Pull start Briggs

[farmallmaniac]

At my cabin we had a mower with a 5 horse I think Briggs on it sitting for about 3 years. Well last week i decided to try and start it up so I put fresh gas in it and tryed to start it. After the 6 pull it started!! But now when I pull the safety lever like most push mowers have and try and pull start it all it does is pull out, it doesnt engage so now I can't start it. It'd be nice to get it running again so I can mow the hill and the bottom of the hill. All help is helpful! so thanks!

[jodyand]

Sounds like the little balls in the clutch are stuck. Take the cover off and then take the 4 bolts that hold the screen on then take a screws diver and pop the cover off. Clean the inside and the balls and put it back together and you should be good to go.

[chipmaker]

Some of the cups that the recoil starter engages into and holds those balls has a metal cover that closes up the end of the crankshaft it sets on. I have seen a small hole in some, and have been told its good to apply a drop or two of engine oil in that hole as well. The starter cup and balls should be oil and grease and dirt free......., and perhaps clean up under the recoil housing where the little tabs of metal with the nylon bushings or wear blocks are bent over to retain the starter pulley / rope / spring assembly, as it sometimes makes them stick when retracting the rope back into the housing, and they start to squeel.

[dirtybernie]

farmall. it sounds as if the cable for the saftey handle has snapped. do you feel any resistance when pulling the saftey handle? let me know. bernie. :trink40:

[farmallmaniac]

nope safety handle pulls back fine. All that happens is I can pull the rope out fine but the motor doesnt engage and wont turn over because something is wrong. Also the rope sometimes doesnt go all the way in... If that helps.

[Cdn.Country Bumkin]

Farmie
What Jody said. but DO NOT put oil on the balls..... a little bit of your favorite penetrating fluid is what to use, then get some in on the recoil spring and it will loosen up and pull the rope back in.

Archie

[farmallmaniac]

so just lube everything up with some WD-40 then?

[chipmaker]

Pitch the WD-40 in the chicken coop and use it to treat chickens when they get scaley leg mites, or give it to some old dude with sore arthritis joints it works on those problems.
Its also suitable in most cases if the temp is not too low to use as a starting fluid.

Its really not a lube but a water displacer, (WD = water displacement) 40= 40th formula until they got something that worked for displacing water.......Its not a lube by any means.........Just use some regular 10 or 30 weight motor oil, it matters not if its HD or reg.........

[farmallmaniac]

didnt they say it was bad to put oil on the balls...

[jodyand]

I wouldn't put oil on the balls because it well cake up inside with crud and you will be right where you are now.

[chipmaker]

didnt they say it was bad to put oil on the balls...


Yes the balls and the cup they ride in needs to be dry and clean, use the oil on the top portion of the starter pawl cup the balls are in, so it reduces friction as it sets staionary when the motor is started. If you look at the starter cup, the sort of square shaped shank that extends up into the recoil starter housing itself is free spinning, and it engages the balls. Its up under this part you need a drop or two of oil.

[dirtybernie]

farmall. sorry i misread your post yesterday. few to many beers i guess! but as chip says you have to take it apart and give it a good cleaning. the balls drop when starting and when the motor is running the spinning force holds them up. on the top of the square piece that slides over the crank you will see a tiny hole. i put a few drops of 3in1 oil in it theres a felt pad under the hole and it sucks up the oil and dispences it as needed. HTH bernie. :trink39:

[farmallmaniac]

well I got mit fixed and mowed for about an hour mowing some tall grass around a foot or more tall. When I went to start it, all that I saw was white smoke... so i shut it off right away. I think i might have blown it up or something??

[dirtybernie]

farmall. when you were done mowing did you tip the mower over. maybe trying to get some of the grass from under the deck?

[farmallmaniac]

well a little bit but I let it sit for a bit. I thought of that so after I started it I let it sit for awhile but it still woudn't start. Might have been to hot? I had been working that little 3 horse for quite a while giving it a good work out in some really hot weather..

[jodyand]

If you tiped it on the carb side oil leaked into the carb and that where the oil come from. Just start it and the smoke will stop.

[dirtybernie]

:ditto: check your air filter as well.

[jdkubotamurray]

To test the ball theory with out a teardown, you can whack the cover with a pine 2x4 being careful not to dent the housing, while jerking slightly on rope, sometimes this will break the balls loose.

[farmallmaniac]

Thats actually the first thing I did was pull the air filter out. I'm gonna change the oil too when I go there tomorrow also have a new battery for the White mower. On these older motors there isnt a dip stick so do I just fill about too the threads on the filler? Thats what my teacher taught me anyways.

[chipmaker]

Thats actually the first thing I did was pull the air filter out. I'm gonna change the oil too when I go there tomorrow also have a new battery for the White mower. On these older motors there isnt a dip stick so do I just fill about too the threads on the filler? Thats what my teacher taught me anyways.

Yes, just make sure you have the oil no less than the botom of the threads . I usually run all my Briggs with the oil about midway on the threads or so. Never had a problem.

[farmallmaniac]

alright thanks chip