Greetings! I noticed from some of the posts that there are lawn mower repair
savvy folks that monitor this group. I'm looking for some help with my
mower. I have mowed 3 times with it this season. Each time it has run like
new. The other day, I decided to spray it down with the garden hose to clean
it up. I have mowed with it one time since the cleaning, and it ran great.
The other day, I tried to start it up, and after I prime it, it runs for
about 3 seconds and dies. I can continue to pump the prime bulb and it will
stay running. I drained the gas tank, pulled the carb off and blew it out
with compressed air, inspected the float and needle valve--good, put it all
back with new gaskets, put on a new air filter, installed a new spark plug,
checked the main vacuum hose going from the block to the top of the carb and
it looked new, filled the gas tank with fresh fuel, and after all that, the
mower still only runs 3 seconds after I prime it. It is a pos Tecumseh
engine with no obvious carb adjustments. The mower is probably 3 years old.
I can keep it running by taking the air filter off and partially closing the
rear air inlet hole on the carb with my fingers, but that makes it tough to
mow with. Anyone have any ideas?