I have a Murray lawn mower that is giving me problems. It has a 3.8hp
tecumseh engine. I have changed the oil and the fuel, but the darn thing
won't run for more than a few seconds. It starts up, seems to be running
OK, then it just stops. There is some black oily stuff coming out of what
looks like a muffler, but I'm not sure what it is, just guessing it's a
muffler. It is unpainted metal and has some vent holes on it. There is
also a hand with a line through it. I assume this means not to touch it.
Does this black oily stuff have anything to do with why the mower won't keep
running? If not, what is preventing this thing from running correctly?

Can anyone please help me? Any advice/help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brigitte

"Brigitte J." wrote in
:

I have a Murray lawn mower that is giving me problems. It has a 3.8hp
tecumseh engine. I have changed the oil and the fuel, but the darn
thing won't run for more than a few seconds. It starts up, seems to
be running OK, then it just stops. There is some black oily stuff
coming out of what looks like a muffler, but I'm not sure what it is,
just guessing it's a muffler. It is unpainted metal and has some vent
holes on it. There is also a hand with a line through it. I assume
this means not to touch it. Does this black oily stuff have anything
to do with why the mower won't keep running? If not, what is
preventing this thing from running correctly?

Can anyone please help me? Any advice/help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brigitte




Sounds like you over filled the oil. Check your level and drain some out
if necessary. You may also have gotten some in the wrong places if you had
the mower on its side. If so just let it stand for a few hours.

Brad Bruce
NJBrad

Also once you get the oil right pull and clean the spark plug.

Or if it is old just replace it!

Wayne


"Brad Bruce" wrote in message
. 3...
"Brigitte J." wrote in
:

I have a Murray lawn mower that is giving me problems. It has a 3.8hp
tecumseh engine. I have changed the oil and the fuel, but the darn
thing won't run for more than a few seconds. It starts up, seems to
be running OK, then it just stops. There is some black oily stuff
coming out of what looks like a muffler, but I'm not sure what it is,
just guessing it's a muffler. It is unpainted metal and has some vent
holes on it. There is also a hand with a line through it. I assume
this means not to touch it. Does this black oily stuff have anything
to do with why the mower won't keep running? If not, what is
preventing this thing from running correctly?

Can anyone please help me? Any advice/help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brigitte




Sounds like you over filled the oil. Check your level and drain some out
if necessary. You may also have gotten some in the wrong places if you
had
the mower on its side. If so just let it stand for a few hours.

Brad Bruce
NJBrad

Also once you get the oil right pull and clean the spark plug.

Or if it is old just replace it!


And clean or replace the air cleaner.

"LugoMan" wrote in message m...
Also once you get the oil right pull and clean the spark plug.

Or if it is old just replace it!


And clean or replace the air cleaner.

sounds more like a carb problem to me. some tecumsehs will fill the
carb. bowl with oil if tipped the wrong way.
pull the float bowl off and see what's in there. if it starts it's
not a spark plug.
Chip

"Brigitte J." wrote:

I have a Murray lawn mower that is giving me problems. It has a 3.8hp
tecumseh engine. I have changed the oil and the fuel, but the darn thing
won't run for more than a few seconds. It starts up, seems to be running
OK, then it just stops. There is some black oily stuff coming out of what
looks like a muffler, but I'm not sure what it is, just guessing it's a
muffler. It is unpainted metal and has some vent holes on it. There is
also a hand with a line through it. I assume this means not to touch it.
Does this black oily stuff have anything to do with why the mower won't keep
running? If not, what is preventing this thing from running correctly?

Can anyone please help me? Any advice/help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brigitte

sounds like the engine is seizing. does the engine smoke alot? or used to smoke
alot?

your mower isn't made for grass taller then 4 or 5 inches tall.

how tall does the grass get sometimes before you mow it?