wrote in message
oups.com...
I do have a notoriously short fuse, I must admit. Today, a Tecumseh
engine-based Ace Hardware self-propelled mower created a "that's the
last straw" situation. It ran almost out of gas, and then when I put
more gas in it (gas I purchased probably 30 days ago or so), it just
flat-out wouldn't start. Some 20 minutes of priming with that
bulb-thingie, sweat dripping off of me by the bucket-load, my allergies
kicking in to such an extent that I developed asthma-like symptoms, all
because I had a small patch to mow that wouldn't have taken me more
than 3 minutes to mow. (I had just got an Intex easy-set pool and
wanted to mow the designated spot once again to make sure it was "pool
ready.")

Some 20 minutes later, having added some gasoline and primped that
thing numerous times, and it STILL wouldn't start. Oh sure it would
sometimes "fake start" for maybe 1 second, only to then cut right off.

It had been running just fine barely 5 minutes before all of this, but
once it ran out of gas--forget it.

I became so enraged, I took a large wood-log and smashed the lawn mower
into a million pieces.

OK, so that was childish, at least it was a $35 yard sale lawn mower
(but it was self-propelled, making it something of a bargain). But man,
20 some minutes and it STILL wouldn't start, even with more gasoline
added, even with it having ran just fine minutes previous?

I am not just writing to vent and rant/rave, and hear people reply
"wow, that temper of yours, how silly of you" (not that I blame anyone
for saying that, I understand). I am writing for a reason, namely--are
lawn mowers as a group this picky? Is there someway, without it
requiring multiple servicing efforts at a repair shop, to make lawn
mowers less picky? Are Tecumseh engines as a group worse than
Briggs/Stratton engines? Any method of storage (outdoors, we don't have
a garage) that helps with this? Any tricks that can "kick start" a
stubborn-as-a-mule lawn mower into starting?

Also, I do recall when I used to cut grass as a teenager some 20 years
ago or so, it was common we'd run the lawn mower until it ran out of
gas, then just add more and it would fire right back up and we'd carry
on. It seems like now lawn mowers are much pickier--if you dare run out
of gas, there's hell to pay. Is this true, and if so, why?

Thanks for the tips.

LRH


Last year, got brand new push mower from Wal-Mart. 5 hp Briggs and
Stratton. Worked fine the first few mows. Always used fresh gas. Then, it
started doing exactly what you described. Run low on gas, stop and refill,
won't start. However, was careful not to prime again to see if it would
start like that. Then tried the prime button a couple of times, no luck.
Long story, short. Found some crap in the tank and at the carb area. Spark
plug said it was running rich, deposits. Air filter was very dirty from
kicked up dirt as all was not grown over by grass yet. Cleaned all this up,
changed the plug, and worked fine. My conclusion was that the dirt etc. in
the fuel system was not a factor until low on gas with the engine stopped,
then it showed its ugly face.
Drained all residual gas from mower, after I ran it to the point of no gas
late last winter, and stored. Changed oil and added gas. Fired up fine
this spring. Dirt in air filter is not as much of problem this year, as
bare areas are covered with greenery now.
All current mowers are picky about the primer button, too much priming is
guaranteed to flood the engine. Without aids, at that point, you have
remove the plug and let it air out for at least a half an hour.
Same memory here when young. Drove the heck out of Briggs and Stratton 3.5
hp push mower. Mowed alot of dusty areas too including a self-made ball
field. The difference seems to be in the choke system and sensitivity to
airborne dirt. A 20 lb sledge hammer is more appropriate for these newer
"engineered freak" mower engines. But alas, we all don't have the same
laboratory conditions that these "engineering marvels" were meant to operate
in.
--
Jonny