I have an older MTD rider with a 12 hp B & S it was serviced at the end of last season and worked fine up till now. The mower started to crank then just stopped. It would only click when turning the key. I tried to jump but no go. I took the battery to be tested it was low but good so they charged it overnight. Still just a click. I replaced the solenoid. But still just a click. I noticed that the gas was low even though I had just filled the tank before
Attempting to mow the grass so in 3 or 4 days the gas was almost gone. It appears some leaked on to the plywood floor of the shed. It seems to me that is certainly a problem but I still don't know why it would crank with no problem then just stop. I then checked the oil and it appears to have gas in it. My repair man seems to have retired and as this Is a 12 to 15 year old mower is it time to shot it and put it out of its misery.
Any Help will be appreciated,
Boz55

What it sounds like, is the float got stuck and gas free flowed into the crankcase... possibly filled the combustion chamber locking it (from fluid being in there) and can't turn it over... take out the spark plug and turn the engine over a few times to see if any comes out... and of course change the oil..
Deal with the carb after you get it started... do you have a fuel shutoff valve in line? Use it when its turned off.

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Originally Posted by Boz55

I have an older MTD rider with a 12 hp B & S it was serviced at the end of last season and worked fine up till now. The mower started to crank then just stopped. It would only click when turning the key. I tried to jump but no go. I took the battery to be tested it was low but good so they charged it overnight. still just a click. I replaced the solenoid. but still just a click. I noticed that the gas was low even though I had just filled the tank before
attempting to mow the grass so in 3 or 4 days the gas was almost gone. It appears some leaked on to the plywood floor of the shed. It seems to me that is certainly a problem but I still don't know why it would crank with no problem then just stop. I then checked the oil and it appears to have gas in it. My repair man seems to have retired and as this Is a 12 to 15 year old mower is it time to shot it and put it out of its misery.
Any Help will be appreciated,
Boz55

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I changed the oil it was full of gas I was able to turn the shaft with a pipe wrench and it seemed to turn freely however when I attempted to crank it up it went about an inch I did that 4 or 5 times with the same result. It apperas to bo locked up.

Did you make sure the combustion chamber was empty of any fluid?

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Originally Posted by thebriggsdude

Did you make sure the combustion chamber was empty of any fluid?

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When I drained the oil it was mostly gas. If that drains the combustion chamber. If that does not drain the chamber then I don't know how to.
Thanks

Take the plug out, and turn the engine over a few times to purg what's in there.