Need some assistance on lawn mower starting issue.

[paris_tj]

I got a older John Deere mower with a 9hp OHV Kawasaki motor. Never touch a Kawasaki motor before. It turns over, but just will not fire or even kick at all.

Checked Fire - Good Spark.
Checked Air - Dirty Filter, tried without.
Fuel - Appears fine, but not certain.

I have sprayed starting fluid into the carb/cylinder, but it want even fire or kick or anything. Never had a engine act that way. What would cause it to not at least kick over once with starting fluid. That works any other time I do it on other engines.

Could it be a timing or valve issue? I am lost.

 

[jclem40c]

Could be either or. Check compression and see if ya got any. If you don't check for a stuck valve, plugged intake or intake leak. Try a new plug the one you got mightt look good out in the air but not fire under compression. If thats not it then look at the timing. If its got fuel, electric and air and they are all holdin hands at the dance its gotta run.

John

 

[D.J.]

Drain fuel and install new fresh fuel, reinstall air filter, some (most) newer engines will not run without air filter installed, also another vote for a fresh spark plug. Sounds like it could be a bad gas problem to me. I know it sounds foolish but make sure you are setting in the seat when attempting to start they have so many safety switches these days you know.

 

[YellowLakeWelding]

Small engines don't like starting fluid... it's not too good for them. Like John said...check the compression. If it has compression then do a leak down test to see if there's a bad valve seat, bent valve or stuck valve. If everything else checks out then clean the carb up and make sure the main isn't plugged.

 

[dtt454]

not familiar with that particular engine, but most small engines the spark is timed by the flywheel position which is keyed to the crank, if the key shears off the timing is off. seen it a few times. but usually something causes it. (like the engine suddenly stopping for some reason)

 

[ibedayank]

the kaw motors do not like a 1/4 or even 1/2 fouled spark plug change the plug clean the carb and air filter and only use ethonal free gas in a small engine

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Your plug could be so fouled that it won't even spark ether.

 

[nehog]

If it won't fire when ether is used, then you have either no spark or the spark is at the absolute wrong time. Did you remove the spark plug and check the spark on the plug, or just at the plug cable?

 

[paris_tj]

I check the spark with the plug, looked good. So I assumed it was good. Anyway. I put a new plug in it, and fired right off. Guess lesson learned. I never had a plug that totally kept a engine from running. I have had many that ran bad and such, but not at all.

Thanks for the help.

 

[theoldwizard1]

not familiar with that particular engine, but most small engines the spark is timed by the flywheel position which is keyed to the crank, if the key shears off the timing is off. seen it a few times. but usually something causes it. (like the engine suddenly stopping for some reason)

Common on old B&S especially when mounted on a rototiller (Hmm ... now how would I know that ???)