I just received a Craftsman Riding mower (Model # 917270631). No Manual. When I try to start it, it will run for about 5 seconds and then shuts down. If you wait about 10-15 minutes, it will do the same. It is a Briggs & Stratton engine.

The instructions on the tractor says to use the choke if the engine is cold yet there is no obvious choke.

Any ideas ?

Drain and flush the fuel tank with fresh gas and remove the fuel filter allowing all lines to drain. Install a new filter and leave the gas cap off. Replac eth spark plug and gap per B&S specs. Try starting and come back here with your results.

Drain and flush the fuel tank with fresh gas and remove the fuel filter allowing all lines to drain. Install a new filter and leave the gas cap off. Replac eth spark plug and gap per B&S specs. Try starting and come back here with your results.

I think I was supposed to reply here as opposed to "rate this answer" . Anyway, I tried all suggestions and no luck.

Sorry, been out of town. Yep, the rate this answer thing gave me a bad mark but I understand the error. Any chance you can ask the previous owner what he tried with the mower? If it wasn't running he may have done a few things that would mix us up. PS the gap should be .030 in.

Drain and flush the fuel tank with fresh gas and remove the fuel filter allowing all lines to drain. Install a new filter and leave the gas cap off. Replac eth spark plug and gap per B&S specs. Try starting and come back here with your results.


Hi. Just saw this post as I have similar symptoms, but I am unsure as to how to drain the fuel? I have an older Craftsman riding mower, and I thought that when I replaced the fuel filter, that would affectively drain all the fuel. To my surprise, only a few dribbles came out. :confused:
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

O.k. Next (should Have Done Already When Fuel Was Drained), You Should Remove The Float Bowl From The Carb And Clean. I Think You Will Find Some Trash, Or More Likely Water In The Bowl Of The Carb. Let Me Know What You Find.

O.k., Next (should Have Done Already When Fuel Was Drained), You Should Remove The Float Bowl From The Carb And Clean. I Think You Will Find Some Trash, Or More Likely Water In The Bowl Of The Carb. Let Me Know What You Find.

Hey MOWERMAN,
I'm not sure if I successfully drained the fuel to start with, since so little came out when I removed the gas filter. Is removing the filter the recommended way to drain the fuel?
Should the fuel drain out from the tube coming from the gas tank or from the carb or both?
I will check on the float bowl. Thanks for the advice.

Sounds like your choke is sticking, Choke is engaged when throttle is to top of lever in this position the choke is engaged, mine has stuck when I let off gas. It is a paper clip looking llinkage on side of carburator, Pull it bacl and see if it runs worked on mine.

edo102, where is your tank located, is it under the seat, or in front of the steering wheel? If it is in front of the steering wheel, removing the filter should drain the tank, and you should loose fuel from both ends, if not you have a blockage. There will not be much fuel to escape from the carb. Line end. If it is under the tank, no removing the filter will not drain the tank, unless you apply some pressurization. Be cautious if you try this, and do not apply more pressure than needed to force fuel out at a steady flow. If you apply too much pressurazation, you can "blow" the seams of the tanks, then be out some real bucks.

Mowerman,
Thanks for the suggestions. The tank is located under the seat, and I drained it by taking it off completely and turning it upside down. Unfortunately, after putting it all back together, the mower wouldn't start at all. Due to rapidly growing grass, I gave in and took it to the shop. They found a faulty switch, but also said that the new one-size fits all fuel filter I had put in, was too big. Apparently, for my older craftsman mower, if you put this generic filter on, it can cause a vacuum. Anyway, works great now. Thanks a lot for all the advice!

o.k. sorry we didn't save you any money this time, perhaps next time huh.

Make sure your fuel lines don't have cracks in them. I had this problem with my 10 yr old Craftsman. Went down to the autoparts store with a piece of the line and bought new. These lines dry rot over time and then they can't pull the fuel from the tank. The mower will burn what is in the bowl then die. This is a cheap thing to try before replacing more expensive parts.