I hope I'm in the right NG.
I have a 36" exmark metro walk-behind mower. It has the Kawasaki 460v- s14 engine. It is very hard to start.
First I dis-assembled the carb and blew out all passages. Carb bowl looked clean and main jet was clear. Still no start.
I dis-connected the ground wire at the coil so that no safety switch would affect it, altho I have always had spark.
I dis-assembled the carb again, this time removing the pilot jet. It looked clean on the outside, but I blew it out the best I could. I have a new one on order and plan on replacing it when it comes in.
I feel it is a carb problem, but I am not sure. It will start occasionally and run great. But most of the time, it just won't start.
It has an automatic compression release. I don't know how these work. maybe that is the problem, I don't know. If you know, does it open the exhaust valve a little while pull starting it?
I don't think it is timing since it runs great when it does start.
Any advise wil be helpful..........I think. :-)
Thanks,
Hank