Wont Start

[Kenneth in Texas]

LTX 1046, Briggs & Straton engine. Was running fine, then just shut off like you turned the key to off.

Now will crank, have headlights when you turn the key on but just wont start. Have gas going thru filter and up to carb. What do I look for next?

 

[Maxify55]

When you turn the key and crank it, do you get spark to the plug?

Pull the plug and reattach the wire.

Crank the starter and watch to see if you are getting spark to the engine.

Either plug will do.

LTX 1046 shows a twin cylinder Kohler but you say a briggs engine is installed?

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

yes have spark at plugs, have gas coming out of fuel filter if line is disconnected

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

B&S professional grade, 23hp

Cub cadet manual says LTX 1046VT

 

[ultrarunner]

My quick and dirty diagnostic tool for service calls was a can of starting fluid...

If the motor cranked but would not start I would give it a short shot at the intake and if it fired I reasonably knew the ignition was OK.

If not, I would pull a plug and check condition and look for spark.

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

I agree, starting fluid is the way to go. You may have gas coming out of the filter but not the carb The float could be stuck in the up position. If it starts with the starting fluid you have a carb problem. The other 2 elements needed are compression and timing but those two will usually result in backfiring or at least an attempt to start.

Bob B.

 

[rcbe]

OP/Bob... lose the starting fluid! Ether will blow a small air cooled engine. Use rattlecan carb cleaner instead.

OP - also chk to see that the afterfire solenoid at the carb bottom is getting 12vdc and actuating/staying open - if not, fuel will be shut off to carb.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

OP/Bob... lose the starting fluid! Ether will blow a small air cooled engine. Use rattlecan carb cleaner instead.

OP - also chk to see that the afterfire solenoid at the carb bottom is getting 12vdc and actuating/staying open - if not, fuel will be shut off to carb.

im getting 11.73v at the plug in to the solenoid, same as the battery, now how can i be sure its actuating?

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

OP/Bob... lose the starting fluid! Ether will blow a small air cooled engine. Use rattlecan carb cleaner instead.

OP - also chk to see that the afterfire solenoid at the carb bottom is getting 12vdc and actuating/staying open - if not, fuel will be shut off to carb.

I'm not familiar with the carb cleaner but have regularly used starting fluid on lawn mowers, my Harley, and cars for 65 years and haven't blown one yet. I even used it on my 1980 GM Pontiac diesel, which had a decal on the air cleaner saying "DON'T USE STARTING FLUID". It made the difference between starting or not starting in sub 20 degree weather when I forgot to plug the block heater in. It lived for 145,000 miles which was good for a poorly designed bad engine. YMMV

Bob B.

 

[ultrarunner]

In the shop on carb vehicles we have used a whiff of starting fluid as a Diagnostic tool going back to when I was a kid...

I also have a lot of cars in storage... some 50+ vehicles... I find a little starting fluid easier to use than a dropper of gasoline...

My old Deere 350C even has a starting fluid port for subzero temps.