16hp briggs starting issue

I aquired a agco allis 1616h riding mower with a 16hp vangaurd v twin engine. It has not run in 2 years but was stored inside. I removed the engine cover and found mouse nest and damaged coils. I replaced the coils, drained fuel and oil and refilled. I have good spark but it will not fire. I have cleaned the carb and have set the float level when carb is inverted but seemed to over fuel , set float lower and higher and still will not start, checked needle and it is sealing. The strange thing is when I had the float set to high where it would over fuel the engine would try to fire but when it did the flywheel would stop like it locked up. If I spray brake cleaner through the carb while cranking the engine it will try to fire and again the engine stops cranking it is not hydraulic locking it almost acts like it wants to rotate backwards. I called a dealer to order a fuel bowl gasket and found out the carb that is on it is rare. Mikuni and walbro are usually used on this engine but this carb is a Arsam, Arsum, Assam? Anyone have experience with this brand of carb? I can't just easily buy a new carb as most of the carbs available for the 16 brigs have the throttle and choke levers on the top of the carb this one has them on the side and I cannot find any on ebay this style. My biggest concern is why the engine stops cranking when it trys to fire. I even removed the flywheel and checked the keyway but that is fine. Any info is appreciated as I am out of ideas.

did you check the valves? We had these mowers on several greens mowers at the golf course and they were bad about
push rods messing up and bending, especially the aluminum ones to the intake. I replaced the aluminum ones with a
steel.

(quoted from post at 19:04:23 05/23/20) did you check the valves? We had these mowers on several greens mowers at the golf course and they were bad about
push rods messing up and bending, especially the aluminum ones to the intake. I replaced the aluminum ones with a
steel.

Click to expand...

I have not checked the valves as I figured I would get it running first,run it for a few minutes then check valves but yes bent push rods would effect the timing drastically. I will pull the covers tomorrow and check this. At very least if they are fine it's one more thing off my list. Thank you.

Valves have to be set using the correct service manual procedure for the engine model be worked on for the compression release to operate as designed.

Typically, the valve clearances are set after the piston has passed TDC by 0.25".

If this is not done correctly engine will come up against compression and stall the starter because of the compression release feature not working.

(Guess I repeated myself, OH WELL!)

What is the condition of the battery? If it does not have enough power from age or condition, it may crank up to
compression and "bounce back" because of not enough energy to take it on over TDC.

Might also check battery cables.

Make sure you have good gas flow to the carb ,the shut off valve can plug up and the carb wont get gas. also pick up a can of
engine starter spray,If it runs on starter fluid, then you know it is a fuel problem and not something else. You might try
looking on ebay or Amazon for a new carb too.

(quoted from post at 17:32:50 06/04/20) Make sure you have good gas flow to the carb ,the shut off valve can plug up and the carb wont get gas. also pick up a can of
engine starter spray,If it runs on starter fluid, then you know it is a fuel problem and not something else. You might try
looking on ebay or Amazon for a new carb too.

Click to expand...

It has been awhile but here is a update. It is a carburetor issue. It will run on brake cleaner but its not getting fuel through the carb to run. I had a guy that races 16.5hp briggs engines put the carb in the ultrasonic cleaner but still did not help. Problem is this carb is a Arsam brand carb with the choke and throttle linkages on the side where most carbs on 16.5 twins have them on the top. So it is very rare carb. I am thinking my only option will be engine replace.