Lawn mower-briggs and stratton

Train · Jul 11, 2013

One of the mowers we use around our farm yard is a little no frills mower with a Briggs and Stratton engine. It's use around trees and equipment, to get into the little places. Anyway, using it one day and just as I caught site of a piece of baler twine, the mower hit it and it wrapped around the shaft. So I stopped the mower,and lifted up the back end, tilting it quite a bit to get at the twine and unravel it. As soon as I started it again, the **** thing wouldn't run right. It starts right up first pull, but the engine keeps surging back and forth, and seems to have slightly less power. I know it's something simple but what?

Bird · Jul 11, 2013

Sounds to me like the little spring on the governor came off.

LD1 · Jul 11, 2013

Yep, check governor.

Also, how long did you wait to re-start?
And how long did you let it run while surging?
And just how high did you lift it??

Could have gotten fluids where they arent supposed to be and may take a few minutes to settle out.

Train · Jul 11, 2013

Restarted it right away, as soon as the twine was off. My wife has actually been using it so it's run quite long. Probably tilted it about 50, 60 degrees maybe. Enough to unwrap the twine with my other hand.

sox3 · Jul 11, 2013

I dont know what engine model you have, but the rule is always tilt it so the spark plug is pointing up.
check your air filter. May be soaked with oil or gas.

Train · Jul 13, 2013

Thanks for the replies. Sox3, the air filter was soaked with gas, and then of course every piece of dust and crap had stuck to it at the air inlet. Cleaned it up and dried it out. Works fine now. Thanks for helping.