Tiller got left out in the rain...

[chrislehr]

Wont start now... should I just replace the solenoid at first to troubleshoot or plan a rebuild? already plan on draining gas and replacing the plug while im at it... Briggs and Stratton 5hp... I assume I can possibly rebuild this myself using some book?

 

[Packard V8]

A little rain shouldn't ruin an outdoor power implement such as a tiller. The no-start will be simple when you find it. There shouldn't be any water in the gas unless you left the cap off. I'd replace the spark plug because they are cheap and that's one thing you then know to be good. Dry the plug wiring. With the plug out and connected to the ignition wire, laying on the engine so it is grounded, pull the engine over and watch for a strong blue spark. If you see the spark, install the plug, double check the plug wire is on tight. If there is a fuel shutoff petcock, make sure it is open and there is gas in the tank. Spray some ether starting fluid in the carb and it should fire right up.

thnx, jack vines

 

[Rusty Kustoms]

Pull plug and turn over engine, water may come out. Some briggs have problems with the air filter and carb taking on water when left out. Clean air filter or replace and try to start it off of carb cleaner or ether. Make sure you check the oil as water will find its way in there as well.

 

[Kurt4440]

How long was it left outside in the rain?

 

[chrislehr]

How long was it left outside in the rain?

literally one day. This is also a 20 year old cman tiller.

 

[Packard V8]

Guess I've just been lucky. My thirty-five-year-0ld snowblower spends many days/nights outside, as do my mowers and tiller. None have ever failed to start because of a little rain.

thnx jack vines

 

[Merkava_4]

This is also a 20 year old cman tiller.

It probably has water on the breaker points. I'd highly recommend you go with a Magnatron electronic retrofit kit. They're about $45 and they are unaffected by moisture. No more breaker points to change. Installation is a piece-a-cake.

If you get a chance, get me the Model, Type, and Code numbers off the starter housing. The starter housing is that big piece on the right side that the rope pull is in. The numbers will be stamped into it.

 

[bindernut]

If it's only 20 years old then it does not have points. Briggs did away w/ points by 82 or 83. Check to see if it has spark. If it does, stick a new plug in it & see if it'll start on carb cleaner. If it does & dies right away you've more than likely got water in the fuel. if it doesn't(I'm guessing it's a horizontal crank shaft flathead w/ the cylinder pointing straight up) remove the plug & try to look in the hole as you turn the engine over & see if both valves are moving freely. I did a tiller for a guy earlier this year that I couldn't start. Sure enough, had a stuck valve due to moisture. That was by the far the most stuck I've ever seen a valve. I honestly thought I was going to end up having the valve guide come out w/ the valve. Once it was out I used a wire wheel on the valve stem & a 22 caliber bore brush to clean out the valve guide. I lapped the valves in, checked the clearance & put it back together. Ran like a top.

 

[dbltee]

Hi! I have a 1977 JCPENNEY tiller that has a B&S engine. My tiller was in the rain 2 or 3 times and now doesn’t want to start. I had just replaced the spark plug and it fired right up and used it for a little bit. After the rain, nothing. I put in fresh gas and oil, still nothing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[rlitman]

Hi! I have a 1977 JCPENNEY tiller that has a B&S engine. My tiller was in the rain 2 or 3 times and now doesn’t want to start. I had just replaced the spark plug and it fired right up and used it for a little bit. After the rain, nothing. I put in fresh gas and oil, still nothing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Do you have a compressor? I'd blow compressed air through places that may have gotten wet. All it takes is one drop of water between the points for you to not have spark.

 

[dbltee]

The only numbers on it are 3013 B

Do you have a compressor? I'd blow compressed air through places that may have gotten wet. All it takes is one drop of water between the points for you to not have spark.

Hey thanks! I will give that a shot! Appreciate it!

 

[dbltee]

Any idea where I might find a manual for this tiller? Thanks!

 

[four.cycle]

"... a 1977 JCPENNEY tiller that has a B&S engine ..."

