. I'm pretty good at fixing them but not the best at explaining how to do it. Sorry.
Hope this helps at least a little.

[ErikH]

Let Jack help you!

He helped me with my truck woes and saved me a bundle.

[millerdog]

Have you ever done the spark plug and air filter on it? I clean my plug yearly or it will start belching black smoke and eventually die if not looked into and at 7 yrs old yours may need a little cleaning. If it is that it would just be a matter of a wire brush and gaping it.

[corydrysdale]

Replace the air filter. When you tipped it on its side, fuel got into it most likely. Thats what happened to my john deere. Couldn't get it started for the life of me. All they replaced was the air filter. Thing started right up!