Riding Lawn Mower Won't Start

I have a Columbia riding mover with a 12hp with I/C (industrial/commercial) engine; there is no spark. Do you have any ideas what the problem could be?

By HC

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By grammy v 07/24/2011

Try replacing the spark plug before doing anything else, is there gas in it?

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I have a riding mower that won't start. It acts like it wants to, but won't. I shot some starting fluid in it and it will start for a few seconds then dies again. Any suggestions?

By Mike

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By foxrun41 04/26/2011

If the mower wants to start or starts with a shot of starting fluid, sounds like it is starved for gas. I would check out the gas line from the tank to the carb. May be a clog some where.

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My Murray 17/42 Ultra riding lawn mower with a 17hp, ohv industrial Tecumseh engine needs gas poured directly into the carburetor for it to start. Once it fires up, it runs fine, but even after I let it run for a few minutes I have to take off the air filter and do it all over again.

Suggestions on what I need to do to fix it? I got it on trade and the guy said he was told it would cost like $40 to fix, if he took it to a shop, but there aren't any shops near here that I can take it too. I don't mind changing parts, but I have never had a Tecumseh engine before. I don't know where to even start.

By Bill L

I have a Toro Wheel Horse riding mower. I started it and pulled the choke up all the way really fast and now it will not start at all. I have replaced the battery but when I tried to start it, it just smoked. Then I thought it was flooded so I took the spark plug out and put it back in and then it just did not make any noise. Now I am trying to find out what is wrong with it.

By Kyle from Williamstown, PA

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By jdj599 06/08/2009

If it smoked when you turned the key on and now nothing at all you'll probably find a blown 12 system fuse hid somewhere where you cant see it. if it is a blown fuse you have a direct short on the 12 volt line somewhere. When you find your short your mower will probably be fine then. Hope I could help if you need help finding the short list what model mower it is and ill try to find schematics for it on line and maybe make a couple suggestions.

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My Yardman riding mower with a 20 horse Briggs cranks, but will not start. It has good spark to both spark plugs. Comp. check good/values adjustment checked, and fuel shut off OK. I tried starting fluid and was wondering if the coil gaps could be wrong. I would like to know what air gaps should be on the coil packs. Or am I missing something else?

By BH

Why won't my tractor start? What is the spark plug gap for a John Deere L130?

By KCR from Pineville, KY

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By foxrun41 09/04/2011

I have a John Deere LA120 with the same issues. The engine is a Briggs and Stratton with 43 hours of use. I use a Champion RC12YC gapped at .030 inches. The first year the machine started great but not so now. My machine also will not start by cranking.

So, I bought a battery booster at my local auto store to add cranking power. I also bought a new battery with more cranking power but neither helped very much. I called John Deere but they don't have a tech service. They just refer you to your local dealer for service.

I visited one dealer who told me the valves are out of alignment. I thought that was a lot of BS. I visited another dealer who told me the same story. He said valves need to be aligned but within a year you will have the same problem. He also said the engine for the LA series is a piece of junk. Briggs and Stratton hasn't made a good engine in 10 years. The LA series is a cheap machine that John Deere sells to the big box stores.

He would not take my machine in on a trade for the John Deere X series which he said was a much better machine. He did give me this advise to start the machine. Lift the hood and turn the intake screen counter clockwise until you feel resistance. It should start. I tried it and I was able to start the machine.

The last time I used the mower it would not start turning the screen counter-clock wise, so I turn it clock wise and it started. The screen is the big circular screen with all the slots in it that sits on top of the engine. When the engine is running the screen is also turning at engine speed. Hope this helps.

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I have a riding mower with a Kohler engine. My starter is good, there is a new coil. It's getting gas through both lines on the pump, but won't run unless we keep spraying gas in the carburetor. Any idea why the gas is not getting into the carburetor?

By Richard

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By kgnbrad 08/01/2011

My husband says sounds like the needle seat is stuck shut.

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I have replaced the head gasket on the Briggs and Stratton engine, model #313777-0134-E1, on my riding mower. It is breaking the fly wheel key and does not start. When we move the engine it moves smoothly and is not hitting anything. The push-pull rods are not bent. The valve tappet setting is also correct to specifications. Can you please advise?

By Singh from Victoria, Australia

I have a riding mower with a Kohler engine. My starter is good, there is a new coil, it's getting gas thru both lines on the pump, but won't run unless we keep spraying gas in the carburetor. Any idea why the gas is not getting into the carburetor?

By Richard