You will first need to find the MODEL, TYPE, and CODE numbers off the machine.
They will be stamped on the blower housing (the piece of sheet metal covering up the engine), GENERALLY in the immediate vicinity of the spark plug. (On horizontal-shaft engines they can be difficult to see.)
You're looking for THREE sets of numbers/letters:
ABC123 XYZ987 1234567890
like that
may be alpha-numeric, may be all numeric.

If it is the original 1977 engine, it has a point-triggered ignition system, which is prone to failure IF it gets wet or saturated with OIL (which is all too common and can happen as a result of laying the machine down on its side.)

Find those numbers and you can go from there.

There is a "manuals" section at archive.org - I'm not sure what Mark uploaded from what I sent him, but you should be able to find what you're looking for on there.

 

[RTM]

Sometimes the no start can be something stupid, like a leaf grounding out the spark plug, acting as an unintentional kill switch. DAMHIKT

 

[zendriver]

Before you rebuild the engine or upgrade the ignition system, maybe see if it’s getting spark and fuel?

 

[The Cobbler]

a few rain storms would ( should) not bother a small engine or outdoor equipment enough to make it not start or inoperable .
water in the fuel tank, carb etc would be something I would look closely at first, maybe spark first ... but I don't buy the wet points scenario . it would be low on my list for sure.

 

[Rinspeed]

I always keep a can of starting fluid around for these situations. It the quickest way to tell if it's a spark issue or fuel issue.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Disconnect any external wires to the engine you could be having some safety switch wiring that is keeping you from starting that engine. There are so many safety devices that its hard to trouble shoot when more than one is connected to the engine run/kill terminal.

 

[Wamsutta]

Before you rebuild the engine or upgrade the ignition system, maybe see if it’s getting spark and fuel?

Which post did you read; the one at the very top?

 

[woody 73]

You do know this post was started back in 2009 and the op was last seen in 2021, you would think he got it to start by now!

 

[zendriver]

Which post did you read; the one at the very top?

I read all of them all and was being mostly facetious

Does it have spark? Is it getting gas?

Someone suggested pumping water out of the cylinder

Didn’t notice it was another zombie thread.

 

[Wamsutta]

Didn’t notice it was another zombie thread.

One of those guys posting back in 2009 is still alive. Not gonna say who.

 

[RTM]

Didn’t notice it was another zombie thread

Not completely zombie, guy did ask a new question at noon today, similar problem to the OP, so hopefully he read all the old clues first.

 

[dbltee]

Do you have a compressor? I'd blow compressed air through places that may have gotten wet. All it takes is one drop of water between the points for you to not have spark.

Tried this and unfortunately still no go. Any other thoughts? Thanks!

 

[four.cycle]

^ you're going to need to get the numbers off the machine in order to determine which engine you have.

Lawnmower engines are about as simple as you can get - you got your fuel, your spark, and your compression.
If the machine WAS running last time you used it, odds are it's got enough compression to start.

The fuel system may well have gotten fouled up simply by leaving ethanol-laced fuel in it for a couple weeks. (I've had it happen on an old Murray.)

OR: if it's got a point-triggered ignition system and you rolled the machine over on its side, you might have allowed oil to drain out of the sump and up into the points, in which case the only fix is to:
- remove blower housing cover (engine "shroud")
- remove flywheel
- remove two small screws that hold down cover over points
- remove the points and condenser, clean all the oil out, re-install points and set gap @ .020"
- reassemble

First thing you want to do is see if you're getting fire to the plug.
Remove spark plug. Plug "coil" wire into plug. GROUND spark plug to engine. Pull rope. If you've got blue fire at the plug, you're good.
If not, there's an issue with the points, condenser, or coil. (IF it has point-triggered ignition.)

IF you've got fire at the plug, next thing is check for fuel.
Remove air cleaner housing.
Pour a TEASPOON of gasoline down throat of carburetor.
Pull rope.
If it fires and then dies, you've got an issue with the carburetor.

If it's one of those oldies with that weird diaphragm-on-a-stick thingie, I've got one in the garage (NOS) I'll sell cheap.

I'm leaving for a few days. Ballet Saturday. Opera Sunday. Be back Monday.