Several things could be the issue.

* Sometimes the gasket between the carb and the engine body
dries out. Or people neglect to replace it. Pull the carb,
and make sure it has a gasket. A very little bit of Permatex
#2B Non Hardening gasket sealer will be a big help. If the
gasket isn't there, put a little permatex on the carb to
engine matching surfaces.
* Only buy new gasoline, of a trusted name brand. Pay the
couple extra cents and get good brand. In the western NY
area, Mobil and Hess are good.
* If the spark plug is Champion, try a different brand. They
had bad sparkplugs in the past.
* Like the guys say, try a squirt of ether on the air
cleaner filter before starting. If that helps, you likely
have fuel supply problems.
* A trace of water in the fuel tank will cause this kind of
problem.
* If the gap between the flywheel and the ignition coil is
too great, the spark will be weak. Normal air gap is about
the thickness of the cardboard they use for spark plug
boxes.

Please let us know how things work out. If you get it going,
or not. Either way, please write again. That way, we can
learn also.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"muzician21" wrote in message
...
Have a B&S on a 70's era Snapper 21" pusher with an aluminum
deck. I
believe the engine is probably 10 years newer than the rest
of the
mower.

Maybe 10 years ago I took it to a repair shop who installed
a solid
state unit to replace the points. Even with the solid state
ignition
it was never one-pull start, but as I recall it usually
started with
probably 3 - 5 pulls. Now it takes probably 20 pulls or more
and
monkeying with the throttle. Once it fires it runs like a
clock, runs
up and down the speed range fine. It's also easier to
re-start once
it's been running - though still not one pull. Doesn't seem
to use an
inordinate amount of oil, no discernible smoke out the
exhaust. It
gets what I'd call moderate use. I'm in central Florida so
it gets run
bi-weekly or so during the rainy months, not at all during
the months
of what passes for a winter down here.

I'm mechanically inclined but not well-versed on the theory
of this
kind of engine. I've had it broken down far enough to remove
and flush
the gas tank, change the points when it had points, replace
the pull
rope. I've change the spark plug of course. I know it should
start
much easier than it does. Any suggestions where to look,
what to
tweak? There isn't that much to it from what I can see, so
it
shouldn't be that difficult. I believe this mower has a lot
of life
left in it.

Thanks for all input.

On Sun, 24 May 2009 09:57:26 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

* If the spark plug is Champion, try a different brand. They
had bad sparkplugs in the past.

Plenty of good advise for the OP, so far. I would start with a new
plug with a hotter heat-range. Putting a "hot plug" in one mower was a
solution for me.

Some pre-gapped plugs are not accurate and should always be checked ,
before install.

On May 24, 9:57*am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Please let us know how things work out. If you get it going,
or not. Either way, please write again. That way, we can
learn also.


I tried pouring about a tablespoon or so of gas in the carb before
starting and it fired up immediately, much easier to pull than I ever
recall it being. Couldn't believe how silky smooth it started.
Apparently not a thing wrong with the solid state ignition. Apparently
it's the cold fuel delivery issue. Looking into a replacement
diaphragm for it.

Anyone have a suggestion for online parts houses for older B&S stuff?

The model on this carb is 092908 0571 01. One of the local places that
carries Snapper had a listing for 092908 0571 99 which going by the
exploded line drawings on his system looks to be the same carb.

On Wed, 3 Jun 2009 16:48:34 -0700 (PDT), muzician21
wrote:

On May 24, 9:57*am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Please let us know how things work out. If you get it going,
or not. Either way, please write again. That way, we can
learn also.


I tried pouring about a tablespoon or so of gas in the carb before
starting and it fired up immediately, much easier to pull than I ever
recall it being. Couldn't believe how silky smooth it started.
Apparently not a thing wrong with the solid state ignition. Apparently
it's the cold fuel delivery issue. Looking into a replacement
diaphragm for it.

Anyone have a suggestion for online parts houses for older B&S stuff?

The model on this carb is 092908 0571 01. One of the local places that
carries Snapper had a listing for 092908 0571 99 which going by the
exploded line drawings on his system looks to be the same carb.

Check here for a starting place.

http://www.briggsandstratton.com/buy/

A local shop might just have the parts you need.

Oren wrote:
On Wed, 3 Jun 2009 16:48:34 -0700 (PDT), muzician21
wrote:

On May 24, 9:57 am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Please let us know how things work out. If you get it going,
or not. Either way, please write again. That way, we can
learn also.

