Fuel starvation. See if it has a brass bolt at the bottom of the fuel bowl. Tilt the mower up so the carb is on the high side and remove the bolt. Clean it and make sure all holes are clean. Use the soft steel wire out of a wire tie for the smallest hole, then blast out with carb spray. Replace the bolt (main orifice) and carefully tighten (just snug at first). Set mower on all four wheels and see if the fuel bowl leaks. Tighten bolt 1/8 turn at a time until it stops leaking. To prevent accumulations build-up in the orifices in the future, get some STA-BIL 'Marine' fuel stabilizer (blue) and use it in your gas can every time you go fill it.

Thanks!

I've attached a link to the manual. Could you point out which bolt you are speaking of?

Matt

http://www.managemylife.com/mmh/lis_pdf/OWNM/L0702202.pdf

#117/118 on the diagram. Its the only bolt on the bottom of the carb bowl. Tilt the mower over before you pull off the bolt/jet or fuel will flow out of the tank when the float drops. Clean out all of the junk in the bowl, clean all of the passages in the jet, blow it out if you have a compressor. Reassemble.....profit. As simple as it gets really.

Thanks! I'll give it a go and report back the results.

Matt

ntxt

Here is a link that might be useful: Linky

Yep, #117 main jet/fuel bowl attaching bolt. If you'd like, you can loosen this bolt with the mower on its wheels. this will allow fuel to flush through the bowl from the tank, removing any particulate matter from the fuel bowl. Definitely do this outside and try to catch the gas in a pan. You can filter it through a coffee filter and re-use it. If the tank is low you could just empty it this way then clean the jet and put it back in. Most of the time the fuel bowl will stay on as long as you don't mess with it.

Great. Thanks guys! I've located the bolt on the mower, and will probably do this over the next couple of days. I think I will tip the mower, as I just filled the tank and it also is probably easier to get to the bolt.

Will get some carb cleaner and also some air-in-a-can to make sure the bolt is clean.

If I remove the bowl, what should I use to 'clean' it? Simply wipe it down with a cloth? Use the carb cleaner?

Don't want to clean it with something that will leave a residue.

Thanks again!

Matt

I would try removing the air cleaner and squirting spray carb cleaner down the throat of the carb then starting. When it starts dying, shoot it again. Do this for about 5 minutes until the engine runs normally. Let the engine run awhile, spray the rest of the carb cleaner into the tank. It will help clean out the varnish.

Worked like a charm.

I pulled the screw off, then the bowl. The bowl was clean, but the screw had a little something in the hole that passes thru it...blew it out with carb cleaner, put it back in.

Cost me 2 bucks for the carb cleaner. Works good as new now.

Thanks guys!

Matt

Congratulations, Matt!

If everyone with a mower problem would try simple fixes like this, there would be far fewer lines outside of mower repair shops (and people would save themselves a LOT of money)!

Great Forum!
I have some questions
1. Where do I find the model number on a Tecumseh carb?
2. Will the carb work with a hole in the primer bulb?
3. Where can I get a primer bulb?
Thank you.
elviejo

Use the model # tag from the engine, then look up the carb. Some primers have a small hole in them. There are also other reasons for the carb not to be priming. Google is your friend and if you have difficulty, post your model and spec here.