[SOLVED] Toro Self Propelled 22" Mower Starting Proble, Help, Please

[Robert11]

Hello,

Would be most grateful for any help or thoughts on this:

Have a 10 yr old Toro GPS 22" self propelled Lawn Mower.

New Spark Plug New Air Filter.

Prime it the 3X they say to do, hold down the handle, and pull.

Starts right up, each time.

But, after about only 5 seconds conks right out. Each and every time.

Pulling handle again won't start it again.

If I re-prime again, starts right up again, and stops after the 5 seconds.

I'm out of ideas.

Any idea what might be going on, and how, hopefully, to correct ?

Thanks, Bob

[Clare Snyder]

Main jet in the carb is plugged. soaking it in sea-foam may help. But about 2 oz of seafoam in half a tank of FRESH (preferably ethanol free) gasoline. Prime and start and repeat, If there is a mixture screw open it about 1/2 turn from current setting.

Let sit for a while and reprime and start. After numerous tries it should stay running a bit longer. Eventually the jet will clear, and the engine will continue running. Then it willstart running rich - re-adjust mixture screw.

If this doesn't work the carb will have to come apart and be cleaned

[trader_4]

It's likely a fuel problem, probably the carb is fouled up. If you've been using gas with ethanol, stored it with gas over the winter, etc they get g unked up. If you identify the carb, there are rebuild kits for $10 on eBay or for less than $20 you can buy a Chinese carb. With the rebuild kit you t ake it apart, clean it with solvent, blow it out, put it together with the new seals, needle valve, etc.

[None]

10 years old? Look at the priming bulb and make sure it doesn't have any cracks, which would result in a vacuum leak, quite common.

Also, check the carb bolts and make sure they are snug.

My money is on a crack in the bulb.

[rbowman]

If you pull the line to the priming bulb do you have good flow? How about the bulb itself? If Home Depot sells them in 3 packs that suggests to me they don't last forever.

[Clare Snyder]

Except a cracked primer bulb generally doesn't prime either - - - - And 10 years on a primer bulb is NOTHING.

Generally at about 15 or 20 you START suspecting them. (frommy experience)

[None]

Small cracks in primer bulbs, in warm, dry environments are common and frequently happen after 6 - 7 years, especially when the equipment is used year round. It has happened to me numerous times. Checking the primer bulb for cracks and the tightness of the carb bolts are certainly the easiest and fastest steps. If Robert11 checks back in we might learn what he finds.

[Bryan]

The jet is clogged. Take the air cleaner cover off too expose the carb, remove float bowl at bottom of carb 13mm wrench, that nut is actually a jet. Clean it with solvent, a pin, compressed air, put it back it will start.