LA145 carb needle valve replacement

[jinman]

I bought a carb rebuild kit from Briggs & Stratton for my LA145's engine. It was delivered about 6 months ago after I discovered that I could get around the problem by blowing low pressure air into the inlet hose to pop open the valve when it sticks. The engine would run perfectly after one "fix" and maybe start and run again the next time I needed it too. Then I switched to non-ethanol fuel and the problem seemed to disappear. I must have used the mower 10 times and started it another 10 times just to see that it was working properly. A couple of weeks ago, it started acting up again, so yesterday I decided to put an end to my misery and replace the float needle valve after cleaning its seat.

I remembered the tiny kit of parts had come in a 1' square x 6" deep box marked clearly with the B&S emblem. I also remembered that when the parts were delivered, I was leaving for somewhere and put the parts away quickly. (Do you see where this is going?) So, I started my search in all the usual places. I first checked my big box of mower parts and filters I keep inside my shipping container. I opened every package and every box to no avail. After a half-hour or detailed searching, I gave up and headed for the barn where I keep tractor filters/oil/parts. Nope, nothing there...hmm. Back to the house I went. I have several shelves and bins in my garage and I started a systematic search through all of them, shelf-by-shelf & bin-by-bin. I was really getting frustrated by now and a bit angry at myself for not being more organized. After I searched through the garage, I decided to check my walkout basement. I remembered I was leaving from the basement door when the parts arrived by UPS and I thought maybe I had removed them from the box and put them in/on a desk I have in the basement. After a thorough search through the desk, a closet, a cabinet and all other cubbyholes, I finally decided I would just have to bite the bullet and order another kit. I fought the urge to even let myself think that my wife had picked up the parts and moved them. She would have asked me what they were for and she had never done that.

I walked back upstairs and sat down in front of the computer to look up my parts. "What's wrong?" my wife asked. So I told her how angry I was at myself for losing the parts and that I was ordering another kit. She wanted to look for the parts herself, but I told her how thorough I had been. I said that I had just wasted 1-1/2 hours looking for something that I should have found and had installed in the mower in that time. Spending more time looking would not even be cost effective. I might as well order the parts and make sure I didn't lose them the next time they are delivered. She said, "Well, just describe for me what they look like." So, I told her I thought they were in a box with the B&S emblem.

I went back to getting online. I hardly had found the website when my wife walked up from the garage and said, "Is this it?" I looked and my mouth dropped open.:shocked: "Where did that come from?" She smiled and said it was on the shelf in the garage. Well, hallelujah!:dance1: It turns out the box hadn't even been opened. It clearly had the B&S emblem on each side of the box, but the shipping label had been turned outward on the shelf. I still don't know how I missed it, but again, I owe my sweet wife big time for her help and determination. She saved the day again.

So, by now the football game is about to start and I'm not so sure I even need to be working on something if I can't see that big box on the shelf. I set the box aside and I'll install the kit today. No need to rush. I'm retired.:thumbsup:

 

[Dutch445]

Thanks for sharing, I think we all fall ill to that disease
every once in a while.

I have a blower attachment for my shopvac somewhere
on my premises, I have seen it, I just can't remember where
and I can't find it! I get by without it, but that cone was
very cool to use with the blower for cleaning off
the mower after mowing!

 

[jinman]

I replaced the sticking float needle valve today with the one from the rebuild kit. The major difference in the needles is the one in the kit was solid brass with a rubber tip. The one I removed was plastic with a rubber tip. The weight difference is amazing. A photo of the plastic needle that was sticking is attached.

The mower starts instantly and runs perfectly. I won't know if this fixed my problem for several weeks, but I'm thinking the new needle will do the trick.:thumbsup: