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Zachary Hoyt

Well-known Member
I bought a Snapper self propelled mower with a 7 hp B&S Intek at
an auction. I did not hear it run. It was sitting in the rain and
then rode home in the rain on a trailer. When I got it home I
checked the gas and oil and began pulling the rope, it began to
squirt water out of the muffler. After a while it began to try to
run and eventually it got to where it would run for several
seconds and then die. I did this three times or so and then quit.
Today I went out to try again and found that while I could turn
the engine over by turning the blade I was not able to turn it with
the rope. I spun it several times by the blade and then it
loosened up. Now it pulls freely but does not run, the plug gets
wet with gas. It has 85 psi compression according to my tester.
Is that too low to start or should I be looking at the spark? Any
advice will be much appreciated.
Zach
 
Considering that you have compression and gas in the cylinder, and it has been exposed to a lot of moisture, I'd be looking into the spark situation. may be something simple like a grounded magneto.
 
That compression should be ok to start. Pull the spark plug out and spin it over and see if it is firing the plug. Maybe water in the gas if there was water in the engine.
 
Zach, it sounds like it just needs a little TLC. It doesn't take much water to prevent a small engine from running. I would start at the beginning, the fuel tank. I use a battery filler bulb to suck gas from small tanks such as that. pull as much gas out as you can, then stuff a rag in it and use a screwdriver or something similar to mop it out. If it has a float type carburetor, and I think it does, remove the float bowl, being careful not to let the float drop too much, and make sure there is no water there. then remove the spark plug and pull it through a few times to clear the cylinder then re-install the spark plug, making sure it is clean, or just install a new plug. Use fresh gas and I would think it would run. Should there still be no fuel supply to cylinder, you may have to dismantle carburetor and blow out all the passages with air.
This is basically the way check them out when I buy a "pig in a poke". Good luck and keep us posted. Lowell
 
Sounds like one I have that my dad got years ago and what a piece of junk. I can make this one run but you need to make sure the gas tank is clean and has NO water in it and then you need to pull the plug and check spark and that will also help clean out the water in that cylinder and go from there.
 
1. If it starts and runs for a short time that means you have spark but not enough fuel. It's using up what fuel has gotten into the carburetor but can't supply the carb fast enough to keep up with the demand. So you have a fuel restriction some where.

2. If it starts and runs for a short time the second scenario may be happening. The carb may be flooding out.

3. Have you checked your air cleaner?

4. An internal combustion engine needs 4 things in order for it to run.
A. Fuel
B. Air
C. Compression
D. Ignition at correct time

I don't know what the compression reading should be on your engine but I have experienced your problem and it was caused due to low compression. I thought it was a fuel/carb problem but it wasn't.
I would think an engine of that size you have should have more compression.
 
Try pulling slowly on rope. When you feel compression you may feel decompression and then compression again. I think all small engines have some kind of decompression valve, so 80 psi compression may be ok and some missleading.

Leaving engines in rain will cause flywheel to rust. Any rust touching the flywheel and ing coil will not allow it to produce good spark if any.

I don't know why everyone doesn't pull spark plug and look for a spark before they post here? Also put a few drops of gas in carb to see if it fires.
 
Flush gas tank , make sure you have good flow and clean gas from line to carb . New plug , may need to clean carb . oil look okay ,or have you changed it yet ?
 
If you do go into the carb. Becareful you don't lose the TWO very small jets at the bottom of the plastic center. I can't find my drawing, but you can get one online. Might as well get a carb repair kit.
 
Turning the engine by the blade should not be done.You may have a bent crank shaft.Any time you handle the blade the spark plug must be removed.
 
Those small lawn mowers typically have an engine brake and ignition kill switch combined into one mechanism. Make sure the brake is off and the kill switch is open. The brake is a small friction pad that is spring loaded onto the outside of the flywheel. The ignition kill switch is usually part of the same mechanism and opens when the brake is released. A cable on the operators handle releases the brake and simultaneously opens the kill switch. Sometimes the cable housing slips in the holder or the cable itself could be damaged from rust and dirt.
 
Also, the "WD" in WD-40 stands for Water Displacing, and since the mower was out in the rain, a abundant application of WD-40 to the electronics & controls wouldn't hurt.
 
To start my electric start SNAPPER: It must be in
neutral,clutch/brake must be fully depressed,
and I MUST BE SEATED ON THE SEAT, to overcome a
seat safety switch.
 
Remove spark plug wire the hold it in left hand while cranking engine over if your eyes light up you got spark.
Walt
PS I'm crazy don't do any of the things that I do.
 
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