Artemis wrote:
Alan Whitehouse wrote:

"Pat" wrote in message
...

"Alan Whitehouse" wrote in message
...

Hi,

I have a MTD (Yard Man) Riding Lawn Mower.

It won't start.

Last year I put it to bed for the winter and started it twice during
that time. The last time I backfired loudly as I turned it off but
thought nothing else of it.

I left it on the battery charger all winter doing a trickle charge.

It won't start.

The engine cranks and cranks but I can't get it to start.

I have checked the battery it is good.

I have a spark from the spark plug.

The fuel is flowing and I had stabalizer in it over the winter.

It just won't turn over. I have also tried starter fluid in the
carburator.

Other suggestions?

If not, anyone know anyone in the Markham/Stouffville (outside of
Toronto, Ontario) who does small engine repair on-site? I don't
have the means to take the tractor anywhere right now.

Thanks.

Alan



Check the compression.



How does a novice check the compression? Engines are not really my
thing.


That is probably a waste of time and I doubt you own a compression gauge.

You don't say what engine you have so I will have to guess an 8-12 HP
Briggs. Backfires are caused by shutting the engine off when it is
running at full throttle. The carb continues to supply fuel/air mix to
the engine but the spark plug is no longer sparking. All that fuel goes
into the hot muffler where it gets ignited - BOOM. Always throttle the
engine down before turning it off and it won't do that.

If it has not run this year then drain the carb, watch for water in the
gas, and refill with fresh fuel (fresh from the gas station, not from
your can from last year.) I'd also put a new spark plug in it.

Most shops will pickup, repair and then deliver the unit back to you.
On-site service is quite expensive and iffy at best. To carry around the
number of parts needed to adequately service everything out there is
prohibitive. This usually results in parts (head gaskets are number one)
being reused when they should not be.

My GUESS is you have a burned valve. A compression will be low. The
shop can remove the head, grind the valve seat(s), replace the valve,
oil seals and springs and the head gasket. With the right equipment,
it's only a half hour for them, but it is beyond the scope of a home repair.