I tried pouring about a tablespoon or so of gas in the carb before
starting and it fired up immediately, much easier to pull than I ever
recall it being. Couldn't believe how silky smooth it started.
Apparently not a thing wrong with the solid state ignition. Apparently
it's the cold fuel delivery issue. Looking into a replacement
diaphragm for it.

Anyone have a suggestion for online parts houses for older B&S stuff?

The model on this carb is 092908 0571 01. One of the local places that
carries Snapper had a listing for 092908 0571 99 which going by the
exploded line drawings on his system looks to be the same carb.

Check here for a starting place.

http://www.briggsandstratton.com/buy/

A local shop might just have the parts you need.


Also:

http://www.jackssmallengines.com/sma...ines_index.cfm

muzician21 wrote:

On May 24, 9:57 am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Please let us know how things work out. If you get it going,
or not. Either way, please write again. That way, we can
learn also.

I tried pouring about a tablespoon or so of gas in the carb before
starting and it fired up immediately, much easier to pull than I ever
recall it being. Couldn't believe how silky smooth it started.
Apparently not a thing wrong with the solid state ignition. Apparently
it's the cold fuel delivery issue. Looking into a replacement
diaphragm for it.

There are lots of parts for the pulsa jets on ebay.

Your problem is the cold starting mechanism and that is what you should be
looking at. What does your carb have? Does it have a primer bulb or a choke? If
it has a choke what kind of choke?

-jim





Anyone have a suggestion for online parts houses for older B&S stuff?

The model on this carb is 092908 0571 01. One of the local places that
carries Snapper had a listing for 092908 0571 99 which going by the
exploded line drawings on his system looks to be the same carb.

jim wrote:


There are lots of parts for the pulsa jets on ebay.

Your problem is the cold starting mechanism and that is what you should be
looking at. What does your carb have? Does it have a primer bulb or a choke? If
it has a choke what kind of choke?

-jim

If you know enough to know it is a pulsa-jet then you ought to also know
the choke is vacuum operated. Of course that doesn't make a bit of
difference to his problem. He needs to replace the diaphragm and likely
clean the screens on the fuel pickup tubes. The diaphragm is both the
fuel pump and operates the choke.

--
Art

muzician21 wrote:
On May 24, 9:57 am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Please let us know how things work out. If you get it going,
or not. Either way, please write again. That way, we can
learn also.


I tried pouring about a tablespoon or so of gas in the carb before
starting and it fired up immediately, much easier to pull than I ever
recall it being. Couldn't believe how silky smooth it started.
Apparently not a thing wrong with the solid state ignition. Apparently
it's the cold fuel delivery issue. Looking into a replacement
diaphragm for it.

Anyone have a suggestion for online parts houses for older B&S stuff?

The model on this carb is 092908 0571 01. One of the local places that
carries Snapper had a listing for 092908 0571 99 which going by the
exploded line drawings on his system looks to be the same carb.

You need a 391681 diaphragm. Any lawnmower shop will have them in stock.
It's probably THE fastest selling B&S part.
Here is where you can get it on line -
http://www.theoempartsstore.com/stor...productid=2496

By the way that's a 3.5 hp not 3.0 as your subject line says.

--
Art

On Jun 3, 9:13*pm, Art wrote:

Here is where you can get it on line -http://www.theoempartsstore.com/store/product.php?productid=2496


I appreciate it.


By the way that's a 3.5 hp not 3.0 as your subject line says.


Yeah, I discovered that looking at the stamping on the side. The decal
on the top is long obliterated.

Since the engine starts on a splash of gas, that suggests
choke problems, or bad gasket between the carb and the
engine. I've worked on a couple of motors which had NO
gasket between the carb and the engine. The outside air
comes in through the space, and the choke doesn't work
properly.

Been a while since I ordered any Briggs parts, I don't know
of any online places.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"muzician21" wrote in message
...
On May 24, 9:57 am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Please let us know how things work out. If you get it
going,
or not. Either way, please write again. That way, we can
learn also.


I tried pouring about a tablespoon or so of gas in the carb
before
starting and it fired up immediately, much easier to pull
than I ever
recall it being. Couldn't believe how silky smooth it
started.
Apparently not a thing wrong with the solid state ignition.
Apparently
it's the cold fuel delivery issue. Looking into a
replacement
diaphragm for it.

Anyone have a suggestion for online parts houses for older
B&S stuff?

The model on this carb is 092908 0571 01. One of the local
places that
carries Snapper had a listing for 092908 0571 99 which going
by the
exploded line drawings on his system looks to be the same
carb.